TAIPEI (SD) The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Abdirahman Dahir Adan Bakal, and a high-level delegation accompanying him, have made an official working visit to Taiwan.

The Minister is accompanied on this trip by the Minister of the Presidency of Somaliland, Mr. Khadar Hussein Abdi, the Commander of the Coast Guard, Admiral Ahmed Hurre Haariye, the President’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Ambassador Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, the Chief Diplomatic Advisor at the Presidency, and other officials.

The delegation was received at the airport in Taiwan’s capital by senior government officials from that country. During a press briefing at the airport, Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Bakal, expressed gratitude to the government of Taiwan for inviting their delegation.

In a report released by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and translated by the Somaliland News Agency (SOLNA), the Foreign Minister of Somaliland emphasized that Taiwan is an important partner of Somaliland and that both sides share common values and ideas.

During their visit, the Somaliland delegation will meet with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Wu Chao-hsieh, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, and will be hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung.

According to the report, the delegation will also sign a Coastal Security Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Somaliland and Taiwan.

Additionally, the delegation will visit the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) to exchange views on the overall state of bilateral cooperation and future development between Taiwan and Somaliland.

The government of Taiwan has pledged to continue strengthening its important cooperation with Somaliland in areas such as education, health, agriculture, media and communication, security, energy, and mining.

Both Somaliland and Taiwan are striving for full international recognition from the democratic world. Diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 2020.

This visit marks the first time a delegation from the Somaliland government, formed by the Waddani Party, has made an official trip to Taiwan.