Somalia bars holders of Taiwanese passports from entering the country

On Wednesday, Somalia prevented the holders of the Taiwanese passports from entering the country, in a move blaming the authorities in Taiwan to increase the Chinese pressure on the nation of the Horn of Africa.

The Somali government is fighting a decades -long independence movement in Somaliland, A separatist area in the north of the country In recent years, it deepened its relationships with Taiwan, causing anger in Somalia and China.

Somalland announced his independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government in Mogadishu, but was not recognized by any government.

Taiwan Foreign Ministry said that the Somali authorities were martyred in compliance with the United Nations Resolution 2758, a procedure issued in 1971 that recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the only Chinese global authority, in its decision. The decision is not mentioned by Taiwan, but Beijing has long said that the decision gives him full control over the island.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Taiwan, called for the contradiction of the travel ban “immediately” and urged its citizens not to travel to Somalia or Somalia until it was.

China welcomed Somalia’s decision, saying that it was a “management” project to protect sovereignty and regional integrity “in the country, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, He said at a press conference Wednesday. Mr. Qouh added that Taiwan was an “inaccurate” part of China.

The Civil Aviation Authority in Somalia did not immediately respond to the request for comment, and officials in the Somalland government did not respond to the requests for suspension.

On Wednesday, the announcement was not the first time that Somalia imposed similar restrictions on travel. Last year, the Mogadishu authorities refused to enter a plane carrying Ethiopian officials amid tensions A port between Somalilde and Ethiopia.

Beijing continues to expand its influence in Africa and isolate Taiwan in this process. Through the continent, China has been used political and Economic power To push governments to Cutting relationships With Taipei.

The decision to ban the owners of the Taiwanese passports came days after the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan He visited SweetiniThe Small South African Kingdom, which is the only country on the continent that officially recognizes the island.

Somaliland recently moved to Court of Trump administration After years of developing relations with Republican lawmakers and conservative thought reservoirs.

In 2020, Taiwan Open an office In Hargeisa, the capital of Somalia, Amee Ambassador. Somalil also sent a representative to Taiwan.

After that, Taiwan supported Somaliland to recognize the training of the soldiers, provided scholarships for students, and to provide medical equipment and funded methods. He also visited the senior officials of the Taiwanese Somalia, including the Deputy Foreign Minister, who The presidential opening was attended In December.

Ambassador Allen C Lu from Taiwan said in an interview in Hargisa last month.

Somalia views the increasing relationship between Taiwan and Somalland as a challenge for its regional safety.

This month, Prime Minister Somalia She made a historic visit To Las Anoud, a city in a disputed area in southeast of Somalia. Since 2023, Somaliland has been fighting local armed militias to control the city, which has resulted in a widespread displacement, hundreds of deaths and injuries, according to rights groups, relief workers and doctors.

Amnesty International accuse Somaliland security forces of the bombing of civilians, killing them and random injuries in Las Anoud. the government deny I intentionally harm civilians.

China has I gave help To the disputed region through Somalia, a decision that Taiwanese officials and some experts say it aims to disturb Somalia and weaken its political position. Beijing also presented its messages against Hargisa. Her ambassador in Mogadishu meet Regularly with Somay Somali officials.

Experts said that the decision of Somalia to prevent the Taiwanese passports are referring to more troubles in the future. “The ban gives one of the most complex issues in Africa and not solved, which is Somalia and Gomaleland, a global geopolitical component,” said Mostava Ahmed, a researcher in China and Taiwan with countries in the Horn of Africa.

Amy Chang Dog She contributed to the reports from Taipei, Taiwan.