# Somalia and Taiwan

> Somalia, Somaliland and Taiwan: the 2020 representative offices, each side's stated position, China's statements, the 2025 travel-document ban, aid and trade.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/relations/taiwan/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## How do Somalia and Taiwan relate today?

The [Federal Government of Somalia](/en/institutions/federal-government-of-somalia/) has no official ties with Taiwan. China's embassy in Mogadishu says China recognises the Federal Government as "the only legitimate government representing the entire Somalia, including [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/)" ([Chinese Embassy in Somalia, 24 May 2024](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202405/t20240530_11358311.htm)).

Taiwan's links in the Somali lands run through Somaliland. Taiwan opened a representative office in Hargeisa on 17 August 2020 ([Focus Taiwan, 17 August 2020](https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202008170019)). Somaliland opened its office in Taipei on 9 September 2020 ([France 24, 9 September 2020](https://www.france24.com/en/20200909-somaliland-launches-representative-office-in-taiwan)).

From 30 April 2025, Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority stopped accepting Taiwan-issued passports for entry, exit or transit ([Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan, 29 April 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)). Taiwan has told its citizens not to travel to Somalia or Somaliland until the notice is withdrawn ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)).

## When did contact begin?

Taiwan says it began building relations with Somaliland in 2009 ([Taiwan MOFA, 1 July 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)). Somaliland's office in Taipei dates the start of good relations to 2007 ([Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan](https://somaliland.tw/somaliland-taiwan-history/)).

Earlier, in September 2015, Taiwan gave Oceans Beyond Piracy a grant of US$166,000 to set up maritime security centres in five Somali ports ([Taiwan MOFA, 10 September 2015](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=32652)). Taiwan's representative to the EU, Tung Kuo-yu, signed the agreement in Brussels ([Taiwan MOFA, 2015](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=32652)).

## Who are the representatives?

- **Allen Chenhwa Lou** has been Taiwan's representative in Hargeisa since the office opened; he had been a counsellor at Taiwan's office in Saudi Arabia ([Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan](https://somaliland.tw/somaliland-taiwan-history/); [Taiwan MOFA, Somaliland page](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=2&n=1289&sms=0&s=200)).
- **Wu Chen-chi** served as Taiwan's chargé d'affaires in Somaliland in December 2021 ([Taiwan MOFA, 28 December 2021](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=97113)).
- **Mohamed Hagi** spoke for Somaliland as its representative at the opening of its Taipei office in September 2020 ([France 24, 2020](https://www.france24.com/en/20200909-somaliland-launches-representative-office-in-taiwan)).

Taiwan's office is in the Sha'ab area of Hargeisa, on Road No. 1 ([Taiwan MOFA, Somaliland page](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=2&n=1289&sms=0&s=200)).

## Who built the tie?

- **Joseph Wu**, Taiwan's foreign minister, signed the protocol with Somaliland on 26 February 2020 and announced the offices on 1 July 2020 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)).
- **Yasin Haji Mohamoud**, Somaliland's foreign minister, signed the protocol in Taipei and met President Tsai Ing-wen ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)).
- **Tsai Ing-wen**, President of Taiwan, received Yasin Haji Mohamoud in February 2020 ([Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan](https://somaliland.tw/somaliland-taiwan-history/)).
- **Lai Ching-te**, President of Taiwan, welcomed the coast guard deal of July 2025 ([Focus Taiwan, 24 July 2025](https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202507240027)).
- **François Chihchung Wu**, deputy foreign minister, attended the inauguration of Somaliland's President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) on 12 December 2024 as Lai's envoy ([Taiwan MOFA, 11 December 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=118808)).
- **Rhoda Jama Elmi**, Somaliland's deputy foreign minister, received him at Hargeisa airport ([Taiwan MOFA, 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=118808)).
- **Hassan Mohamed Ali Gafadhi**, Somaliland's health minister, signed a COVID-19 vaccine agreement with Taiwan in December 2021 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2021](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=97113)).
- **[Musa Hassan](/en/history/medieval-towns-of-gebiley-and-kabab/) Yousuf**, chair of Somaliland's National Electoral Commission, led a delegation to Taipei in January 2024 ([Taiwan MOFA, 4 January 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=116312)).
- **Omar Shuaib Mohamed**, Somaliland's livestock minister, laid the stone for a Taiwanese-led livestock project in Berbera in December 2025 ([Somaliland Standard, 26 December 2025](https://somalilandstandard.com/historic-groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-20-million-taiwan-led-investment-in-somalilands-livestock-sector/)).

