Somalia prohibits Taiwanese travelers, citing a China policy, the ministry says

Taiwan condemned Somalia for banning travelers with Taiwanese passports to enter or cross the East African country.

The ban came into force on Wednesday after an order issued by Somali aviation authorities last week, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Somalia is yet to comment on the ban that comes as a Taiwan, a self-controlled island, stated by China, raises ties with Somalland, who broke away from Somalia 34 years ago, but remains mostly internationally unrecognized.

In 2020, Somalland and Taiwan set up embassies in the capitals of each other, angry both China and Somalia.

The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority has issued a notice to the airlines, saying that Taiwanese passports “will no longer be valid for entry or transit through the Federal Republic of Somalia” on April 30, according to a message from the Foreign Ministry of Taiwan on Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested Somalia’s actions taken under China to restrict the freedom of travel and safety of Taiwanese citizens and demanded the Somali government to cancel the news,” the ministry said.

He condemned Somalia’s “misinterpretation” by UN resolution 2758, linking it to the “one China” principle.

The ministry urged Taiwanese not to travel to Somalia or Somalland for their own safety before Somalia reversed the ban, Taiwanese media reported.

Neither Somalland nor Somalia commented.

China said it “highly evaluates” the ban, calling it a “legal measure”, which “reflects the firm adherence to Somalia to the principle of a China,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Gua Jiacun told journalists on Wednesday, according to AFP news agency.

Taiwan has its own constitution and holds regular, multi -party elections to choose its own leaders.

China insists that Taiwan is part of its territory and threatens to use force if necessary to put the island under its control.

After the diplomatic impetus of China, Taiwan – officially known as the Chinese Republic – was recognized only by a handful of countries.

Somalland, who was not recognized by any other sovereign state, unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of the dictatorial regime in Somalia, led by the late General Mohammed Siad Barre.

Somalland also holds regular elections, while many parts of Somalia are under the control of the belligerent group Al Shabab, which is linked to al -Qaeda.

Somalia sees Somalland as part of her territory and condemns Ethiopia for achieving a deal with Somalil authorities to hire one of their ports.