Somalia bans Taiwanese travellers citing 'one China' policy, ministry says

Taiwanese are warned against traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety before the ban is lifted.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersTaiwan condemns Somalia travel ban4 hours agoShareSaveWycliffe MuiaBBC NewsShareSaveGetty ImagesAirlines have been told not to allow Taiwan passport-holders to "enter or exit Somalia", Taiwan says Taiwan has condemned Somalia for banning travellers with Taiwanese passports from entering or transiting through the East African country.

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 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 30 April, Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Tuesday.