MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – A scandal has erupted over the denial of U.S. visas to more than 30 Somali Members of Parliament seeking to visit Somali communities in the United States.
This controversy was ignited during a recent committee hearing, where it was revealed that the U.S. Embassy had issued 700 visas for civil servants, of which only 100 have returned to Somalia.
Somali parliamentarians believe the rest were smuggled into the U.S.
However, these statistics were presented without official documentation from the U.S. Embassy.
In a letter dated July 30, 2024, addressed to U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Richard H. Riley, Abdillahi Hashi Abib, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his concerns.
MP Abib detailed how Members of Parliament, despite following the appropriate procedural chain for visa applications, encountered significant obstacles.
“I have been advising the members of parliament to ensure they followed the correct procedural chain for obtaining the necessary documents,” Abib stated.
The process included securing an official invitation from the U.S.-based Somali community, obtaining letters of support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and submitting documents through the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
Despite these diligent efforts, one Somali lawmaker reported being asked to reapply for a B2 visa instead of the initially requested A1 visa due to the absence of an official invitation to meet U.S. officials.
This misguidance, received from the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, added further confusion and financial burden on the applicants. “The Federal Republic of Somalia Embassy in Nairobi then informed the member to apply online and pay a fee of $600,” Abib highlighted.
Further compounding the issue, MP Abib raised concerns about potential political bias in the visa issuance process.
He noted that another Member of Parliament, affiliated with Villa Somalia, received a U.S. visa without issues.
This discrepancy suggests possible political influence in the visa process.
“Opposition members who had their visas denied are questioning whether this selective issuance of visas might be influenced by political considerations,” Abib wrote.
Abib’s letter underscores the broader implications of these visa denials, suggesting an attempt to limit opposition members’ engagement with the Somali diaspora in the U.S., potentially affecting their support base and the standing of the current administration.
“This raises serious concerns about the integrity of the visa process and its potential use as a tool to suppress political dissent,” MP Abib concluded.
Adding to the controversy, this visa issue comes amidst another scandal involving Somali government officials and human trafficking.
The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu recently suspended issuing visas to Somali service passport holders due to increasing cases of human traffickers misusing the passports.
Similarly, the Italian Embassy refused more than 70 visa applications from Somali government officials and employees suspected of involvement in human smuggling.
The U.S. Embassy is yet to comment on the visa denial allegations, leaving the situation unresolved and the concerns of the Somali government unaddressed.