President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday morning met with Somaliland’s representative to Taiwan, Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud. Tsai said that by opening representative offices in each other’s countries, Taiwan and Somaliland are writing a new chapter in their relationship.
Somaliland is a self-declared state in the Horn of Africa that broke away from Somalia in 1991. Although most of the international community does not recognize Somaliland, it does maintain informal ties with a number of countries, including Taiwan, through a network of representative offices.
President Tsai welcomed Mohamoud to his post. She said Somaliland’s participation in the National Day celebrations was a sign of the country’s support for Taiwan.
Tsai also spoke about how the local media has referred to Somaliland as “Taiwan’s new friend.” She said it's a reflection of the Taiwanese people’s desire to learn more about Somaliland. Tsai said that Mohamoud has been proactive in exploring new avenues of cooperation. The two countries have already begun working together in the areas of medicine, education, and maritime affairs.
Tsai said that by working together, the two countries can take advantage of one another’s strategic locations -- Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, and Taiwan at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region.
Mohamoud said he has received a warm welcome upon arriving in Taiwan. He said that Taiwan and Somaliland are both democracies that have thrived despite external pressure. He hopes that these similarities will lead to a stronger relationship. Mohamoud also thanked Taiwan for helping in the fight against COVID-19, and for offering scholarships to its students.