sadeboi Posted May 13, 2004 Forged Somali passports are as easy to buy as bread in the Garissa Lodge market in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. There is no authority to issue Somali passports - except in the markets Abdifatah Farah Yasin not only sells the passport but also "authenticates" it by putting a seal of the Somali ministry of foreign affairs and forging the signature of the last controller of passports before the break-up of the Somali state. Somalia has had no central government since 1991 and has been wracked by fighting between opposing warlords. "We are doing nothing wrong, we are just playing the role of a Somali government now that there isn't one in our country. Obviously there should be someone offering this service to Somalis," he said. He even offered to sell me a Somali diplomatic passport, for just $100. He said he would indicate in the passport that I was the Somali Ambassador to China or any other country of my choice. He said they are printed in Malaysia and then smuggled into Kenya, where they are sold to Somalis desperate to travel abroad. Free-for-all The ready availability of Somali passports has led to nationals of other countries opting to use it too. The Somali passport has been an attraction to ethnic Somali Kenyans, who can find it difficult to obtain a Kenyan passport. Much of Somalia is in ruins after years of fighting Other nationals who are known to have used the Somali passport include Ethiopians and Eritreans, who resemble Somalis. And this is why Kenya has announced that it will no longer respect Somali passports. The country has twice been hit by terror attacks. They fear that the easy availability of the Somali passport would make it possible for would-be attackers to operate freely within their country. But the ban has badly affected Somali traders, who travel to Kenya to buy their merchandise, often from Garissa Lodge in the Nairobi suburb of Eastleigh. At this market you can buy just about anything from modern electronic equipment to fake university degrees. Many traders in this market used their Somali passports to travel to Far East countries such as China, Thailand and Taiwan for their supply of commodities. Since the ban was announced, numbers at this previously busy market have sharply declined many stalls are now empty. (reported by hiiraan) maybe Abdifitaax Farah can make some passports for Riyaal and it can say on it he's a president of Somali-land for as little as 100 dollers! or even adeer Abdulahi Yusef so he won't be stoped at airports from now on? He can make say Puntlands president. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mowgli Posted May 13, 2004 Asalaama Alaikum lol as far as I knew Somali passport have been easy to buy since the 90's. lol My friend got me a fake passport ages ago...it's lying somewhere back at home...birth certificates are just as easily purchasable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B_A_L_L_E_R_Z Posted May 14, 2004 TOO REAL IT IS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Liqaye Posted May 14, 2004 Idil said: lol as far as I knew Somali passport have been easy to buy since the 90's. lol My friend got me a fake passport ages ago...it's lying somewhere back at home...birth certificates are just as easily purchasable So you can see why I am suprised by the nomads response to this issue. The politics i get but why the funny :eek: look on every ones face? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
