Sunday March 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s federal identification agency has denied claims circulating online that it transferred two districts from Puntland to the neighbouring Galmudug state, describing the allegation as false and politically misleading.
The National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) said in a statement on Sunday that a form shared widely on social media, which listed the districts of Galdogob and Jariiban as part of Galmudug, was fabricated and not issued by the agency.
“NIRA affirms that the form being shared on social media is fake,” the agency said in a press release. “The official form is available only through NIRA’s website and authorized service centers.”
The social media posts followed the recent opening of a NIRA registration center in Galkayo, a city divided between Puntland and Galmudug. NIRA clarified that the center is meant to serve Galmudug and South West State residents, not to alter administrative borders or transfer territories.
“There has been no decision to move any districts under Puntland’s jurisdiction into Galmudug,” the agency stated. “NIRA’s operations are limited to delivering services and do not involve redrawing state boundaries.”
The federal agency emphasized that it operates under national law and has no mandate to reassign districts or interfere in the territorial governance of federal member states.
NIRA, established to oversee Somalia’s national ID rollout, has recently expanded its services to several states using both fixed and mobile offices. The Galkayo center is one of several planned nationwide to ensure broader access to identification cards and essential services.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to the federal constitution and vowed to deliver its services impartially and transparently across all regions.
“NIRA’s work is guided by constitutional boundaries and the federal governance framework,” the statement read. “Our focus is on providing access to identification services for all Somali citizens—no matter where they live.”
NIRA urged the public to rely on official sources for accurate information and warned against spreading false documents that could inflame political tensions or mislead the public.