Subject: The Right to Return is Not For Sale: A Call to Abolish the E-Visa for Somali Citizens

Excellencies,

We write to you today not as foreigners, but as your sons and daughters. We are the doctors, engineers, students, truck drivers, and entrepreneurs who were scattered to the winds by the storm of civil war. We are the ones who have kept the heart of Somalia beating from afar, through decades of relentless hardship.

Our remittances have been the bedrock of the nation’s survival, providing a lifeline for millions of our relatives and funding the very foundations of recovery. Our investments are rebuilding our cities, our skills are desperately needed, and our love for our homeland is unwavering.

Yet, we are now met with a profound and painful betrayal: the Somali E-Visa system.

This policy places a digital tollbooth at the border of our own country. It demands a ransom for a right that is inherent, sacred, and guaranteed by the Provisional Federal Constitution of Somalia—the right of every Somali citizen to return to their homeland.

To us, this is not modernization; it is monetization of our citizenship. It is a message that our value is measured in foreign currency, not in our shared blood, our sacrifices, or our enduring hope for Somalia.

Therefore, we, the undersigned members of the global Somali diaspora, state our unequivocal opposition to the E-Visa requirement for Somali citizens and dual nationals. We declare that the right to return is fundamental and must not be taxed.

We demand the following:

1. Immediate Suspension: The immediate and unconditional suspension of the E-Visa mandate for all Somali passport holders and dual nationals.
2. Constitutional Review: A full, transparent, and public review by independent Courts to affirm that this policy does not violate our fundamental rights as citizens.
3. Inclusive Dialogue: The formation of a committee with genuine representation from the diaspora and Federal Member States to design a dignified and modern entry system that facilitates—rather than penalizes—the return of Somalis.

The diaspora is not a resource to be extracted from; we are partners to be embraced. This policy risks alienating the very people who possess the resources, skills, and passion to lead Somalia into a prosperous future.

Do not extinguish our hope. Do not lock the door to those who helped build the house.

We await your immediate action.

Respectfully,

The Somali Diaspora

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This open letter is endorsed by: Somali Diaspora Associations Across Europe, North America, and the Gulf, The Somali Economic Forum, The Somali Youth Development Network, and the countless individual sons and daughters of Somalia who demand the right to return home with dignity.

A New Capital for a New Somalia: Relocating the Seat of Government to Forge a Unified Future

By Ismail H. Warsame Copyright © 2025 WDM

Executive Summary

For over three decades, Mogadishu has functioned less as a national capital and more as a contested prize. The city’s entrenched clan-based power structures, severe security challenges, and symbolic association with conflict undermine its ability to serve as a neutral and unifying seat of federal power. This brief argues that relocating Somalia’s capital is not merely an infrastructural project, but a fundamental prerequisite for lasting state-building and federal cohesion.

Drawing on successful precedents from Nigeria (Abuja), Tanzania (Dodoma), and Kazakhstan (Astana), this paper outlines a feasible strategy for establishing a purpose-built Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A new, centrally located capital would be politically neutral, secure, and symbolically owned by all Somali people. It would catalyze economic development, strengthen federal institutions, and demonstrate a decisive break from the divisive politics of the past.

1.0 Problem Statement: The Case Against Mogadishu

Mogadishu’s role as the capital is a legacy of a pre-civil war state and is fundamentally incompatible with the goals of a modern, federal Somalia.

· 1.1 Political Capture & Exclusion: The perception of clan hegemony over key institutions and territories in Mogadishu fosters deep-seated alienation among other Somali communities. This reality undermines the legitimacy of the federal government and perpetuates a cycle of political exclusion and instability.
· 1.2 Security as a Barrier to Governance: The fact that the government operates from fortified compounds, reliant on international security forces, is not a sustainable model. This environment stifles free political engagement, public access to institutions, and the normalization of civic life.
· 1.3 Symbolic Failure: A national capital should be a symbol of unity and pride. Instead, Mogadishu evokes fear, resentment, and trauma for many Somalis, acting as a constant reminder of division rather than a beacon of collective national identity.

2.0 International Precedents: Strategic Capital Relocation

History offers clear blueprints for successfully relocating a capital to overcome internal divisions and strategic vulnerabilities.

· Nigeria (Abuja): Relocated from Lagos to a geographically and ethnically neutral central zone to promote national unity and decentralize economic power.
· Tanzania (Dodoma): Moved the political capital from Dar es Salaam to integrate the interior and solidify national cohesion.
· Kazakhstan (Astana): moved the capital northward to secure its territory, rebalance demographic pressures, and stimulate economic development in a remote region.

These examples demonstrate that with political will and careful planning, building a new capital is a viable nation-building strategy.

3.0 Policy Proposal: A Framework for a New Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

This proposal outlines a phased, pragmatic approach to establishing a new capital.

· 3.1 Location Criteria:
  · Political Neutrality: A central location, e.g.,  with access to multiple tribes (clans) like Mudugh- land without exclusive historical clan ownership claims.
  · Security & Strategic Value: Inland to mitigate external threats, yet proximate to major transportation and economic corridors.
  · Land Availability: Ample, sparsely populated territory that can be acquired transparently by a national land commission for public use.
· 3.2 Constitutional and Legal Framework:
  · Enact a constitutional amendment designating the new city as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with a special administrative status.
  · Establish an independent Federal Capital Authority (FCA) tasked with planning, governance, and management of the FCT.
· 3.3 Urban Planning and Infrastructure:
  · Develop a master plan for core government functions (Parliament, Presidency, Supreme Court, foreign embassies).
  · Prioritize modern, sustainable infrastructure: renewable energy, digital connectivity, and integrated public transit.
  · Plan for residential zones, public services, and commercial districts to create a livable city from the outset.
· 3.4 Phased Implementation Roadmap:
  · Phase 1 (Years 0-2): Political consensus building, constitutional amendment, site selection, and establishment of the FCA.
  · Phase 2 (Years 2-5): Initial infrastructure development (roads, power, water) and construction of essential government buildings.
  · Phase 3 (Years 5-10+): Gradual relocation of federal ministries, agencies, and the diplomatic community.

4.0 Expected Benefits

· Political: Establishes a neutral ground for federal politics, free from the influence of localized militias. Strengthens the legitimacy of the federal project for all member states.
· Economic: Creates massive employment in construction and services. Attracts diaspora investment into new real estate and technology sectors. Redistributes national wealth and ends Mogadishu-centric development.
· Security & Diplomacy: Provides a secure environment for government operations and encourages the international community to engage directly with Somali institutions in a stable setting.

5.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

Maintaining Mogadishu as the capital is an act of convenience that perpetuates Somalia’s deepest dysfunctions. The bold but necessary step of relocating the seat of government is an investment in Somalia’s future—a definitive statement that the nation is moving beyond the conflicts of the past.

Mogadishu will rightly remain Somalia’s primary commercial and cultural hub. However, its tenure as the political center must end. We recommend that the Federal Government of Somalia immediately initiate a national dialogue and commit to a feasibility study for this critical nation-building endeavor.