Tuesday February 4, 2025
FILE – Passengers at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport during check-in.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s Ministry of Finance has suspended health card fees imposed on travellers entering and leaving the country, describing them as unlawful and poorly implemented.
The fees, introduced by the Ministry of Health on January 28, 2025, were intended to cover health-related travel requirements, including vaccinations. However, confusion erupted when passengers were asked to pay without prior notice or explanation. Social media platforms were flooded with frustrated travellers recounting chaotic scenes at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport.
In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Finance cited the 2019 Revenue Management Law and a Cabinet decision on unified treasury management as the legal basis for its intervention. The ministry clarified that public fees cannot be imposed without formal approval.
“The Ministry of Finance holds exclusive authority over the approval and collection of public fees,” the statement read, adding that any charges imposed without its consent are null and void. It directed all relevant agencies, including airport and immigration authorities, to stop collecting fees immediately.
Deputy Finance Minister Abdiqafar Elmi Haange, who signed the directive, reiterated the importance of legal compliance, noting that the Finance Ministry would not allow arbitrary fees to burden citizens.
Travellers who had been subject to the charges expressed frustration, describing the sudden rollout as poorly communicated and disruptive. The confusion began earlier when passengers at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport were asked to pay for health cards without prior notice. One passenger, a mother travelling with her children, said she had to delay her flight due to the unexpected fees. “There was no announcement or information. I didn’t even know what the fee was for,” she said. “It was a mess.”
FILE – Deputy Finance Minister Abdiqafar Elmi Haange
The swift response from the Finance Ministry appeared to be aimed at quelling public discontent and ensuring that any future fees would be implemented transparently.
According to the Finance Ministry’s statement, health authorities must follow formal procedures to propose mandatory health fees. If the National Health Institute or the Ministry of Health wishes to introduce vaccination requirements or health cards for passengers, they must submit an official request accompanied by a detailed financial assessment.
The Finance Ministry will then review the proposal in consultation with stakeholders before approving any legally compliant charges. Deputy Finance Haange stressed that public fees cannot be imposed arbitrarily.
“We are committed to a system where no fee is imposed without proper justification and legal backing.”
