August 22, 2025(Mogadishu, Somalia): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has launched the Somalia National Dialogue on Forced Displacement, aimed at strengthening access to legal documentation for asylum seekers and refugees through the rollout of new identity documents.
The three-day workshop seeks to review progress on the issuance and recognition of identity documents for refugees and asylum seekers in Somalia, while enhancing coordination among stakeholders, raising awareness, and fostering acceptance of these documents in line with the National Refugee Law and IGAD’s regional commitments.
Speaking on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Head of the IGAD Mission to the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Mohamoud Kaarshe, highlighted the Somali government’s commitment to protecting the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). He cited inclusive frameworks such as the Refugee Law, the National IDP Policy, and durable solutions strategies as evidence of this commitment. He further revealed that since September 2024, Somalia has received more than 21,000 asylum seekers, all of whom require access to essential services, including the Convention Travel Document (CTD), which is key to guaranteeing freedom of movement and the right to travel.
Mr. Kaarshe emphasized that freedom of movement, particularly within the IGAD region, means the right of individuals to live, work, and travel across member states without discrimination. Without CTDs, he added, refugees and asylum seekers are unable to fully exercise this right or move freely to their destinations.
The State Minister of Interior, Federal Affairs, and Reconciliation, Mr. Sadet Mohamed Noor, noted that the introduction of the new identification system reflects the government’s strong collaboration with national institutions, international partners, and the private sector to provide vulnerable populations with official documents that confirm their legal status. He stressed that the system was carefully prepared, tested, and implemented, and that it represents an opportunity for refugees and IDPs to secure recognition, rights, and access to essential services.
Similarly, the Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees and IDPs (NCRI), Mr. Ahmed Hussein Elmi, highlighted the Commission’s active role in registration, verification, and the issuance of identity documents. He described the new identification as a vital step in extending concrete support to those most in need.
The Dialogue convened a broad range of stakeholders, including federal and member state ministries, the Somali Microfinance Association, Premier Bank, UNHCR Somalia, the Danish Refugee Council, as well as refugee representatives from Sudan, Tanzania, and Syria.
The event was supported by the Government of Sweden through the Protection and Solutions for Displaced Persons Project.
Resolutions from the Dialogue are expected to improve access to services such as employment, banking, healthcare, and education for refugees and asylum seekers by ensuring greater acceptance of official identity documents. Commitments from private sector actors, particularly employers and financial institutions, will also be key in recognizing refugee IDs as valid for service provision.
Discussions were also initiated on developing machine-readable Convention Travel Documents to enable Somali-based refugees to participate in regional forums, including the IGAD Refugee Engagement Forum.
Somalia has been tackling the aftermath of a prolonged displacement crisis, deeply rooted in a complex interplay of factors including conflict, political instability, climate change, and devastating natural disasters such as droughts and floods.
On 13 March 2025, NCRI officially launched the issuance of identity cards for refugees and IDPs during a high-level event attended by ministers and government officials. In response to the challenging circumstances, the President of Somalia officially signed the Refugee Law in 2024.
