KEY POINTS

• Somalia bans entry of Taiwanese passport holders, citing UN Resolution 2758 amid pressure from China
• Ban widely seen as attempt to derail scheduled high-level Taiwanese diplomatic mission to Somaliland
• China publicly endorses Somalia’s decision, reaffirming opposition to Taiwan-Somaliland relations
• Somaliland considering possible countermeasures, including review of Chinese nationals’ presence in its territory
• Airspace control has become political flashpoint, with recent incidents affecting flights to Somaliland
• U.S. TAIPEI Act could potentially trigger diplomatic consequences for Somalia

HARGEISA, Somaliland — Somalia’s Federal Government has barred holders of Taiwanese passports from entering, exiting, or even transiting through the country, a move Taiwan’s government denounced on Tuesday as the result of political pressure from Beijing. The travel ban, issued by Somalia’s Civil Aviation Authority, comes amid Taiwan’s strengthening ties with the Republic of Somaliland — a development closely watched in the Horn of Africa and beyond.

Somali authorities justified the ban by citing United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, a 1971 measure recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal representative of China in the UN. The resolution does not mention Taiwan, but Beijing has long used it as the foundation for pressing other countries to sever official ties with Taipei.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision, calling Somalia’s rationale “a willful distortion of UN Resolution 2758.” In a statement, the ministry accused Somalia of “misinterpreting the resolution under China’s instigation to create the false impression that Taiwan is subordinate to China.”

The ban prompted Taiwan to issue a travel advisory for both Somalia and Somaliland, citing safety and security concerns for its nationals. Taiwan maintains a representative office in Hargeisa, the capital of the Republic Somaliland.

Somalia’s Official Directive Invokes Constitutional Authority

According to the letter seen by Somaliland Chronicle, Somalia’s ban came through official channels on April 22, when the Somali Civil Aviation Authority issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 04/25, obtained by this publication. The directive explicitly invokes Somalia’s constitutional authority to “preserve its territorial integrity and political unity” under Articles 4 and 7 of its Provisional Constitution.

The circular goes beyond merely banning Taiwanese passports, extending to “all passports, travel documents, visas, and consular credentials issued by or affiliated with Taiwan.” Airlines received strict instructions to ensure passengers with Taiwan-issued documents “are not processed through any stage of travel connected to Somalia territory,” with warnings of regulatory action for non-compliance.

Most notably, the directive specifically condemns “the unauthorized establishment of a so-called ‘Taiwan Representative Office’ in Hargeisa,” calling it “a clear violation of Somalia’s sovereignty” that “contravenes the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.” By framing the ban in terms of sovereignty and constitutional authority, Somalia positions the issue as a matter of internal affairs rather than external pressure, despite China’s visible endorsement of the action.

Ban Appears Timed to Derail High-Level Visit

Diplomatic sources say the Somali directive came just days before a scheduled visit by Lin Chia-lung, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Somaliland — a trip that would have marked the highest-level Taiwanese visit to Somaliland since formal ties were established in 2020.

Minister Lin was expected to be accompanied by senior trade officials and representatives from Africa and other parts of the world where Taiwan has trade representation. The delegation was set to inaugurate several infrastructure and development projects, including a major expansion of Hargeisa Group Hospital funded by Taiwan.

The timing suggests the ban was a direct response to the minister’s planned visit, according to regional diplomatic observers. It appears intended to send a message not only to Taiwan but also to Somaliland about the consequences of their deepening relationship.

Neither the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor Taiwan’s representative office in Hargeisa responded to requests for comment on the matter.

Airspace Control Emerges as Geopolitical Flashpoint

The dispute also throws a spotlight on airspace control — a longstanding source of friction between Somalia and Somaliland. Though Somaliland claims de facto autonomy, air traffic over its territory is administered by Somalia under a UN-backed arrangement. In recent months, control of the skies has increasingly become a political tool.

In January, Somali authorities reportedly denied airspace clearance to an Ethiopian Airlines Dash 8 aircraft carrying a delegation to Somaliland, citing a lack of formal permission. There were also unverified reports that an air ambulance was blocked while transporting a critically ill patient from Somaliland — a claim Somalia has denied.

By February, international aviation safety bodies issued risk alerts after multiple pilots reported receiving conflicting instructions from unidentified radio operators while flying over Somali airspace. The warnings pointed to escalating risks stemming from competing claims of air traffic control authority by Mogadishu and Hargeisa.

China Endorses Somalia’s Action

China openly backed Somalia’s decision to bar Taiwanese travelers. At a press conference in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun called the move “a legitimate measure taken by a sovereign nation” and commended Somalia for upholding the “one-China principle.”

Guo emphasized that Taiwan is “an inalienable part of China” and reiterated Beijing’s opposition to any official contact between Taiwan and Somaliland. “China firmly opposes the Taiwan authorities and Somaliland hosting each other’s institutions or engaging in any form of official interaction,” he said.

China does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation and has sought to isolate it diplomatically, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

Somaliland’s Strategic Caution

While officials in Hargeisa have not publicly commented, sources say Somaliland is considering several options in response — including a possible review of its engagement with Chinese nationals operating within its territory. Still, analysts expect Somaliland to proceed cautiously.

Somaliland’s leadership has generally avoided retaliatory moves, even under provocation, according to regional security experts. Their strategy has focused on building relationships with Western democracies while avoiding direct confrontations that could escalate tensions.

Somaliland has positioned itself as a democratic ally in a volatile region, courting partnerships with the United States, Taiwan, and other like-minded nations. In meetings with U.S. congressional staff, Somaliland officials have emphasized their country’s role as a counterweight to authoritarian influence in the Horn of Africa.

Proxy Competition in a Globalized Arena

The dispute over Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach in Somaliland illustrates a larger trend: China’s growing willingness to project power through proxy partners. While Beijing’s attention has historically centered on the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific, its activities in East Africa are increasingly strategic.

Somalia appears to be functioning as a surrogate for Chinese influence, according to Africa policy specialists. The conflict extends beyond Taiwan to encompass broader geopolitical competition over strategic locations, infrastructure development, and influence in the Red Sea corridor.

China has heavily invested in infrastructure projects and development aid across East Africa. In December 2024, Chinese envoy Xue Bing visited Mogadishu and pledged support for Somalia’s sovereignty — a visit widely interpreted as a counter to growing international engagement with Somaliland.

U.S. Law Could Trigger Repercussions

The travel ban could also have implications under the Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative, or TAIPEI Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2020. The law authorizes Washington to adjust diplomatic or economic engagement with countries that “take significant actions to undermine Taiwan’s security or prosperity.”

While the Trump administration and particularly the State Department has not commented on Somalia’s ban, observers note that the act offers a framework for potential sanctions or aid reductions — particularly at a time when U.S. interest in recognizing or expanding ties with Somaliland is rising.

Somalia’s economic stability relies heavily on international assistance, making its alignment with Beijing potentially risky if it leads to reduced support from Western allies who back Taiwan’s international participation.