By Abdikarim Haji Abdi Buh

The recent threat issued by U.S. Congressmen Tom Tiffany and Andy Ogles over Somalia’s sovereign decision to ban the use of Taiwanese passports is not only diplomatically inappropriate—it is a stark example of neo-imperial arrogance and ignorance. It reminds us that while the world moves steadily into a multipolar era, some voices in Washington still operate under the illusion that the United States retains unchecked authority over independent nations.

Like every sovereign country, Somalia has the unquestionable right to determine which passports it accepts and which entities it recognizes. Taiwan has never been recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations, the African Union, or over 180 countries worldwide—including the U.S. itself. Somalia’s decision to bar the use of Taiwanese passports is consistent with the One China Policy and longstanding diplomatic norms. No foreign country—least of all individual lawmakers—has the right to interfere in such a decision.

Yet, in a stunning breach of diplomatic protocol, Representatives Tiffany and Ogles penned a letter demanding the reversal of this policy—backed by thinly veiled threats. They proposed revoking protections for Somali immigrants under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), hinted at restricting U.S. visa access for Somali nationals, and even suggested a veiled threat of barring the national passport from entry into the United States altogether. This is political coercion, pure and simple: weaponizing immigration and humanitarian policies to pressure a post-conflict nation into bending to Washington’s will.

Such a heavy-handed approach reeks of colonial condescension—echoing a time when African governments were expected to parrot Western positions without question. It is morally indefensible, diplomatically inappropriate, and politically counterproductive. Somalia is not a vassal state in America’s geopolitical chessboard with China. It is an independent republic with its own constitution, government, and national interests.

Let’s be clear: these two congressmen do not speak for international law, nor do they represent the views of most Americans—many of whom are unaware of the diplomatic details involved. This is a manufactured crisis, likely driven by lobbying interests or a profound misunderstanding of international norms. Yet it begs a larger question: who truly upholds sovereignty, justice, and peace in today’s world?

Ironically, while the U.S. threatens a poor African nation over its passport policy, it continues to funnel billions of dollars in military aid and diplomatic cover to Israel—a state that is actively erasing Palestine from the map. Over the past seven months, more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including thousands of women and children. Neighborhoods have been flattened. Hospitals bombed. The healthcare system has collapsed. Israel has deliberately blocked food, water, and medical aid, manufacturing famine. And yet, the United States not only refuses to condemn these atrocities—it enables them, vetoing UN ceasefire resolutions and accelerating weapons shipments.

If Representatives Tiffany and Ogles are truly concerned about passports, human rights, and international recognition, why aren’t they urging the U.S. to recognize Palestine—a UN observer state with defined borders and international legitimacy? Why don’t they object to Israeli settlers illegally seizing Palestinian land in the West Bank under the protection of military occupation? Why are they silent in the face of genocide, unfolding under the patronage of their own government?

The answer is clear: their worldview is not grounded in principle, but in ideological bias and selective morality. The double standards are staggering. A fragile African nation is punished for rejecting Taiwan’s passport, while a nuclear-armed power engaged in ethnic cleansing receives unqualified support.

Their posturing is also geopolitically shortsighted. The world has changed. The United States no longer commands the global reverence it once did. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya and Syria, its legacy of military interventions has left behind devastation and disillusionment. In contrast, China and Russia are gaining influence across the Global South—not because they are perfect, but because they respect sovereignty and practice non-interference.

China has invested heavily in African infrastructure and trade without imposing political conditions. It supports territorial integrity and defends partners from foreign intrusion. Russia, too, has consistently opposed occupation and unilateral aggression in international forums. Whatever their shortcomings, these nations do not lecture or punish African countries for asserting their sovereignty.

What the world needs now is respect, partnership, and diplomacy—not threats from politicians clinging to a bygone imperial mindset. Somalia’s decision to ban Taiwanese passports is both lawful and legitimate. Attempts to reverse it through coercion are not only illegitimate—they are morally bankrupt.

Washington must understand: Africa is not a chessboard, and its people are not pawns. The era of unilateral dictates is over. The future is multipolar—and nations across the Global South have every right to stand tall in defense of their sovereignty, dignity, and international law.

Abdikarim Haji Abdi Buh 
Email: abdikarimbuh@yahoo.com