The Puntland government has closed its borders to undocumented people, imposing a total ban on the entry of illegal immigrants. Under the leadership of President Syed Abdullah Dini, this initiative has been taken to maintain law and order in the region and prevent possible infiltration of extremist elements. Government agencies are stepping up crackdowns on illegal immigrants, and so far many foreigners have been detained and deported. The decision is part of a larger effort to make security more effective in the region and curb illegal activities.
Puntland officials say the new policy is vital to ensure stability in the region and curb illegal migration. Additionally, the government is taking steps to enforce stricter immigration laws and make the border surveillance system more effective to prevent illegal border movements in the future.
Puntland’s New Immigration Policy and Its Enforcement
The Puntland government has imposed a strict ban on the entry of illegal immigrants, effective from February 19, 2025. Authorities have arrested and deported more than 150 illegal immigrants over the past two weeks. Security forces have tightened border surveillance and deployed more than 500 personnel at key entry points. In addition, the Puntland administration is planning to introduce at least three new immigration laws to effectively control the stay and entry of foreigners.
Security Concerns and the Crackdown on Illegal Entry
According to the Puntland government, the main objective of the crackdown on illegal immigration is to reduce security concerns, particularly to close illegal routes that extremist groups can use to infiltrate. According to intelligence reports, in 2024 Puntland authorities arrested more than 300 foreigners suspected of involvement in illegal activities. Effective operations by security forces have resulted in the complete closure of five major smuggling routes, recording a 40 percent reduction in illegal border movements.
Future Plans for Strengthening Border Control
The Puntland government is planning to introduce a biometric identification system for the registration of foreigners, which will enable strict monitoring of all entrants. Under this strategy, modern surveillance equipment will be installed at 10 key border posts to effectively prevent illegal movement.
The measures are expected to reduce illegal immigration by 60 percent by the end of 2025, according to officials’ estimates. Additionally, Puntland is also working on developing cooperation for cross-border intelligence sharing with three neighboring countries to counter illegal activities.
