The ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was announced in a notice issued by Somalia’s civil aviation authority last week, according to a report, citing Taiwan’s foreign ministry
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Taiwan has strongly condemned Somalia for imposing a ban on travellers holding Taiwanese passports, preventing them from entering or transiting through the East African nation.
According to a BBC report, citing Taiwan’s foreign ministry, the ban, which took effect on Wednesday, was announced in a notice issued by Somalia’s civil aviation authority last week.
Somali authorities have yet to publicly comment on the decision, added the report.
The move comes amid deepening unofficial ties between Taiwan and Somaliland — a self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 but lacks international recognition.
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In 2020, Taiwan and Somaliland established reciprocal representative offices, a step that drew condemnation from 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, BBC quoted Taiwan’s foreign ministry as saying in a statement late on Tuesday.
“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 added.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Somalia or Somaliland for their own safety, pending a reversal of Somalia’s recent ban on