Somalia has imposed a ban on travelers holding Taiwanese passports, sparking outrage from Taipei. The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry indicated the decision stems from pressure exerted by China as Taiwan seeks to bolster its connections with Somaliland—a self-declared independent territory of Somalia.
Somaliland, established in 1991 after the central Somali government collapsed, has been cultivating diplomatic ties with Taiwan, much to the displeasure of both Somalia and Beijing. Despite its aspirations to gain international recognition, Somaliland has yet to be widely acknowledged as a sovereign state.
In recent months, Somaliland has built stronger diplomatic relationships, not only with Taiwan but also in pursuit of recognition from the Trump administration, as it aligns with U.S. politically motivated relationships.
The move to block Taiwanese passport holders comes closely after a visit from Taiwan’s Foreign Minister to Eswatini, highlighting the increasing diplomatic engagement Taiwan is pursuing on the African continent.
The announcement was made by the Somali Civil Aviation Authority, which informed airline operators that starting from Wednesday, Taiwanese individuals would not be permitted to enter, exit, or transit through Somalia. The authorities cited adherence to United Nations Resolution 2758 from 1971 as justification for the new restrictions, although the resolution does not explicitly address Taiwan's sovereignty status.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and interprets the resolution as legitimizing its claim over the island, despite Taiwan's ongoing efforts to assert its independence on the world stage.
