• Somalia made the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) mandatory for all imports and exports as of late September.

• The system ends the exclusive revenue control long held by Somaliland, Puntland and Jubbaland over their ports.

• Non-compliant importers face penalties including fines, asset seizure, licence suspension or criminal prosecution.

Somalia has adopted the mandatory use of the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) as the government seeks to curb fraud and tighten control over port revenues. More than twenty African countries already use similar systems to strengthen trade governance.

The government has enforced the requirement following a directive from the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport. The measure, which took effect in late September, applies to all imports and exports passing through Somali ports. Authorities introduced the ECTN in February 2023, but the system had seen uneven implementation across port facilities.

The ministry now requires importers to obtain an ECTN through the official platform, ctnsomalia.com, before any loading or unloading operation. Importers must include the ECTN number on the bill of lading. Customs officers will reject any shipment without a valid certificate.

The authorities warn that violators face fines, asset seizure, licence suspension or criminal prosecution under Somali law. Officials argue that the rules will enhance transparency, reinforce maritime security and reduce commercial fraud.

The system also recentralises port revenue management. It ends a long-standing arrangement under which Somaliland, Puntland and Jubbaland collected port revenues without direct oversight from the federal government.

Although Somalia introduced the ECTN in 2023, enforcement remained partial until now. The nationwide mandate aligns the country with a broader continental trend, as more than 24 African states already require electronic cargo certificates to reduce fiscal losses and strengthen customs control.

By making the ECTN compulsory, the government aims to unify port governance, close traceability gaps and regain control over fragmented commercial circuits. The measure carries strategic weight because Somali ports handle nearly 95% of the goods consumed in the country and represent one of the state’s main non-tax revenue sources.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum