The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday demanded that Somalia reverse its decision prohibiting Taiwanese passport holders from entering or transiting through the country.
Somalia said it is following the “one China” principle based on UN Resolution 2758.
The ministry said that Somalia is misinterpreting the resolution under China’s instigation, creating a false impression that Taiwan is subordinate to China.
Photo: Taipei Times
The Somali Civil Aviation Authority told airlines on Tuesday last week that starting today, any passengers with passports or travel documents issued from Taiwan or its affiliated institutions would not be allowed to enter or transit through Somalia.
The decision comes as Taiwan is boosting ties with Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, but has not gained widespread international recognition for its independence.
Taiwan and Somaliland set up representative offices in each other's capitals in 2020.
The decision restricts Taiwanese people’s freedom and safety of travel, the ministry said.
It said it strongly refutes and condemns Somalia’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 by linking it with the “one China” principle.
A number of countries, including the US, say that the UN resolution makes no mention of Taiwan's status and that China has deliberately misinterpreted it.
The ministry added that it is working with the government of Somaliland and Taiwan’s representative office there to urge like-minded countries and international organizations to take concrete steps to press Somalia to reverse this "wrongful action."
The ministry urged Taiwanese against traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety before Somalia reverses the policy.
Somaliland has had four presidential elections since it declared independence in 1991, showing that it has a stable government and shares values of democracy and liberty with Taiwan, the ministry said.
Somalia’s government is preventing people of democratic countries from interacting with each other by controlling Somaliland’s airspace, it added.
The ministry said it would keep the public updated if there are any further developments.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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