China’s Top Diplomat Postpones Historic Visit to Somalia
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has delayed a planned visit to Somalia, a trip that would have marked the first by a Chinese foreign minister to the Horn of Africa nation in over four decades. The unexpected postponement was confirmed by Somali officials, who stated that the reason for the delay “will be announced later.”
The visit was highly anticipated as a significant step in deepening bilateral relations, coming on the heels of Somalia’s recent joining of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Wang Yi’s last stop in Somalia was in the 1980s.
The postponement comes as Wang Yi is currently in the middle of a broader African tour focused on strengthening trade and strategic cooperation. His itinerary, which runs until January 12, includes confirmed visits to Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Lesotho.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not immediately commented on the change to the schedule. Observers will be watching closely for the official explanation, as the Somalia leg was seen as a key symbolic moment in China’s ongoing diplomatic engagement across the African continent.
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