Tooth,
Read this from Wardheernews editorial;
The perils of false Identity & its dire consequence on Somali nationals
WardheerNews Editorial
August 19, 2005
Since the state of Somalia failed in the 1990s as a result of civil war, all national institutions have been decimated and totally destroyed. Government ministries, law enforcement and public safety agencies, army, schools, and social service institutions had collapsed. In particular the once well-controlled immigration department has been either gutted or looted by some of the warlords. A case in point is the Somali passport infrastructure, which is currently in the hands of various private individuals across the globe. A worrisome problem, especially considering the situation of global political unrest.
There is no authority to issue Somali passports - It is bought in the markets and issued by private individuals .
As one journalist who visited Somalia last April noted, a fake Somali passport in the market alleys of Bossaso or in Mogadishu's Bakaraha open market are sold for as little as $10. Forged Somali passports are also widely available in the markets and lodges of the Nairobi suburb of East Leigh. Recently Maxamed Caddow of the BBC World service reported that he was offered a Somali Diplomatic passport, which elevated his personal status to that of a high ranking Somali Ambassador to China or any other country of his choice for a fee of just $100.
To make matters worse, today any "terrorist" or criminal from anywhere is poised to acquire Somalia's passport without the slightest hiccup. This easy availability of Somali passports has led to thousands of nationals of other countries, including East Africans and Middle Easterners who are taking advantage of the lack of central authority had acquired Somali passports. It is important to note that at present criminals and "terrorists" alike from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen and elsewhere use the Somali passport.
With passports and guns freely available, those wanting to launch terror attacks & criminal activities have just about everything they need.
Call it identity theft or fraud! Whatever one calls it, it is a serious crime that is now coming home to roost and haunt the entire Somali public at home and in the Diaspora. The recent London attacks have brought to light the ongoing dilemma of non-Somalis claiming Somali identity in order to acquire favorable immigration status in Europe, Canada and the United States of America.
The Somali community is a peaceful and law abiding immigrant community that appreciates the assistance and support provided by the countries that hosted them in their moment of need when their country of origin was in turmoil. The community indeed remains grateful to host countries for the compassion and generosity they have shown them and their families. As the saying goes “a friend in need is a friend indeed.â€Â
In the wake of the most recent London bombings, a serious issue of forged identity was highlighted as some of the botched bombers claimed Somali identity while they actually hailed from other neighboring East African countries.
The Somali name has been heard throughout the news media outlets in a negative manner as some of the failed London bombers were thought to be Somali immigrants. certainly, the alleged suspects used Somali identities to facilitate their entry into United Kingdom and gain legal status.
No doubt that the culprits were Somalis, be it those who are selling Somali passports to criminals for few dollars or those assisting non-Somali individuals in developing a false identity. Once non-Somalis acquire false Somali identity in the black market, the dangers that loom to the national security of their host country is beyond any one's control.
Hamdi Issac
Take the case of Hamdi Issac, the alleged Ethiopian born terrorist who is accused of the failed attacks in London on July 21 st. He had gained legal status in Britain by claiming a false Somali identity. Or the Yemeni national who gained asylum status in the U.S. in the late nineties and was later held as a material witness for the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. Once found guilty, this Yemeni individual has been deported by the Immigration and Naturalization service to his country of origin.
Cases pertaining to falsifying one's identity by claiming Somali refugee status, a status looked favorably by western countries and their court systems, is a common place and is not only confined to Middle Eastern and East African nationals. Other African asylum seekers in Europe, Canada and the U.S. have also used false Somali identity.
A Nigerian asylum seeker who was caught red-handed by the immigration officers in San Francisco applied for an asylee status by claiming that he was a citizen of Somalia, and did not have a safe country to return to. Once discovered that this individual was in fact a Nigerian and not a Somali citizen, the immigration authorities in San Francisco decided to hang his mug shot on the walls of the offices of the Immigration and naturalization headquarters in San Francisco. The goal of the U.S. authorities is said, was to discourage future applicants to claim such false identity.
Forged Somali passports and birth certificates, as well as other documents had proliferated the black markets of Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Asmara, Sana and Djibouti. Currently there is no Somalia government to speak of, that could monitor and intervene in the perpetuation of the falsification of Somali identity documents in the world of "terrorism" and criminal activities.
WardheerNews urges that, as a long-term policy measure, the international community must reinforce and support the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to put an end to the chaos and conflict and institute an effective central authority in the country that is capable of restoring peace and normalcy. This assistance will enable the TFG to reestablish legal and security institutions that will hold serious offenders accountable for the crimes they have committed. Somalia needs the assistance of the United States of America, The U.K., Canada and other Western donor countries. This is so especially in light of the fact that said countries host at least one million Somali immigrants who still maintain regular contact with their country of origin.
As part of the global war on terrorism, the U.S. has reportedly helped Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti to have a digital and chip sensor implanted, highly secure passport system that can not be easily falsified. The international community should likewise provide the necessary technical and financial assistance to the TFG in its effort to implement a national passport solution. Government control and monitoring of Somali National passport would go a long way in suppressing the illegal use of the Somali passport, while providing Somali nationals with genuine legitimate travel documents. Finally, if stabilized, Somalia can contribute positively in the fight against terrorism in the region as well as at the world at large.
