Taiwan deputy foreign minister attends Somaliland presidential inauguration

[Deeq A.]

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu (吳志中) is in Somaliland to attend President-elect Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi’s inauguration.

The foreign ministry said in a press release on Wednesday that Wu is serving as special envoy to President Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Wu and his delegation were welcomed in Hargeisa by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Rhoda Jama Elmi, Somaliland’s representative to Taiwan Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, and members of the transition team.

Wu will attend the inauguration ceremony on Thursday to congratulate Abdullahi as the new Somaliland president on behalf of the Taiwan government. The foreign ministry said Wu will also meet with outgoing President Muse Bihi Abdi and other government officials.

On the campaign trail, Abdullahi reassured Taiwan that bilateral ties would not change under his presidency. The Taiwan representative office in Somaliland maintains connections with his Waddani Party.

Taiwan and Somaliland established strong ties in 2020. The two democracies share the similarity of not being globally recognized as countries, and denied membership from the UN and most international bodies due to political circumstances.

The two sides cooperate in public health, information technology, agriculture, and education. Taiwan has supported two key projects in Somaliland, including a road infrastructure project and a medical center.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991. It has functioned as a de facto sovereign state, but it is not officially recognized by any country.

Qaran News