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![\"Ethiopia\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/ethiopia.gif\")
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\n 12 Jan 2026
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PREVIEW<\/p>\n
\n Beijing\u2019s diplomatic campaign capitalises on fresh US-Africa tensions in new year<\/p>\n
Against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia was the key target for the regional tour by China\u2019s Foreign Minister Wang Yi<\/a> in the week ending 10 January. Growing regional tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea and Somalia (backed by Egypt and Turkey) are likely to have featured in Wang\u2019s meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed<\/a> and Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos<\/a>, according to regional experts. But the formal readout referred only to Ethiopia\u2019s reiteration of its commitment to the One-China policy.<\/p>\n This was significant because of Ethiopia\u2019s growing ties with Somaliland (which broke away from Somalia in 1991), and its recognition of Taiwan\u2019s territorial sovereignty: a clear red line for Beijing. Ahead of Wang\u2019s arrival in Addis, serial reports were posted on social media that Ethiopia, Kenya and the United Arab Emirates were about to recognise the territorial sovereignty of Somaliland: they were quickly dismissed by Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Abu Dhabi, despite the UAE\u2019s strong backing of Somaliland\u2019s diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n Wang and Abiy also discussed reinvigorating the Addis-Djibouti railway project and using China\u2019s zero-tariff policy to expand industrial cooperation and trade (contrasted with the United States administration\u2019s imposition of fresh tariffs on African exporters last year.<\/p>\n Wang Yi<\/a> used his visit to Addis Ababa to meet with African Union Commission chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf<\/a>, former Foreign Minister of Djibouti, with the AU later issuing a statement on 8 January that it \u2018reaffirmed its firm commitment to the One-China principle\u2026 Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory.\u2019 Much to Beijing\u2019s satisfaction, the AU was also quick to condemn Israel\u2019s recognition of Somaliland\u2019s territorial integrity. The two diplomats also criticised the US\u2019s attack on\u00a0Venezuela and seizure of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro.<\/p>\n The last-minute postponement of Wang\u2019s visit to Somalia was blamed \u2018technical and scheduling complications\u2019 by our sources close to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud<\/a> (AC Vol 67 No 1,\u00a0Somaliland\u2019s bombshell ripples through the Horn<\/a>). Security clashes with Al Shabaab were emphatically\u00a0 dismissed as reason for the cancellation of Wang\u2019s visit, said the Mogadishu sources, insisting the two would meet later in the year.<\/p>\n Hassan Sheikh\u2019s relations with Washington are sharply deteriorating after\u00a0the Donald Trump<\/a> administration\u2019s decision to suspend aid after the Federal Bureau of Investigations launched a probe into alleged fraud worth over US$250 million by Somali migrants in Minnesota, as well as Israel\u2019s decision to recognise Somaliland\u2019s independence, Wang Yi<\/a> had been expected to underscore China\u2019s support for Somalia\u2019s territorial integrity (AC Vol 67 No 1, Trump allies split over Mogadishu as Israel recognises breakaway Somaliland<\/a>).<\/p>\n The two other countries on Wang\u2019s tour \u2013 Tanzania and Lesotho \u2013 are also questioning their relations with Washington. The US State Department is reviewing its financial support for Tanzania following the post-election violence that saw state forces kill hundreds of people.<\/p>\n Lesotho saw its textiles industry hammered by the Trump administration\u2019s trade tariffs and decision to suspend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). But there are efforts in the US Congress this month to revive the arrangement.<\/p>\n Last year, China offered duty and quota free to all African countries with whom it has diplomatic relations, part of a broader pitch by Beijing to show that it is a more reliable partner (AC Vol 66 No 19,\u00a0How Trump\u2019s tariffs help Beijing in Africa<\/a>).<\/p>\n