The Italian government has announced an immediate suspension of Schengen visa processing for applications submitted through its embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The announcement was made on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday by the Italian Embassy in Nairobi, which stated, “Please be informed that the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi has suspended with immediate effect the issuance of entry Schengen visas for all those applications that are processed by the Embassy of Italy in Mogadishu. For further info, please contact the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi.”
While no official reason was provided for the suspension, the move comes after the European Union Commission proposed new visa restrictions for Somalia in July 2024. The EU’s proposal aims to increase cooperation with Somalia on the readmission of Somali nationals who have overstayed or entered the EU without proper documentation.
The proposal, pending approval by the EU Council, seeks to issue only single-entry visas to Somali nationals, increase visa fees, and extend application processing times from 15 to 45 days. Additionally, the EU may suspend certain regulations requiring the submission of supporting documents for visa applications.
