China denies reports of security concerns delaying foreign minister’s Somalia visit

MOGADISHU, Somalia — China on Friday firmly denied reports circulating on social media claiming that a planned visit by Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Mogadishu on Friday had been canceled due to security concerns, calling the claims false and misleading.

Wang was expected to arrive in the Somali capital in what would be the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Somalia since the 1980s. The trip was part of a broader diplomatic tour of Africa aimed at strengthening trade ties and cooperation.

The Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu rejected claims linked to a document alleged to have come from the Chinese government and shared online by a Somaliland official. The document suggested the visit had been postponed for security reasons. The embassy said the letter was fabricated and the allegations unfounded.

“No matter what is done, the fact that Somaliland is part of Somalia cannot be changed,” the embassy said in a statement.

The visit is seen as carrying significant diplomatic weight as Somalia faces heightened regional tensions following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland last month. Somaliland, in northern Somalia, has sought international recognition as an independent state.

The embassy said any delay to Wang’s visit was due to scheduling adjustments and not related to security conditions, adding that discussions are underway to agree on a new date.

China reaffirmed its continued support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and expressed its readiness to strengthen cooperation with Somalia across multiple sectors further.

GAROWE ONLINE