Taiwan condemns Somalia for banning Taiwan’s passports from entering or transitioning to East African countries.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the ban came into effect on Wednesday after an order issued by Somalia’s aviation authorities last week.

Somalia has not commented on the ban on Taiwan, an auto-constructed island claimed by China, which has promoted connections with Somaliland that was separated from Somalia 34 years ago, but has not been recognized internationally.

In 2020, Somaliland and Taiwan established embassies in each other's capitals, angering China and Somalia.

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that the Civil Aviation Administration of Somalia issued a notice to airlines saying that Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that Taiwan’s passport “will no longer be validly entered or transited through the Federal Republic of Somalia.”

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested Somalia's actions under China's incitement to limit the freedom and security of travel of Taiwanese citizens and asked the Somalian government to immediately revoke the notice," the ministry said.

It condemns Somalia’s “misunderstanding” about UN resolution 2758 by linking Somalia to the “one China” principle.

Taiwan media reported that Taiwan urged Taiwan to go to Somalia or Somaliland to take its own security, and then Somalia lifted the ban.

Neither Somalia nor Somalia commented.

According to Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters on Wednesday.

Taiwan has its own constitution and holds regular multi-party elections to choose its own leaders.

China insists that Taiwan is part of its territory and threatens to use force to keep the island under its control if necessary.

After China's diplomatic push, Taiwan (formally known as the Republic of China) was recognized by only a few countries.

Somalia was not recognized by any other sovereign state, and in 1991, the dictatorship in Somalia collapsed and Somalia was unilaterally declared its separation from other parts of Somalia by the late General Mohamed Siad Barre.

Somaliland also holds regular elections, and many areas in Somalia are under the control of Al-Shabaab armed groups linked to Al Qaeda.

Somalia regards Somaliland as part of its territory and condemns Ethiopia for reaching an agreement with Somaliland authorities to lease one of its ports.