The Republic of Somaliland has formally opened a representative office in Taiwan.
The self-declared state broke away from Somalia during that country’s 1991 civil war. Though it lacks international recognition, it maintains informal ties with a number of countries through a network of offices around the world.
A ceremony was held to mark the official opening on Wednesday. In attendance were Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Somaliland’s first representative to Taiwan, Mohamed Omar H. Mohamoud.
In remarks during the ceremony, both Wu and Mohamoud pointed to the values of freedom and democracy that Taiwan share. Wu also hailed the office’s opening as the beginning of a new chapter in Taiwan-Somaliand ties.
Shortly after the ceremony concluded, Mohamoud addressed threats China has made as Somaliland and Taiwan have moved to develop informal ties. Mohamoud said that Somaliland is an independent country, and that the building of economic and trade ties between Somaliland and Taiwan has nothing to do with China.