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40 — EASO Country of Origin Information report — South and Central <strong>Somalia</strong> — Country overview<br />
chip and advanced security features ( 244 ). The new (blue) passport was initially issued at a price of USD 100 in<br />
<strong>Somalia</strong> and USD 150 abroad ( 245 ). Due to financial and organisational matters, the issuance of the blue passport<br />
was interrupted several times ( 246 ).<br />
In 2010, a new generation of the blue computer‐readable passport, produced by Mondial Technology Information,<br />
was launched, slightly differing from the first generation ( 247 ). The issuance cost was USD 105 (USD 85 to the Ministry<br />
of Interior, 20 USD to the Immigration Office) in 2013. To obtain the passport, applicants had to apply in person at the<br />
Immigration Office, where a form had to be filled out and photographs and fingerprints taken ( 248 ). Applicants were<br />
asked about their family and clan origin to confirm their identity. Additional documents such as birth certificates<br />
were not required ( 249 ). The passport was valid for five years ( 250 ). ID cards were also issued by the Immigration Office<br />
simultaneously with the passports ( 251 ). Within <strong>Somalia</strong>, the ‘blue passport’ and the ID card were issued in Mogadishu,<br />
Garoowe, Bossaso, north Galkacyo (Puntland) and South Galkacyo (Galmudug). Several embassies (e.g. in Kenya,<br />
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Zambia or Ethiopia) issued the documents as well. The ‘blue passport’ used to be printed in the<br />
UAE, but as from June 2011 it was printed in Mogadishu ( 252 ).<br />
In December 2013, the government announced a new process for obtaining passports as well as another new<br />
generation of (again blue) passports and ID cards, featuring biometrics ( 253 ). The new documents are produced by<br />
HID Global ( 254 ). A centre for issuing passports and national identity cards was opened in Mogadishu’s Cabdulcasiis<br />
district under the authority of the Benadir regional administration. Applicants are first registered electronically.<br />
They must provide fingerprints and pictures and undergo a criminal background check. They are issued with an ID<br />
card at a cost of USD 12.50 as well as a birth certificate (USD 5). With these two documents issued by the regional<br />
authorities and a certificate from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), a passport can be obtained at a cost<br />
of USD 83 at the Immigration and Citizenship Department. Since only Benadir region issues the necessary documents,<br />
the passport is currently available in the capital only. Nevertheless, according to the Benadir administration, citizens<br />
( 244 ) UN Security Council, <strong>Report</strong> of the UN Monitoring Group on <strong>Somalia</strong> and Eritrea pursuant to Security resolution 2002 (2011), 13 July 2012 (http://www.un.org/<br />
ga/search/view_doc.aspsymbol=S/2012/544) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 60; Xinhua, <strong>Somalia</strong> introduces new e‐passport, 9 February 2007 (http://english.<br />
peopledaily.com.cn/200702/09/eng20070209_348606.html) accessed 26 May 2014; Afrol News, Somali govt starts issuing new e‐passports, 28 March 2007<br />
(http://afrol.com/articles/24890) accessed 26 May 2014; UN Security Council, <strong>Report</strong> of the UN Monitoring Group on <strong>Somalia</strong> and Eritrea pursuant to Security<br />
resolution 2002 (2011), 13 July 2012 (http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.aspsymbol=S/2012/544) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 59-60.<br />
( 245 ) UN Security Council, <strong>Report</strong> of the UN Monitoring Group on <strong>Somalia</strong> and Eritrea pursuant to Security resolution 2002 (2011), 13 July 2012 (http://www.un.org/<br />
ga/search/view_doc.aspsymbol=S/2012/544) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 60; Afrol News, Somali govt starts issuing new e‐passports, 28 March 2007 (http://<br />
afrol.com/articles/24890) accessed 26 May 2014.<br />
( 246 ) UN Security Council, <strong>Report</strong> of the UN Monitoring Group on <strong>Somalia</strong> and Eritrea pursuant to Security resolution 2002 (2011), 13 July 2012 (http://www.un.org/<br />
