Sunday February 1, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali and Egyptian authorities on Saturday denied reports claiming that Somali passports had been suspended or barred from travel to Egypt, saying flights and immigration procedures between the two countries remain unchanged.
Flights between Somalia and Egypt were operating normally as of Friday, with no restrictions imposed on Somali travelers, officials said.
"The Somali passengers holding valid travel documents and the required entry permits can continue to travel to Cairo as usual," it added.
Somalia’s Immigration and Citizenship Authority echoed the denial, describing the reports as false and urging the public to rely on official sources rather than unverified claims circulating online. The authority said movement between the two countries remains unaffected.
The misinformation has caused anxiety among Somali travelers planning to visit or transit through Egypt in recent days, according to officials.
HOL spoke with a Somali citizen who traveled to Cairo on Saturday using a Somali passport. She said she encountered no difficulties during her journey and did not witness any Somali passengers facing problems upon arrival. She urged the public to verify information carefully before making travel or administrative decisions based on online claims.
Somali immigration officials reiterated that there are no new measures restricting travel and dismissed reports of passport suspensions as unfounded.
Both governments emphasized that Somalia and Egypt maintain strong diplomatic ties and long-standing cooperation, particularly in education, politics, trade and security, and said there has been no policy shift affecting travel between the two countries.
