On September 16, 2023, the first National ID conference hosted by NIRA Somalia in Mogadishu saw the official launch of the Somalia National ID by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre.
Several of Somalia’s development partners, including Pakistan, the EU, the World Bank Group, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Gulf States, ID4Africa, diplomats, and UN organizations, attended the massive event on International Identity Day.
In his remarks, the prime minister of Somalia expressed his sincere gratitude to the leaders of Pakistan and NADRA for their crucial assistance in putting the Somali National ID system into place. Additionally, he was grateful for their kind assistance in NIRA Somalia’s capacity building.
Other dignitaries praised NADRA’s reliable systems, including UN Special Representative of Secretary-General for Somalia Catriona Laing and former HMG Deputy High Commissioner for Pakistan Mike Nithavrianakis, who is now the British Ambassador to Somalia.
They expressed their gratitude to the governments of Pakistan and Somalia for their contributions to Somalia’s success. The project is a component of a multimillion-dollar grant given to the brotherly country of Somalia by the government of Pakistan.
By giving Somalians a safe and widely accepted form of identification, the delivery of National ID enables NIRA and the Ministry of Interior Somalia to carry out their mandate to improve the nation’s governance, security, and socioeconomic development.
Along with other dignitaries of the Somalian Government who were also registered for their National IDs as part of the registration drive, the President of Somalia, Hassan M. Sheikh, also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Pakistan.
Improved governance will result from the SNIDS’ facilitation of more effective public service delivery, including social welfare programs, healthcare services, and electoral processes.
The distribution of humanitarian aid could be streamlined by using this system, ensuring that it quickly reaches those in need. By making it simple for citizens to access banking and financial services, the identity system will also support financial inclusion in Somalia and economic growth.
“NADRA takes immense pride in the successful execution and launch of Somalia’s National Identification System, a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation,” said NADRA Chairman Asad Rehman Gilani in a message to his counterpart in Somalia. “This accomplishment supports Pakistan’s goal of a more secure and prosperous Somalia with widespread access to trustworthy identification.”
In addition to enhancing security, he continued, “The National ID System will also open the door for inclusive development, financial empowerment, and better governance. It is a prime example of NADRA’s dedication to its international partners and commitment to excellence.
Gilani claimed that the distribution of Somalia’s national ID complemented the ‘Look Africa’ policy of the Pakistani government, in which NADRA had been playing a key role in transferring technology to several governments in Africa, including Kenya, Sudan, and Nigeria, which had the continent’s largest ID database with over 100 million identities.
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