Somaliland gov’t on Thursday has issued a new directive which it informed foreign nationals who stay in the country illegally to register in order to be given temporary residential permits. This was disclosed in a press release issued by the ministry of Interior.
The press statement said that foreign nationals must go to immigration departments and register. The registration will last for three weeks starting from the 6th of May, 2025 and will end on the 26th of May, 2025. The statement went on to say that those who register will be given temporary residential permits.
The gov’t revealed that those who register will pay taxes. Foreign nationals are informed to write applications to the immigration department in order to get information regarding the conditions that they have to fulfill in order to stay and live in Somaliland. The press statement further added that any foreign nationals who wants to leave the country can do so within a matter of three weeks but he or she has to register in the border crossing posts.
The ministry of interior informed the security forces to take action against those who do not comply with the directive. The ministry of interior issued a directive which it informed foreign nationals to leave the country within a matter of three days. The notification issued by the ministry comes at a time when Ethiopian envoy to Somaliland, Teshome Shunde Hamito held a meeting with Somaliland President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi Irro and discussed on immigration issues.
He spoke with the government to facilitate the expulsion of foreign nationals hailing from Ethiopia. There are thousands of Ethiopians citizens who live and do lower income jobs in Somaliland. Most of them do not have residential work permits. The security forces conduct operations against foreign nationals and deport back to Ethiopia.
