Somali Cabinet Approves Key Trade Law, Pushes Digital Governance and Defends National Passport

Mogadishu (WDN) – Somalia’s Federal Cabinet on Thursday approved a series of measures aimed at strengthening governance, modernizing public administration, and promoting economic reforms, while Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre urged government officials to use only Somali passports during official foreign travel.

The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Hamza, focused on national security, economic development, judicial reform, and the digital transformation of government services. A key item on the agenda was a comprehensive briefing from the Ministry of Internal Security on the rollout of Somalia’s third-generation polycarbonate electronic passport (E-Passport).

Officials told the Cabinet that the new biometric passport incorporates enhanced security features designed to improve document integrity, facilitate international travel, and strengthen the global credibility of Somali travel documents. The ministry also announced that personal information on newly issued passports can no longer be altered after issuance, describing the measure as an important safeguard against fraud and document manipulation.

The Cabinet also reviewed first- and second-quarter (Q1 and Q2) performance reports submitted by government ministries, alongside progress on implementing an electronic Cabinet (E-Cabinet) system, a digital platform intended to modernize Cabinet administration, improve decision-making, and streamline government operations.