Somaliland Embassy in Addis Ababa suspends issuing visas, amid Coronavirus fears

SOMALILAND.COM – Somaliland government has temporarily suspended issuing visas in its Addis Ababa embassy for an indefinite time. 

Somaliland’s embassy in Ethiopia made the announcement in a statement published on Twitter.

The embassy said Somaliland will suspend issuing new visas to all people coming from Ethiopia for a short period of time.

This came in the day Ethiopia recorded its first coronavirus case. Ethiopia has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, the country’s public health institute said.

Takele Uma Banti, the mayor of the capital Addis Ababa, tweeted that a Japanese citizen was the person affected.

“We should avoid meetings and hand contacts,” the mayor wrote on Twitter.

On the other hand, the ambassador told Somaliland nationals in Ethiopia to follow the government’s health guidelines.

Somaliland shares a long border with Ethiopia and has the most trade and people movement among its neighbors. 

Ethiopia is also the major entry point for international travelers coming to Somaliland.