China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, has postponed a planned visit to Somalia, a trip that would have marked the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Mogadishu since the 1980s, Somali officials said on Friday.
Somali authorities confirmed the delay but said the reasons for the postponement would be announced at a later date. No new timeline for the visit has been provided by either Mogadishu or China.
The visit had been widely viewed as a diplomatic milestone for Somalia, particularly as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud seeks to strengthen international partnerships and reinforce support for the country’s territorial integrity amid heightened regional tensions.
According to Somali officials, the postponement coincided with heavy security measures imposed across Mogadishu in preparation for the anticipated arrival. Large sections of the capital were placed under lockdown, with police and military forces setting up checkpoints and closing major roads, including routes leading to Aden Adde International Airport, disrupting daily life in several districts.
Wang is currently on his annual New Year diplomatic tour of Africa, which traditionally underscores Beijing’s strategic focus on the continent. His itinerary includes Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Lesotho, with the tour scheduled to conclude on January 12. On Friday, he arrived in Dar es Salaam for a two-day working visit focused on strengthening bilateral relations and deepening economic cooperation.
The postponed Mogadishu visit came at a sensitive moment for Somalia, which has been intensifying diplomatic outreach following Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland, a move Somalia has condemned as a violation of its sovereignty.
The delay also follows public exchanges between Chinese diplomats and officials in Somaliland, after claims emerged that the visit was cancelled due to security concerns in Mogadishu—an allegation the Chinese embassy reportedly dismissed. Somali officials reiterated that further clarification on the postponement would be issued in due course.
