Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan

The Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan (Chinese: 索馬利蘭共和國駐台灣代表處; pinyin: Suǒmǎlìlán Gònghéguó zhù Táiwān Dàibiǎochù; Somali: Xafiiska Wakiilka Jamhuuriyadda Somaliland ee Taiwan) is the representative office of the Republic of Somaliland in the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is the largest diplomatic mission of Somaliland in the East Asia region and serves Somaliland's interest in East Asia and Southeast Asia Region. The office was inaugurated on September 9, 2020, in an event held at Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (IDIA) in Taipei.[1][2][3]

Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan
Xafiiska Wakiilka Jamhuuriyada Somaliland ee Taiwan
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 9, 2020 (2020-09-09)
JurisdictionTaiwan
HeadquartersTaipei, Taiwan
Agency executive
Websitesomaliland.tw
Footnotes
Republic of Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan on Facebook

History

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Somaliland's Chief Representative to Taiwan, Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud in 2020

The Republic of Somaliland and the Republic of China (Taiwan) started diplomatic cooperation since 2009.[4] Members of Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation visited Taiwan in late 2019 and early 2020 to discuss establishing official representative offices[5] for both countries in the capital cities Hargeisa and Taipei.

The two countries announced an official relationship in July 2020 with Taiwan opened its office in the capital city of Somaliland,[6] Hargeisa. A Somaliland representative office was also opened on September 9, 2020, the plaque-unveiling ceremony of the representative office was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs, but the office itself is located on Ningbo West Street in Taipei's Zhongzheng District. The launching ceremony was co-hosted by H.E. Amb. Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud, Somaliland's chief representative to Taiwan, and H.E. Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), the Foreign Minister of Taiwan. The opening ceremony first played prerecorded congratulatory video from the President of Republic of Somaliland H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi, President Bihi commented that “both sides are motivated by a spirit of mutual assistance that will never expose any harm whatsoever to the interests of other countries, but rather contributes to international peace and regional economic activities”.

Mission sections

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The representative office has currently three sections:

  • Political and General Affairs
  • Development Cooperation and Cultural Affairs
  • Economic and Commercial Affairs

Mission leaders

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The office has both Somaliland and Taiwan staff. Amb Mohamed Omar Hagi Mohamoud is the Representative of Somaliland to Taiwan and the Chief of Mission, he is a Ph.D. researcher in Politics and Philosophy at Manchester Metropolitan University. Other notable staff include the Head of Development and Cultural Affairs, the Head of Economic and Commercial Affairs and the Executive Secretary.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Somaliland launches representative office in Taiwan". France 24. 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  2. ^ Blanchard, Ben (2020-09-09). "Strategic Somaliland touts its oil and gas as opens Taiwan office". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  3. ^ "Somaliland and Taiwan establish diplomatic ties". The Economist. 2020-10-03. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  4. ^ "中華民國外交部全球資訊網-非洲地區". 2021-01-16. Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  5. ^ "Taiwan, Somaliland to mutually establish representative offices to boost ties | Taiwan News | 2020-07-01 23:46:00". Taiwan News. July 2020. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  6. ^ hermes (2020-08-19). "Taiwan opens office in breakaway Somaliland". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
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