š Share this article US and UK Caution of Major Electronic Visa Security Compromise in Somalia Somali Presidential Palace At least 35,000 applicants may be compromised, alerts the American embassy A major information leak in the Federal Republic of Somalia's digital visa application system potentially disclosed private data belonging to many thousands of individuals, involving United States passport holders, the American embassy in the Somali nation has cautioned. The embassy reported obtained reliable information that "unknown cyber attackers" compromised the Somali government's digital visa application portal, likely endangering details concerning roughly 35,000 people. The exposed records circulating online contain full names, photos, birth dates, marital status, residential locations and electronic mail addresses, according to a US embassy statement released on Thursday. "This information compromise remains active and potentially disclose any personal data provided to the system," the UK has also warned visitors. "Consider the risks when considering application for an electronic visa mandatory for travel to the Somali nation." Government Response Federal administration representatives have not issued statements regarding the incident. Nevertheless authorities has shifted visa application system from the previous platform the initial application portal to the new system the updated platform, without providing a public clarification. "While Embassy Mogadishu cannot verify whether applicant details is included in the compromise, travelers who have requested visas through the electronic visa system may be affected," the US' statement stated. Regional Implications Somalia's new system mandates every visitor, incorporating applicants from the independently governed area of Somaliland and the self-governing territory of the northeastern region, to apply for travel visas via electronic platforms. Opponents claim applicants have experienced extra fees in certain regions, totaling double charges. Political Context Somaliland, that proclaimed statehood in 1991, manages its territory via separate governmental bodies although it lacks internationally recognised. The Federal Government maintains that the region continues to belong to its national domain. The reported compromise adds to long-running tensions concerning central government and northern authorities concerning jurisdiction of national air territory. Although federal authorities re-established total jurisdiction of its airspace in recent years, Somaliland continues to contest this agreement. Current Developments The dispute escalated further in recent days as the northern region's leader the regional leader stated the northern territory would reject the federal e-visa system and directed that carriers need to acquire authorization from Somaliland officials before entering their territorial skies. Yet prominent aviation companies have refused to process individuals lacking federal visa authorization. On Saturday, Hargeisa's international relations official Abdirahman Dahir Aadan reaffirmed that "every person entering the northern territory can acquire entry permission at the point of entry", declaring the federal electronic visa platform was not safe and warning that "personal information could be accessed by radical elements" because of utilizing the system. Aviation Challenges The stand-off has resulted in numerous passengers destined for the northern region unable to board flights following refusal of entry for lacking the federal electronic visa. The northern region's aviation official, the transport official, has stated to journalistic entities that the directives - initially declared earlier this year - became operational on the tenth of November. Officials declared companies that ignore will be told to divert, and asserted numerous flights had already been rerouted. Airspace Control Conflict Video evidence published by the northern region's air transport department appears to show regional aviation officials giving directions to international pilots - a move applauded locally as a confirmation of northern self-governance. Nevertheless Mogadishu's air transport department insists it maintains sole administrative and legal control regarding the Mogadishu Flight Information Region (FIR), that includes the whole nation's airspace. Officials have directed every plane to pay no attention to all directives coming from entities except Mogadishu. Officials cautioned that failing to comply with national and worldwide air transport standards could create aviation dangers and result in "serious legal consequences".