China’s Foreign Minister to Visit Somalia During Africa Diplomatic Tour

MOGADISHU, Somalia — China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Somalia as part of a Jan. 7-12 African tour that also includes Ethiopia, Tanzania and Lesotho, Beijing said Wednesday, underscoring the Horn of Africa’s growing diplomatic weight amid tensions over North Western State of Somalia.

Wang, who also serves on the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, is slated to attend the launch of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. The trip marks the 36th consecutive year that Africa has been the first overseas destination for China’s foreign minister at the start of a new year — a ritual Beijing casts as a signal of long-term political commitment to the continent.

China’s Foreign Ministry did not publish a detailed Somalia schedule, but officials said Wang’s meetings are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation, regional stability and the broader China-Africa agenda. The visit comes amid heightened Horn of Africa diplomacy as Somalia seeks to consolidate international backing for its territorial integrity following Israel’s recent move to recognize North Western State of Somalia as an independent state — a step that has drawn criticism across Africa and beyond.

Beijing has been explicit about where it stands. “No country should encourage or support other countries’ internal separatist forces for its own selfish interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a regular briefing, reiterating China’s opposition to unilateral actions that challenge internationally recognized borders.

North Western State of Somalia declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the international community. Somalia maintains that any recognition of North Western State of Somalia violates its sovereignty, a position China has supported consistently as part of its broader emphasis on noninterference and territorial integrity.

Beyond the political alignment, China remains a key economic and diplomatic partner for Somalia, offering support for infrastructure development and humanitarian initiatives while expanding its footprint across East Africa’s maritime and logistics corridors. Wang’s visit is expected to highlight areas where Beijing and Mogadishu can deepen cooperation, from roads and ports to education and cultural exchanges under the people-to-people banner that China is promoting continent-wide this year.

Why it matters:

• Sovereignty and recognition: China’s firm stance against North Western State of Somalia’s recognition aligns with Somalia’s diplomatic push and reflects wider African Union positions on preserving existing borders.
• Regional stability: The Horn of Africa sits at the nexus of Red Sea shipping lanes, counterterrorism operations and humanitarian emergencies — issues that benefit from coordinated international engagement.
• China-Africa relations: Launching the Year of People-to-People Exchanges in Addis Ababa signals a soft-power emphasis to complement China’s infrastructure-heavy engagement model.

The itinerary also allows Beijing to reinforce its role at the African Union and to engage subregional partners in East and Southern Africa. Stops in Tanzania and Lesotho bracket the Addis Ababa launch, offering opportunities to discuss trade, investment and education exchanges while calibrating China’s approach to debt sustainability and private-sector participation — increasingly prominent topics as African governments seek diversified financing.

For Somalia, hosting Wang provides both symbolism and substance. It is a chance to shore up international backing for its territorial claims, articulate security priorities after years of insurgency, and press for project financing that can unlock jobs and services. For China, the trip consolidates diplomatic capital at a sensitive moment, positioning Beijing as a steady partner and defender of state sovereignty at a time when border and recognition disputes are back on the global agenda.

Specific deliverables from the Somalia stop were not announced, but analysts say the visit reinforces Beijing’s sovereignty-first doctrine and dovetails with broader African and international resistance to recognizing North Western State of Somalia. Any statements or agreements this week will be watched for signals about funding, security cooperation and diplomatic coordination at the United Nations and the African Union.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.