Somalia has become the seventh nation authorized to issue the East African Community passport, joining Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda in a unified regional travel system. The approval was formalized during a ceremony in Dar es Salaam, where Somalia’s ambassador received official authorization to begin producing the regionally recognized document. Somalia must now undertake technical and administrative preparations, including aligning immigration systems with EAC standards and establishing passport printing processes before full issuance begins. The milestone arrives just one day after Somalia and Tanzania signed a separate immigration cooperation agreement introducing visa-on-arrival privileges for diplomatic and service passport holders while simplifying entry for other travelers. Officials emphasize that the agreements will reduce bureaucratic barriers while boosting trade, education, and professional exchanges across borders.
Business Insider Africa
