China’s top diplomat Wang Yi bypassed a historic stop in Somalia on Friday, flying directly to Tanzania during his high-profile tour of Africa.
The cancelled visit would have been the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Somalia since the state collapsed into chaos in 1991.
It had been planned for a delicate moment, just after Israel recognised Somaliland, a breakaway region that Mogadishu fiercely disputes.
An official at Somalia’s presidential palace said the delegation’s visit was delayed due to technical issues, adding Beijing would issue a formal statement.
No immediate explanation came from China’s foreign ministry, leaving a diplomatic silence that echoed across an already fragile political landscape.
Wang instead arrived in Dar es Salaam, where he was due to meet President Samia Suluhu Hassan to deepen bilateral ties.
China has invested heavily in Tanzania, registering 343 Chinese-funded projects worth $3.1 billion in special economic zones during 2025 alone.
Tanzania’s government said the visit aimed to strengthen strategic cooperation, as its relations with Western partners remain strained after a deadly election crackdown.
Wang had travelled from Ethiopia, where he met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and African Union chief Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on Thursday.
A joint statement from those meetings criticised Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, aligning Beijing with the African Union’s long-standing position.
Somaliland’s presidency minister claimed on X that security fears drove Wang’s decision, accusing Somalia of failing to protect foreign guests.
AFP could not verify the alleged Chinese statement he shared, which was not found on the foreign ministry’s website late Friday.
After Tanzania, Wang is expected to visit Lesotho, another African state navigating uneasy relations with Washington amid punishing US tariffs.
