Blitz Bureau
TAIPEI: Taiwan has condemned Somalia for banning travellers with Taiwanese passports from entering or transiting through the East African country, reported BBC.
The ban took effect following an order issued by Somali aviation authorities, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying in the BBC report.
Somalia is yet to comment on the ban which comes as Taiwan, a self-ruled island claimed by China, boosts ties with Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia 34 years ago, but remains mostly unrecognised internationally.
In 2020, Somaliland and Taiwan set up embassies in each other’s capitals, angering 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 April 30, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
“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,” the ministry said.
It urged Taiwanese against traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety before Somalia reverses the ban, Taiwanese media reported. Neither Somaliland nor Somalia commented on the issue.
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, according to AFP news agency. 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.