ga/search/view_doc.aspsymbol=S/2012/544) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 61-68.<br />
( 247 ) Udlændingsstyrelsen, Security and human rights issues in South‐Central <strong>Somalia</strong>, including Mogadishu, April 2012 (http://www.nyidanmark.dk/NR/<br />
rdonlyres/68C10A22-BFFC-4BD6-899D-60FB6B0F7AC5/0/FFM<strong>Somalia</strong>2013Final.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 85; Ministerie van Buitenlandse<br />
Zaken (The Netherlands), Algemeen ambtsbericht Somalië, 19 December 2013 (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/documenten‐en‐publicaties/<br />
ambtsberichten/2013/12/19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie-2013-12-19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie‐december-2013.pdf) accessed 27 May 2014,<br />
p. 36; UN Security Council, <strong>Report</strong> of the UN Monitoring Group on <strong>Somalia</strong> and Eritrea pursuant to Security resolution 2002 (2011), 13 July 2012 (http://www.<br />
un.org/ga/search/view_doc.aspsymbol=S/2012/544) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 67.<br />
( 248 ) IRB Canada, <strong>Somalia</strong>: Identification documents, including passports and driver’s licenses; whether driver’s licenses are/have been issued, including language<br />
of documents (2007-June 2013), 14 June 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/51e4fe6e4.html) accessed 26 May 2014.<br />
( 249 ) Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (The Netherlands), Algemeen ambtsbericht Somalië, 19 December 2013 (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/<br />
documenten‐en‐publicaties/ambtsberichten/2013/12/19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie-2013-12-19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie‐december-2013.<br />
pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 35.<br />
( 250 ) IRB Canada, <strong>Somalia</strong>: Identification documents, including passports and driver’s licenses; whether driver’s licenses are/have been issued, including language<br />
of documents (2007-June 2013), 14 June 2013 (http://www.refworld.org/docid/51e4fe6e4.html) accessed 26 May 2014.<br />
( 251 ) Landinfo/Udlændingsstyrelsen, Update on security and protection issues in Mogadishu and South‐Central <strong>Somalia</strong>, March 2014 (http://landinfo.no/<br />
asset/2837/1/2837_1.pdf) accessed 26 May 2014, p. 65; <strong>Somalia</strong>report, Fake Somali Passports, IDs Seized by Kenya 19 November 2011 (http://www.<br />
somaliareport.com/index.php/post/2073/Fake_Somali_Passports_IDs_Seized_by_Kenya) accessed 26 May 2014.<br />
( 252 ) Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (The Netherlands), Algemeen ambtsbericht Somalië, 19 December 2013 (http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/bestanden/<br />
documenten‐en‐publicaties/ambtsberichten/2013/12/19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie-2013-12-19/algemeen‐ambtsbericht‐somalie‐december-2013.<br />
pdf) accessed 27 May 2014, p. 35-37.<br />
( 253 ) Sabahionline, Biometric passport registration centre opens in Mogadishu, 24 December 2013 (http://sabahionline.com/en_GB/articles/hoa/<br />
articles/newsbriefs/2013/12/24/newsbrief-04) accessed 26 May 2014; Hiiraan Online, <strong>Somalia</strong> introduces biometric ID cards, 5 February 2014<br />
(http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2014/Feb/53175/somalia_introduces_biometric_id_cards.aspx#sthash.c6II9IFt.T1Qyz2DR.dpbs) accessed<br />
26 June 2014; SomaliCurrent, Somali President unveils new passport procedure, 22 December 2014 (http://www.somalicurrent.com/2013/12/22/<br />
somali‐president‐unveils‐new‐passport‐procedure/) accessed 28 May 2014.<br />
( 254 ) Humanipo, <strong>Somalia</strong> launches ID card, e‐passport programme, 23 April 2014 (http://www.humanipo.com/news/43064/<br />
somalia‐launches‐id‐card‐e‐passport‐programme/) accessed 28 May 2014; Source Security, HID Global contributes to design of new national ID card and<br />
e‐passport for <strong>Somalia</strong>, 25 April 2014 (http://www.sourcesecurity.com/news/articles/co-823-ga.13834.html) accessed 28 May 2014.
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