Hiiraan Online

Mogadishu (HOL) — WorldRemit founder Ismail Ahmed has accused Premier Bank of playing a hidden role in Somalia’s new electronic visa system, intensifying a politically sensitive dispute over immigration control, airspace authority and financial transparency between Mogadishu and Somaliland.

Ahmed made the allegations in posts on his personal Facebook page, not via a WorldRemit press release — with dated posts on Nov. 2 and Nov. 6, claiming Premier Bank helped design the federal government’s mandatory e-Visa/eTAS platform and benefits from the visa fees through a partnership with Empire Tech Solutions (ETS), a company he claimed is linked to the family of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

HOL has not independently verified these claims and has requested documentation from all parties.

Premier Bank has rejected the accusations, saying it has no involvement in the federal e-visa platform, no link to Empire Tech Solutions and no political or commercial interest in the program. The bank said it operates exclusively under Somaliland’s financial regulations and provides digital payment services limited to the region.

Ahmed accused the bank of concealing its role in the system and misrepresenting e-visa transactions to international card networks such as Visa and Mastercard. Premier Bank dismissed these claims as unfounded and said it remains compliant with all banking and regulatory standards in Somaliland.

Ahmed also claimed he contacted the bank’s chairman and was told Premier Bank is involved in the e-visa project and works with a third party.

Somalia launched its mandatory electronic visa and travel authorization system on September 1, 2025, framing it as a major step toward modernizing immigration, improving security screening and increasing financial transparency. All foreign travelers must now apply for a visa online before entering the country.

But Somaliland and Puntland rejected the system immediately. Somaliland reaffirmed that only documents issued by its own immigration authority are valid in its territory, while Puntland called the federal system “illegal” and said regional administrations retain authority over airport and border procedures.

The conflicting rules disrupted travel. Dozens of Somaliland-bound passengers were stranded in Dubai and other airports after airlines refused to board travelers lacking federal e-visas. Those who reached Hargeisa were charged an additional $60 Somaliland entry fee, despite having paid the federal $64 e-visa fee.

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) has tightened enforcement. In a directive issued October 31, the agency ordered Flydubai and Ethiopian Airlines to prevent passengers traveling to Hargeisa from boarding without a Somali e-visa. The SCAA warned that noncompliance could lead to fines, suspension of flights or a review of operating permissions.

In response, Somaliland announced that all aircraft entering or overflying its airspace must obtain advance clearance beginning Nov. 10, asserting control over its land and airspace.

Ahmed said the directives prove the e-visa policy is “specifically targeting the people of Somaliland.” His statements drew significant attention given his prominence in the global financial sector and his long-standing support for Somaliland’s bid for recognition. He also referenced Somaliland’s history, including the 1988 bombardment of Hargeisa, when warning against outside control of the region’s airspace.

In one of his posts, Ahmed accused Premier Bank and ETS of designing the payment flows for the e-visa system and said he had shared his findings with the Central Bank of Somaliland, which issues financial licenses there.

He also linked the dispute to wider economic pressures. Ahmed claimed Somalia’s persistent dollar shortages and lower adoption of mobile money in parts of the country create heavy demand for physical U.S. currency, prompting large monthly dollar transfers from Hargeisa to Mogadishu. Somaliland, he added, relies heavily on Zaad and eDahab, reducing domestic dollar demand and stabilizing its currency needs.

Ahmed urged Somaliland to take stronger measures, including suspending direct flights between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, pressuring airlines to restore “Somaliland” on their websites, encouraging passengers to route through Jigjiga, Ethiopia, and limiting dollar transfers to the south.

Federal officials have described the e-visa as a way to centralize revenue collection and strengthen border management. Internal Security Minister Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartaag said visa fees would be deposited directly into government accounts to improve oversight.

Somaliland argues that the system undermines its autonomy, complicates travel and forces airlines to follow a policy it has not adopted. The dispute has drawn international attention, including from Germany, which advised its citizens traveling to Somaliland to follow Somaliland’s entry rules instead of the federal system.

Premier Bank maintained that it supports Somaliland’s financial sector and urged all parties to avoid misinformation and respect regulatory boundaries.