Somali prohibits Taiwan travelers with reference to “One China” policy, the ministry says

Taiwan condemned Somalia for banning travelers with Taiwan passports or crossing through the East African country.

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

Somali does not yet comment on the ban that comes as a Taiwan, a self -governed island on which China is asserted, increasing the connection with Somolynda, which broke away from Somalia 34 years ago, but remains mostly unrecognized internationally.

In 2020, Somaliland and Taiwan created embassies in each other’s capitals, angry with both China and Somalia.

The Somalia Civil Aviation Office said the airlines reported that Taiwan passports “would no longer be valid for joining the Somalia Federal Republic,” on April 30, a statement said on Tuesday.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested against the actions of Somalia, which were taken under the pretext of China to restrict the freedom of travel and the safety of Taiwan citizens and demanded that the Somali government immediately withdraw the message,” the ministry said.

He condemned the “wrong explanation” of the UN Somali 2758 resolution, linking it to the “one China” principle.

The ministry called for Taiwanese against trips to Somalia or Somaliland about their own security before Somalia is being banned, Taiwanese media reported.

Neither Somalland nor Somali commented.

China said it “highly appreciated” the ban, calling it a “legitimate measure” that “reflects the solid preservation of Somalia to the principle of one Chinese,” said Gau Jiayun, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AFP reports.

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

China insists that Taiwan is part of its territory and threatens the power to bring the island under control.

After the diplomatic push of China, Taiwan – officially known as the Chinese Republic – is recognized by only a few countries.

Somaliland, which is not recognized as any other sovereign state, unilaterally proclaimed independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the dictatorial regime in Somalia, led by the deceased General Mohammed Siad Barre.

Somaliland also holds regular elections, while many parts of Somalia are under the control of al-Shabab militants, which is associated with al-Qaeda.

Somolia views Somalland as part of its territory and condemned Ethiopia for making a deal with the Somolynda authorities to rent one of its ports.