The National Registration and Identification Agency of Somalia (NIRA) which has recently launched the publication of the Somali Identity Card, has spoken about many discussions that have sparked a debate in the community about whether this card will be used by the Somali government. Will the election of Person and Voice.
The General Manager of NIRA Abdiweli Ali Abdulle (Timacadde) told the BBC’s Somali language branch that getting this card is not connected with the election, it is important for the citizen to have this card at all times.
“We are working on an identity, this identity is one you have for life. Before and after the election are required and they are not connected,” said Manager Timacadde.
He added that the electoral commission is responsible for using the identity card to verify the people who are registering.
“It cannot be said that only one election is being held, the government has bigger priorities such as people traveling, getting government services and it is not something special for the election”.
The World Bank is supporting the cost of the ID card in Somalia, while the process was supported by the government of Pakistan.
“The process is under our control and the information of the Somali people. It is very protected and no one else can access it,” he added.
Somalia joined the East African Community in March of last year, with its headquarters in the city of Arusha in Tanzania, becoming the eighth country, after a long period of campaigning for its accession. Other countries that are united in this organization are the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Tanzania.
