Intense friction has emerged in recent days among senior leadership within Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Agency, with tensions centering specifically on the passport processing center in Mogadishu’s Abdiaziz district.
The dispute reportedly stemmed from an appointment made by the agency’s Head of Investigations, Abdi-Qafar Ahmed Hasan, who deployed a new officer to the investigation unit at the Abdiaziz facility.
This move sparked contention because the newly assigned officer arrived while an incumbent officer was already stationed in the investigative role.
According to incoming reports, the situation created a deadlock regarding reporting lines and administrative authority within the center.
The friction ultimately escalated to the point where the Director General of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency, Hussein Idow, intervened, visiting the Abdiaziz facility yesterday afternoon to hear out the conflicting parties and seek a resolution to the dispute.
Sources indicate that the facility’s manager informed the Director General that he would not accept what he termed an unlawful exertion of authority interfering with the administration of the investigation unit, insisting that appointments and center management are governed by established procedures and protocols.
Emerging reports also suggest that Director General Hussein Idow departed from the Immigration Agency’s Abdiaziz branch office, though official confirmation is still pending.
This event coincides with a period during which the Immigration and Citizenship Agency is experiencing internal disputes regarding operations and administration.
The standoff at the Abdiaziz facility has raised numerous questions regarding the hierarchy of official authorities and the procedures governing staff appointments within the agency.
The Abdiaziz branch is among the vital locations where the residents of Mogadishu access passport services and other travel-related assistance.
Consequently, any friction disrupting the center’s administration risks impacting the services delivered to the public.
Citizens seeking services have also raised complaints concerning the processing of passports, particularly regarding queues, service-delivery workflows, and extra administrative fees reported by some individuals.
Attention is now focused on the response of the Immigration and Citizenship Agency regarding the events at the Abdiaziz center, the rationale behind deploying the new officer, and institutional jurisdictions over staff appointments across passport facilities.
Furthermore, it remains essential for the agency to clarify reports concerning the departure of the Director General from the branch and whether this relates to the administrative friction witnessed in recent days.
To date, no official statement has been fully released by the Immigration and Citizenship Agency detailing the root causes of the dispute or the measures taken.
This development consequently intensifies scrutiny over internal governance within the Immigration and Citizenship Agency and whether leadership friction might impair critical public services provided to Somali citizens.