By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Taiwan has condemned Somalia following the ban placed on travellers with Taiwanese passports, barring them from entering or transiting through the East African country.
“The ministry of foreign affairs has strongly protested Somalia’s action made under the instigation of China to restrict the travel freedom and safety of Taiwanese nationals and has demanded that the Somali government immediately revoke the notice,” Taiwanese foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
The ban took effect on Wednesday following an order issued by Somali aviation authorities last week, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said.
Somalia is yet to comment on the ban which comes as Taiwan, a self-ruled island which China is still lays claim to boosts ties with Somaliland.
Somaliland which broke away from Somalia 34 years ago, but it is yet to gain international recognition.
In 2020, Somaliland and Taiwan set up embassies in each other’s capitals, a development that angered both China and Somalia.
Somalia’s civil aviation authority issued a notice to airlines saying that Taiwanese passports “will no longer be valid for entry into or transit through the Federal Republic of Somalia” from 30 April, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in the statement issued late Tuesday.
The ministry urged Taiwanese against traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety until Somalia makes a reversal of the ban, Taiwanese media reported.
Both Somalia and Somaliland are yet to comment on the development.
China said it “highly appreciates” the ban, calling it a “legitimate measure” that “reflects Somalia’s firm adherence to the one-China principle”, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told journalists on Wednesday, an AFP news agency report says.
Taiwan has its own constitution and holds regular, multiparty elections to choose its own leaders.
China insists Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force if necessary to bring the island under its control.
Somaliland, which is not recognised 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 Mohamed Siad Barre.
Somalia sees Somaliland as part of its territory and has condemned Ethiopia for striking a deal with the Somaliland authorities to lease one of its ports.
