MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – China has dismissed reports that a planned visit by its foreign minister, Wang Yi, to Somalia’s capital was postponed because of security concerns, calling claims circulating online a “shameful fabrication” and part of a disinformation campaign.
Wang was expected to arrive in Mogadishu on Friday in what would have been the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister to Somalia since the 1980s, and a major diplomatic moment during an Africa tour aimed at boosting trade ties.
The Chinese embassy in Mogadishu was responding to comments on a letter claimed to be from the Chinese government and shared online by Somaliland’s minister of presidency, which alleged the visit was delayed due to security concerns. The embassy rejected both the letter and the accompanying remarks.
“Whatever you do, you can never change the reality that Somaliland is part of Somalia,” the embassy said.
The visit had been expected to carry heightened diplomatic weight as Somalia remains embroiled in a diplomatic feud with Israel, which last month recognised the breakaway northern region of Somaliland.
China’s embassy said the delay was instead due to scheduling adjustments, adding that discussions were underway to agree on a new date.
“Due to the schedule change and as a result of the friendly negotiation between the foreign ministries of China and Somalia, the Chinese side has adjusted the itinerary of the visit of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two sides are discussing the ensuing arrangement,” the embassy said in a statement.
“China always attaches to the strategic partnership with Somalia. It steadfastly supports Somalia’s justified effort to safeguard its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and stands ready to work jointly with Somalia to continously facilitate the deepening and development of China-Somalia cooperation in various fields.”
Despite the postponement, the anticipated visit had already triggered sweeping security measures in Mogadishu. All major roads in the capital were closed on Friday, forcing residents to walk long distances, including passengers heading to the airport for scheduled flights, some carrying their belongings on their backs. The closures were not announced in advance.
Somalia’s foreign policy, critics say, has long been shaped by patronage, leaving the country struggling to balance relations among competing powers. The government has consistently sought external patrons to underwrite what analysts describe as unsustainable security and governance structures.
Growing reports suggest that Wang’s visit was cancelled after Beijing took offense at efforts by Somali officials to modify the visit’s protocols and symbolic arrangements, allegedly downgrading them to the lowest level in order to placate what were described as perceived concerns from the United States. China is said to have responded by cancelling the visit entirely.
The episode comes as relations between Somalia and the United States continue to deteriorate. Washington announced this week that it had suspended aid benefiting Somalia’s federal government over a dispute involving the demolition of a World Food Programme warehouse in Mogadishu.
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