Friday February 20, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has officially launched the issuance of the East African Community (EAC) passport, a move the federal government described as a historic step toward deeper regional integration and enhanced global mobility for Somali citizens.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said on Thursday the introduction of the EAC passport will expand opportunities in travel, trade and education while strengthening Somalia’s engagement within the regional bloc.
“Joining the East African Community is a symbol of Somalia’s recovery and its active role in the region,” Barre said, adding that the new passport will facilitate the movement of people and create shared economic and social opportunities across member states.
Somalia became the eighth member of the EAC in March 2024, formally integrating into a bloc that includes Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The prime minister noted that the Somali passport’s global ranking has improved in recent years. According to figures cited by the government, Somalia moved from 111th place in 2021 to 96th, representing a 15-position rise.
“Today, Somali citizens can travel visa-free or obtain visas on arrival in nearly 40 countries,” Barre said in a statement posted on social media, describing the development as a direct benefit to students, businesspeople and ordinary travelers.
He added that several countries already grant visa-free access to Somali diplomatic passport holders, expressing hope that broader access will follow for ordinary passport holders as regional cooperation deepens.
Barre emphasized Somalia’s strategic advantages, including Africa’s longest coastline and its position linking the African continent to the Arabian Gulf. He said Somalia’s blue economy encompassing ports, fisheries and Indian Ocean trade routes offers significant potential for regional development and integration.
The government said the rollout of the EAC passport underscores Somalia’s commitment to playing an active role in regional trade, sustainable development and job creation within the East African Community framework.