Somaliland has asserted its right to choose its international partners, saying pressure from Beijing and Mogadishu has failed to alter its growing relationship with Taiwan, according to its top representative in Taipei.
The comments were made on Friday during the opening of a new Somaliland representative office in Taiwan, a diplomatic arrangement that underscores the close ties between the two self-governing territories that remain largely unrecognised internationally.
Strategically located in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has maintained effective autonomy since 1991, when it declared independence from Somalia following the outbreak of civil war.
Somaliland and Taiwan, which is claimed by China as part of its territory, established reciprocal representative offices in 2020 as part of efforts to deepen political and economic cooperation.
Speaking at the event, Somaliland’s representative to Taiwan, Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal, described Taiwan as a “very important ally” and insisted that Somaliland’s political leadership remained united in resisting external pressure.
“We have the right to choose who we have relationships with. It’s our prerogative, and so it hasn’t been successful as far as pressure tactics,” he said, referring to calls from China and Somalia to end the relationship.
China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to the remarks. Beijing continues to oppose any official engagement between Taiwan and Somaliland, while Somalia has repeatedly condemned the presence of Taiwanese representation in Hargeisa.
The dispute reflects wider geopolitical tensions, with China asserting sovereignty over Taiwan and seeking to limit its diplomatic space globally, particularly in Africa where Taiwan now maintains formal ties only with Eswatini.
Somalia’s government reiterated on Friday that Somaliland remains part of its sovereign territory, describing external diplomatic engagements with the breakaway region as illegitimate.
However, Somaliland officials say their partnerships are expanding. Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu said cooperation between the two sides has grown significantly over the past six years, spanning multiple sectors.
“Taiwan and Somaliland are both beacons of democracy, freedom and rule of law,” Wu said during the opening ceremony.
While Somaliland has not yet received widespread international recognition, it has continued to pursue diplomatic relationships independently. In December, Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state, a move that drew strong objections from Somalia and criticism from China.
Taiwan, meanwhile, welcomed that recognition, as both it and Somaliland continue to operate in diplomatic isolation from most of the global community while strengthening informal alliances.
