Foreign intelligence specialists flee Somalia for data breach

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 60 foreign intelligence specialists fled from Somalia after exposing information of 35,000 visa applicants, sources say, in what has been considered the worst data breach in recent times.

The affected individual fears being targeted by the country’s authorities after targeting applicants, including those from the United States. So severe was the breach that the foreign embassies have informed Somalia that they will not abide by the regulations of the E-Visa system.

Most of these individuals left the country within the past 24 hours due to concerns that their personal information was among the accessed data. Reports suggest a tense atmosphere within government institutions, particularly concerning the extent of the data breach.

"Leaked data from the breach included visa applicants' names, photos, dates and places of birth, email addresses, marital status, and home addresses," stated the release from the U.S. Embassy.

Although the US embassy in Mogadishu did not confirm that the individual data was compromised, it has, however, admitted that those who had applied may have been affected by the breach, which was noted early this week.

The unfortunate incident was guided by the deterioration of the relationship between the federal government of Somalia and the federal member states. For instance, states like Puntland and Jubaland have criticised constitutional changes in the country.

Somalia is also battling serious security concerns, including the Al-Shabaab insurgency, which has left thousands of people dead. ISIS militants are also active in the northern state of Puntland, with the region currently involved in the war against them.

At the same time, the country is also facing ongoing humanitarian issues from extreme weather events. They're also facing shortages as the U.S. has cut foreign aid in the area.

Somalia's Interior Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, brushed off the allegations that foreign military could be involved as "baseless fabrications from enemies of Somalia's progress."

In a televised statement, he declared, "The government of Somalia has no involvement in any foreign military transfers," and added, "This was a criminal cyberattack designed to discredit our institutions."

GAROWE ONLINE