Somalis will be issued a digital
national ID card that is verifiable, inclusive, digital, and unified for the
first time in over 34 years. Somalia is recovering from years of anarchy, lack
of identity services as the old manual identity system was destroyed during
civil war.
For the last 34 years, Somalia
was a nation that was unaware of its citizens due to the absence of civil
registration and national identification systems. It is estimated that more than 85% of the Somali population lacks identity documents, while the remaining
portion has some form of identification that is based on disjointed procedures.
A significant number of these documents were issued by different authorities.
This resulted in financial, social, security, and political challenges. The
most negative impact occurs the economic development of the country, as our
financial system is unable to connect to its global counterpart. This is due to
the fact that participation in the world economic sphere necessitates adherence
to Know Your Customer that is required by national and international
regulations regarding money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, which
is known as Know Your Customer. The absence of identification
requirements by the movement has also resulted in our country becoming a
destination for terrorist groups. This has resulted in security risks,
governance issues, and the mingling of society, which has rendered the
distinction between citizens and non-citizens unrecognizable.
The new digital national identity
system will address these challenges and facilitate the country's economic,
political, security, and governance development. The Somali government and its
citizens will again engage in the international system that they have been left
out of due to the absence of legal identity. National identification simplifies
the process of accessing services provided by government institutions and
private organizations that necessitate identification, including employment,
financial services, movement within the country, property ownership, social affairs,
disaster response and aid, and security, for citizens and legal residents. This
will enhance the country's overall economic development and effective good
governance.
The Biometric Identification
Model
Somalia's new identity is a
biometric-based identity that collects 10 hand fingerprints, facial images, and
iris scans in the future, as well as the biographic data such as full name,
mother’s full name, date of birth, place of birth, contact information, and
current address, among others. This identity eliminates multiple registrations,
and having multiple different personalities for the same individual. The data
captured from the people are stored and kept in a central database at a secure
facility, which is overseen by the National Identification and Registration
Authority [NIRA].
The previous manual
identification system in Somalia was destroyed during periods of unrest and is
now deemed inadequate by experts. beyond its repercussions, the system is
unable to adapt to the technological advancements that the country has already
made. More than 75% of Somalis, the majority of whom are young, use mobile
phones. It is the primary means of service delivery, conducting business, and
making payments. More than 27% of the population use the internet, which plays
a crucial role in business, politics, public relations, and social affairs.
This has led Somalia to opt digital
biometric identification system in order to accommodate the changes that the
Somali people are experiencing as they strive for development through the global
technological advancement.
Management of the National ID and
its relationship with other forms of the identifications
National identification is a
legal identity that is essential for citizens and legal residents to access
fundamental rights and services. This does not imply that there is a single
identity document in Somalia or in many other countries; rather, there are
multiple legal identities, such as the birth certificate and the passport. Despite
the fact that these identities serve to identify the fundamental
characteristics of the individuals who possess them; they are interconnected
and necessary for distinct purposes. An individual's birth certificate is the
initial document they receive in order to access the national ID card, which is
essential for obtaining a passport and accessing other services.
In addition, a variety of other
identity documents are issued to enable individuals to access specific services
and domains, including drivers licenses, voter cards, and social protection
cards or numbers. these are referred to as functional IDs and are not
considered foundational legal identities. They are utilized for the distinctive
purpose they fulfil. However, this is not applicable to all cases. In addition
to their original purposes, the driving license and social security number are
considered legal identification in the United States.
Types of identity credentials
Individuals who have been registered
for the Digital National Identification System are assigned to a Unique
Identity Number (UIN), which is a randomly generated eleven-digit number, as
well as an identity certificate, physical ID card, and mobile ID (e-Aqoonsi).
The credentials contain the unique identity number and other essential
information of the registered individual, such as their name and facial image,
as well as security features.
pursuant to the national
identification and registration regulation that was approved by the Council of
Ministers of Federal Government in June 2024, NIRA shall gather the ten hand
fingerprints of every citizen or legal resident who is 15 years of age or older
during the registration process. A physical ID card will be issued to those
whose fingerprints were taken. However, fingerprints are not required for
individuals under the age of 15, and they are therefore ineligible for physical
identification card. Rather, they will be granted an identity certificate that
enables them access to their rights and basic services that do not necessitate
an ID card. The Mobile ID [e-Aqoonsi] is an extension of the identification
card.
Linking National Identity to
Essential services
The national registration and
identification law [law no.009 of March 2023] stipulates that the national ID
database be digitally connected to the government and private entities that
provide services that require the client's identity. The aforementioned law dictates
that the National Identification and Registration Authority, as well as these
entities and the general public, collaborate to implement the ‘know your
customer’ requirement through the use of the national ID verification system.
This is achieved through a
step-by-step verification system that is based on the principle of the consent
of the data subjects to have permission their data shared for verification
purposes. The objective of the verification is to confirm that the identity
holders are the same as the original owners and to verify the accuracy of the
identities by comparing them with the national ID database. Thus, the data
subjects, service providers, and NIRA, the controller of the national ID
database, are all involved in the verification process. The service providers
are required to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NIRA, which
delineates the process of utilizing the verification system, the methods and
responsibilities of data protection, and the coordination procedures.
Many government service
providers, including the Central Bank of Somalia, private banks, and micro
finance institutions, have already signed cooperation MoUs with NIRA, which is
resulting in tangible outcomes. These cooperative endeavors enable the Somali financial
institutions to overcome the long-standing challenges they faced and further
the country's economic development.
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By Arafat Ali Mohamed, a lawyer and member of the Somali Bar Association, is also a member of the Somali Teachers Syndicate. Former Deputy Secretary General of the House of the People. Legal counsel, legal writer, and lecturer. writes about constitutional, federal, judicial, and justice-related matters.
