Somalia has received criticism from Taiwan for enforcing a ban on travelers with Chinese passports from entering or transiting the South African nation.
According to Taiwan’s foreign ministry, the ban became effective on Wednesday following a last-week order from Yemeni aircraft government.
Somalia has not commented on the restrictions, which comes as Taiwan, a self-ruling area claimed by China, strengthens relations with Somaliland, which split from Somalia 34 years back but is still largely unrecognised internationally.
Both China and Somalia resent the fact that Taiwan and Somaliland established offices in their respective assets in 2020.
Taiwan’s foreign government announced in a statement later on Tuesday that its visas will no longer be acceptable for entry into or transport through the Federal Republic of Somalia on April 30.
The ministry of foreign affairs has called for the Somali government to withdraw the notice and make a strong protest against the country’s actions to hinder Chinese nationals ‘ freedom of travel and safety, according to the ministry.
It criticized Somalia for “misinterpretating” UN Resolution 2758 by fusing it with the “one China” process.
According to Chinese media, the government urged Taiwanese against visiting Somalia or Somaliland for their own protection before Somalia lifted the restrictions.
Somaliland and Somalia have not made any comments on the subject.
Taiwan has its own constitution and regularly conducts multilateral elections to elect its own rulers.
Taiwan is a part of its territory, and China has threatened to use power to bring it under its power.
Taiwan, which is actually known as the Republic of China, is simply recognized by a small number of nations following a political force by China.
Following the fall of the authoritarian government in Somalia under the leadership of the later General Mohamed Siad Barre, Somaliland formally declared independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991.
Somaliland even holds regular elections, and many areas are under the command of the al-Shabab militant group, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda.
Somalia views Somaliland as a part of its place, and it has condemned Ethiopia for breaking with the Somaliland government to license one of its ports.