Claim: Reports circulated by some local Somali media and individuals on social media claim that Somali government officials were denied U.S. visas. It is also alleged that officials scheduled to attend a conference this April in Washington, organized by the World Bank and IMF, were refused visas, and that relations between the United States and Somalia have deteriorated.
Verdict: False! There is no official evidence that Somali government officials or staff were denied U.S. visas. There is also no credible information indicating that the United States has suspended cooperation with the Somali government.
Full Text
In recent days, several local media outlets and social media users have widely circulated claims that Somali government officials were denied U.S. visas while preparing to attend an economic conference scheduled for April in Washington, D.C.
Some reports further alleged that certain officials had their previously issued visas revoked.
Among the outlets spreading this information was Somali Stream, which claimed that all Somali government officials expected to attend the April conference were denied visas, except for the Minister of Finance. See here and here.
The claim quickly gained traction online, with many individuals discussing and sharing it across social media platforms. In response, somalifactcheck.com investigated the matter to determine the accuracy of these allegations.
Verification
Somali Fact Check conducted an in-depth investigation, including direct contact with the U.S. Embassy, officials from the Somali government, and individuals who applied for visas.
The findings show that more than 10 Somali federal government officials including the Minister of Finance, directors general, advisors, department directors, and assistants were granted U.S. visas to attend the economic conference beginning on April 12 in Washington, D.C. No individual was denied a visa.
It was also confirmed that the delegation of the Minister of Finance had already arrived in Washington. The delegation included:
- Director General of Revenue
- Executive Secretary
- Economic Advisor
- World Bank Portfolio Manager
- National Climate Fund Director
In addition, officials from the offices of the President and Prime Minister, as well as representatives from the Financial Reporting Center (FRC), Ministry of Planning, and the National Statistics Agency, also traveled to the United States to attend the conference.
The U.S. Embassy further confirmed to Somali Fact Check that there has been no targeting of Somali government officials in the visa process.
The evidence that Somali Fact Check reviewed shows that the claims are baseless.
Conclusion
Somalia and the United States have a strong relationship, and the U.S. government supports Somalia in many areas, including the fight against Al-Shabaab and the development of national security forces.
