A highly anticipated visit to Mogadishu by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was unexpectedly postponed on Friday, leaving the Somali capital under a heavy security lockdown that had been put in place for his arrival.
The trip would have been the first by a Chinese foreign minister to the East African nation since the 1980s and was meant to be a key stop on Wang’s annual New Year tour of Africa.
The visit was seen as a crucial diplomatic boost for Somalia’s government, which is currently seeking international support after Israel recently recognized the breakaway region of Somaliland. It also comes as Somalia’s relations with the U.S. are strained.
While no official reason was given for the postponement, sources confirmed the top diplomat would not be arriving as scheduled.
The cancellation occurred as police and military units had already blocked major roads and established checkpoints throughout Mogadishu in preparation for the historic meeting.
The broader goal of Wang’s African tour is to bolster strategic trade and secure critical shipping routes and resource supply lines for Beijing.
He is still expected to continue his trip with stops in Tanzania and Lesotho.
