Taiwan stated that the new agreement is part of efforts to strengthen maritime security and aligns with Somaliland’s strategic goal of making its coastline free from external influence and interference to build the blue economy.

It also said Taiwan is ready to further enhance cooperation with countries such as the United States, the UK, the European Union, and regional partners to ensure international stability and order based on international law.

1 of 2

Taiwan called on the Chinese government to stop what it described as acts of oppression and provocation that China is allegedly conducting in the region, emphasizing the need to support peace and stability in the Horn of Africa rather than foment conflict.

Although Taiwan lacks formal international recognition, it is one of the diplomatic partners maintaining representation in Somaliland, and relations between the two have grown in recent times.

Taiwan as an independent country

Taiwan stressed that neither Taiwan nor China governs the other, and that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has never ruled Taiwan, not even for a moment.

The statement further emphasized that Taiwan is an independent country and has never been subject to Beijing’s governance.

Therefore, China’s efforts to disrupt the cooperation between Taiwan and Somaliland were described as baseless.

The office specifically highlighted that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 never mentioned Taiwan as China claims, nor did it confirm that Taiwan is part of China.

“The resolution specifically concerned who represents China at the United Nations, but Beijing has wrongly interpreted it to reinforce the One-China principle,” Taiwan said in its press release.

The G7 countries have repeatedly voiced their rejection of any attempts to change the status of Taiwan, including any use of force or intimidation by China.

On the other hand, a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Mogadishu strongly opposed the maritime agreement between Somaliland and Taiwan, calling it a “violation of the One-China principle.” China claimed the agreement threatens China’s territorial integrity and called for its cessation.

Somaliland also strongly rejected China’s accusations.

Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdirahman Dahir Aden, said the agreement aims to strengthen the security of Somaliland’s coastline.

The post Somaliland and Taiwan Defend New Maritime Cooperation Amid Chinese Opposition appeared first on Kaab TV.

The post Taiwan Ambassador in Somaliland Allen Chenhwa Lou Inaugurates Taiwan Avenue in Hargeisa appeared first on Kaab TV.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Taiwan’s Ambassador to Somaliland, Allen Lou; Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdirahman Aden; Minister of Interior, Abdalle Mohamed Arab; and the Mayor of Hargeisa, Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge.

“This project was initiated by Mayor Mooge with the aim of creating a direct gateway between Egal International Airport and the heart of the city,” said Ambassador Lou.

He said the Government of Taiwan was proud to have co-funded 70 percent of the road construction.

Hargeisa Municipality covered 30 percent of the cost.

Mayor Mooge emphasized the road’s impact on city access and ease for travellers to and from the Egal Airport in Hargeisa.

“Taiwan Avenue will greatly improve traffic flow and the city’s overall appearance. We extend our sincere thanks to the government of Taiwan for its generous support,” Mayor Moge said.

Ease access of movement for millions 

The project, jointly led by Hargeisa City Council and the Taiwan Mission, faced several challenges during construction, which led to adjustments in the original design.

Despite these hurdles, the road has now been completed and is expected to benefit the daily movement of thousands of residents and visitors to the capital.

Taiwan and Somaliland, two self-governing entities without widespread international recognition, have been steadily building bilateral ties.

Earlier this year, Taiwan announced a $22 million investment for the construction of a general hospital in Hargeisa — another major infrastructure initiative strengthening the relationship between the two partners.

The post Taiwan Avenue: A New Gateway to Hargeisa Takes Off appeared first on Kaab TV.

This has drawn increasing interest from global powers, including the United States. As regional dynamics shift and great-power competition intensifies, Somaliland’s bid for recognition is gaining new currency. Aleksi Ylönen has studied politics in the Horn of Africa and Somaliland’s quest for recognition. He unpacks what’s at play.

What legal and historical arguments does Somaliland use?

The Somali National Movement is one of the main clan-based insurgent movements responsible for the collapse of the central government in Somalia. It claims the territory of the former British protectorate of Somaliland. The UK had granted Somaliland sovereign status on 26 June 1960.

