Sunday July 21, 2024
A Somali diplomatic passport (left) and a service passport (right). The Turkish government has recently announced that it will no longer issue visas to holders of the Somali service passport, effective July 18, 2024.
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Turkish government has ceased issuing visas to Somali government civil servants holding service passports, effective July 18, 2024, according to an official statement.
Hamza Adan Hadow, the Permanent Secretary of the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed the decision, citing a letter from the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu. The document, dated July 15, 2024, states: “All Ministries and Government Agencies are hereby informed that the Turkish Embassy has stopped issuing tourist visas for holders of Service Passports, effective from 18.07.2024. Therefore, in consideration of diplomatic customs, all Ministries and other Government Agencies are notified of this change and are expected to inform their staff accordingly.”
Hadow emphasized that the change requires Somali government ministries and agencies to promptly inform their employees about it in accordance with diplomatic protocols.
Despite Turkey’s long-standing support for Somalia, Somali citizens have faced increasing difficulties in obtaining visas for tourism, education, and medical purposes from the Turkish Embassy in recent years.
While the exact reasons for the visa denial remain unclear, informed sources suggest it may be related to migration issues. Individuals from some African countries, including Somalia, have reportedly been using Turkey as a transit route to Europe.