Several sources have reported that Somali passports are illegally bought and sold in Mogadishu's Bakara market (Africa News 24 Apr. 1996; AP 29 Aug. 1992; The Independent 4 Jan. 1994; The New York Times 15 Dec. 1992; The Toronto Star 28 Aug. 1992; The Washington Post 30 Dec. 1992). Some sources stated that the cost to obtain a passport was roughly $50 (AP 29 Aug. 1992; The New York Times 15 Dec. 1992; The Toronto Star 28 Aug. 1992). According to a 28 Nov. 1992 report in The Ottawa Citizen, falsified passports and visas to the United States could be obtained in Somalia as well as in neighbouring countries.

Two July 1991 news reports stated that the Somali embassy in the United States was heavily involved in a fraudulent passport operation (AP 26 July 1991; The Toronto Star 14 July 1991). According to a Canadian immigration official, the Somali embassy in Washington D.C. sold passports illegally for $500 to $3000 (AP 26 July 1991). AFP in 1992 reported that the Somali embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, was also involved in selling falsified passports to fleeing Somalis for US$87 (26 Nov. 1992).

Many news reports indicate that several countries have seized falsified Somali passports (AFP 26 Jan. 1993; The New York Times 23 June 1992; PAP 17 Mar. 1992; Reuters 28 Dec. 1992; Yleis Radio 28 Aug. 1992). In Italy, for example, 900 passports, allegedly stolen from government offices in Mogadishu, were confiscated by police (AFP 26 Jan. 1993; Reuters 28 Dec. 1992). Estonian, Lithuanian and Polish authorities have also seized falsified Somali passports (The New York Times 23 June 1992; PAP 17 Mar. 1992; Yleis Radio 28 Aug. 1992). For additional information on falsified Somali passports, please consult the attached documents.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa News [Durham, NC]. April 1996. Corinne Archer. "Somalia Violence On the Upsurge." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 January 1993. "Fake Somali Passports Exploit Italian Kindness." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 November 1992. "Somali Embassy in Stockholm Selling Fake Passports." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 29 August 1992. Greg Myre. AM Cycle. "For Those with Money, Somalia Is a Land of Plenty." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 July 1991. Alan Flippen. AM Cycle. "Canada-Bound Refugees Overwhelm Buffalo's Shelters." (NEXIS)

The Independent [London]. 4 January 1994. Michael Phillips. "Passport to a Free Market in Somalia." (NEXIS)

The New York Times. 15 December 1992. Final Edition. Donatella Lorch. "Unpaid for Three Years, a Somali Still Directs Traffic." (NEXIS)

_____. 23 June 1992. Final Edition. William E. Schmidt. "Leaky Borders Fill Baltics Brimful With Intrigue." (NEXIS)

The Ottawa Citizen. 28 November 1992. Final Edition. Jacquie Miller. "The Somalis: Flight From Chaos Ends in Struggle for New Lives in Ottawa." (NEXIS)

PAP News Wire. 17 March 1992. "Thirty Somalian Citizens Apprehended at Polish Eastern Borders." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 28 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Italy Uncovers Scheme to Sell Somali Passports." (NEXIS)

The Toronto Star. 28 August 1992. Final Edition. Paul Watson. "Amid Anarchy It's Business as Usual in Somalia." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 July 1991. Paul Watson. "Policy Strands Refugees at Border." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 30 December 1992. Final Edition. Keith B. Richburg. "Somali Markets Shaken Up By Influx of Food: Observers Assess Effects on Legal, Illegal Supplies." (NEXIS)

Yleis Radio [Helsinki, in English]. 28 August 1992. "Tallinn Harbour Officials Confiscate Hundreds of False Passports." (BBC Summary 31 Aug. 1992/NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 26 January 1993. "Fake Somali Passports Exploit Italian Kindness." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 November 1992. "Somali Embassy in Stockholm Selling Fake Passports." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 26 July 1991. AM Cycle. Alan Flippen. "Canada-Bound Refugees Overwhelm Buffalo's Shelters." (NEXIS)

The Independent [London]. 4 January 1994. Michael Phillips. "Passport to a Free Market in Somalia." (NEXIS)

The New York Times. 15 December 1992. Final Edition. Donatella Lorch. "Unpaid for Three Years, a Somali Still Directs Traffic." (NEXIS)

_____. 23 June 1992. Final Edition. William E. Schmidt. "Leaky Borders Fill Baltics Brimful With Intrigue." (NEXIS)

PAP News Wire. 17 March 1992. "Thirty Somalian Citizens Apprehended at Polish Eastern Borders." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 28 December 1992. BC Cycle. "Italy Uncovers Scheme to Sell Somali Passports." (NEXIS)

Yleis Radio [Helsinki, in English]. 28 August 1992. "Tallinn Harbour Officials Confiscate Hundreds of False Passports." (BBC Summary 31 Aug. 1992/NEXIS)

African Confidential. 1991-1996.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series. 1991-1996.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, International Services Group (ISG), Hull. 1995-1996.

DIRB Somalia Country Files. 1991-1996.

The Europa World Yearbook.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1991-1996.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 1991-1996.