The Somali government has contracted international identity firm HID Global to produce a new national identity card and e-passports, hoping to reduce the amount of fraudulent identification documents.
The programme involved HID along with Oman-based Al Madina Group and Ebtikart Smart System.
“The introduction of these secure identity documents and supporting solutions will help the government of Somalia in its efforts to restore law and order, enhance economic development, and improve the standard of living for the citizens of Somalia,” HID Global said in a statement.
“The national citizen ID documents improve the security situation in the country by enabling law enforcement agencies to verify citizens’ identities, while the e-passport facilitates international travel across borders.”
The electronic passport complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards allowing Somali nationals to travel abroad without worrying about fraud.
“We are excited for the future of Somalia and appreciate the government’s commitment to the highest international security standards,” said Sheila Jamal, president of Al Madina Group.
HID Global will manufacture and provide secure chip-enabled electronic passport covers and a custom national ID card with numerous security features.
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