Department of Citizenship and Registration

Jun 01, 2025

Vision

To build a reliable, secure, and inclusive national identity system that upholds the citizenship rights of all Somalilanders and supports effective governance.

Mission

To manage the registration of citizens, issuance of national identity documents, and determination of citizenship status in a transparent, efficient, and lawful manner, contributing to national security, development, and service delivery.

Core Values

  • Legitimacy: Ensuring that citizenship and identity documents are legally issued and protected.

  • Integrity: Adhering to ethical and lawful registration processes.

  • Inclusivity: Ensuring no eligible citizen is left unregistered.

  • Confidentiality: Protecting personal information and data.

  • Efficiency: Delivering fast, accessible, and citizen-centered services.

Departmental Strategic Goals

  1. Strengthen National ID and Civil Registration Systems

    • Digitize birth, death, marriage, and national ID records.

    • Establish centralized and secure databases for citizen information.

    • Expand mobile and regional registration services to reach rural communities.

  2. Ensure Accurate and Lawful Determination of Citizenship

    • Develop clear legal frameworks and procedures for granting or confirming citizenship.

    • Prevent and investigate fraudulent registrations or identity misuse.

    • Coordinate with security and immigration departments to verify documents.

  3. Improve Service Delivery and Accessibility

    • Streamline application and issuance processes for ID cards and certificates.

    • Establish citizen service centers at district and regional levels.

    • Provide multilingual support (Somali, Arabic, and English) to citizens.

  4. Enhance Interagency Coordination and Data Sharing

    • Link the registration system with law enforcement, health, education, and electoral bodies.

    • Support national planning through accurate population and demographic data.

    • Facilitate voter registration, social services, and tax systems using ID databases.

  5. Raise Public Awareness and Promote Registration

    • Conduct nationwide campaigns encouraging birth registration and ID acquisition.

    • Educate citizens about the benefits and legal importance of registration.

    • Partner with community leaders and media to promote mass registration drives.

  6. Ensure Legal Protection and Rights of Citizens

    • Provide support for stateless individuals and those with disputed identities.

    • Safeguard citizenship rights through fair appeal and dispute resolution mechanisms.

    • Work with legal and human rights institutions to prevent discrimination.

  7. Develop Staff Capacity and Institutional Infrastructure

    • Train registration officers in data security, legal frameworks, and customer service.

    • Modernize equipment, software, and registration facilities.

    • Ensure accountability and monitoring mechanisms across regional offices.