The Somali government tried to stomp out calls for secession. It orchestrated the brutal killing of hundreds of thousands of people in northern Somalia between 1987 and 1989.

But the Somali National Movement declared unilateral independence on 18 May 1991 and separated from Somalia.

With the collapse of the Somali regime in 1991, the movement’s main enemy was gone. This led to a violent power struggle between various militias.

This subsided only after the politician Mohamed Egal consolidated power. He was elected president of Somaliland in May 1993.

Egal made deals with merchants and businessmen, giving them tax and commercial incentives to accept his patronage. As a result, he obtained the economic means to consolidate political power and to pursue peace and state-building. It’s something his successors have kept up with since his death in 2002.

What has Somaliland done to push for recognition?

Successive Somaliland governments continue to engage in informal diplomacy. They have aligned with the west, particularly the US, which was the dominant power after the cold war, and the former colonial master, the UK. Both countries host significant Somaliland diaspora communities.

The US and the UK have for decades flirted with the idea of recognising Somaliland, which they consider a strategic partner. However, they have been repeatedly thrown back by their respective Somalia policies. These have favoured empowering the widely supported Mogadishu government to reassert its authority and control over Somali territories.

This Somalia policy has been increasingly questioned in recent years, in part due to Mogadishu’s security challenges. In contrast, the Hargeisa government of Somaliland has largely shown it can provide security and stability. It has held elections and survived as a state for the last three decades, though it has faced political resistance and armed opposition.

As new global powers rise, Somaliland administrations have pursued an increasingly diverse foreign policy, with one goal: international recognition.

Hargeisa hosts consulates and representative offices of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Taiwan, the UK and the European Union, among others.

The government has also engaged in informal foreign relations with the United Arab Emirates. The Middle Eastern monarchy serves as a business hub and a destination of livestock exports. Many Somalilanders migrate there.

Somaliland maintains representative offices in several countries. These include Canada, the US, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan. Hargeisa has alienated China because it has collaborated with Taiwan since 2020. Taiwan is a self-ruled island claimed by China.

On 1 January 2024, Somaliland’s outgoing president Muse Bihi signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed for increased cooperation. Bihi implied that Ethiopia would be the first country to formally recognise Somaliland. The deal caused a sharp deterioration of relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

Abiy later moderated his position and, with Turkish mediation, reconciled with his Somalia counterpart, President Hassan Mohamud.

What’s behind US interest in Somaliland?

The US, like other great powers, has been interested in Somaliland because of its strategic location. It is on the African shores of the Gulf of Aden, across from the Arabian Peninsula. Its geographical position has gained currency recently as Yemeni Houthi rebels strike maritime traffic in the busy shipping lanes. Somaliland is also well located to curb piracy and smuggling on this global trade route.

The US Africa Command set up its main Horn of Africa base at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in 2002. This followed the 11 September 2001 attacks.

In 2017, China, which had become the main foreign economic power in the Horn of Africa, set up a navy support facility in Djibouti. This encouraged closer collaboration between American and Somaliland authorities. The US played with the idea of establishing a base in Berbera, which hosts Somaliland’s largest port.

With Donald Trump winning the US presidential election in 2024, there were reports of an increased push for US recognition of Somaliland. This would allow the US to deepen its trade and security partnerships in the volatile Horn of Africa region.

Since March 2025, representatives of the Trump administration have engaged in talks with Somaliland officials to establish a US military base near Berbera. This would be in exchange for a formal but partial recognition of Somaliland.

What are the risks of US recognition of Somaliland?

Stronger US engagement with Somaliland risks neglecting Somalia.

Mogadishu depends on external military assistance in its battle against the advancing violent Islamist extremist group, Al-Shabaab. It also faces increasing defiance from two federal regions, Puntland and Jubaland.

US recognition would reward Hargeisa for its persistent effort to maintain stability and promote democracy. However, it could encourage other nations to recognise Somaliland. This would deliver a blow to Somali nationalists who want one state for all Somalis.

The post Somaliland’s 30-Year Quest for Recognition: Could US Interests Make The Difference? appeared first on Kaab TV.