## What agreements have they signed?

All are between Taiwan and Somaliland:

- **26 February 2020:** Bilateral protocol to set up representative offices, signed in Taipei ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)). The offices have privileges similar to those under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations ([Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan](https://somaliland.tw/somaliland-taiwan-history/)).
- **17 August 2020:** Agreement on technical cooperation, signed as the Hargeisa office opened ([Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan](https://somaliland.tw/somaliland-taiwan-history/)).
- **27 December 2021:** Donation of 150,000 doses of Taiwan's Medigen COVID-19 vaccine ([Taiwan MOFA, 2021](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=97113)).
- **24 July 2025:** Coast guard cooperation agreement, signed in Taipei ([Focus Taiwan, 2025](https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202507240027)).

## Which leaders have visited?

- **February 2020:** Foreign Minister Yasin Haji Mohamoud in Taipei ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)).
- **January 2024:** Somaliland's electoral commission in Taipei ([Taiwan MOFA, 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=116312)).
- **May 2024:** a Somaliland delegation attended Lai Ching-te's inauguration on 20 May, according to China's embassy ([Chinese Embassy in Somalia, 2024](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202405/t20240530_11358311.htm)).
- **11 to 12 December 2024:** Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu in Hargeisa ([Taiwan MOFA, 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=118808)).
- **July 2025:** Somaliland's head of external affairs in Taipei for the coast guard deal ([Chinese Embassy in Somalia, 28 July 2025](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202507/t20250728_11677994.htm)).

## How much do they trade?

UN Comtrade lists Taiwan as "Other Asia, not elsewhere specified". Exports from Taiwan to Somalia were US$1.7 million in 2023 and US$3.9 million in 2024 ([UN Comtrade, 2023](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=490&partnerCode=706&period=2023&flowCode=X,M&cmdCode=TOTAL); [UN Comtrade, 2024](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=490&partnerCode=706&period=2024&flowCode=X,M&cmdCode=TOTAL)). Imports from Somalia were US$0.4 million in 2024 ([UN Comtrade, 2024](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=490&partnerCode=706&period=2024&flowCode=X,M&cmdCode=TOTAL)). Machinery was the largest export in 2024, at US$2.2 million ([UN Comtrade, by product](https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/A/HS?reporterCode=490&partnerCode=706&period=2024&flowCode=X&cmdCode=AG2)).

In December 2025 Central Sky International Trading Co. began building a US$20 million livestock quarantine zone near Berbera port ([Somaliland Standard, 2025](https://somalilandstandard.com/historic-groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-20-million-taiwan-led-investment-in-somalilands-livestock-sector/)). It is a joint venture with Saudi and US investors ([Somaliland Standard, 2025](https://somalilandstandard.com/historic-groundbreaking-ceremony-marks-20-million-taiwan-led-investment-in-somalilands-livestock-sector/)).

## How much aid and money has gone in?

- **Health:** the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps held free clinics in ten regions of Somaliland in January 2020, seeing 2,880 patients ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)). TaiwanICDF had trained 23 Somaliland medical workers by then ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)).
- **Scholarships:** three Somaliland students were studying in Taiwan on Taiwan Scholarships in July 2020 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2020](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=93645)).
- **Vaccines:** 150,000 doses of Medigen in December 2021 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2021](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=97113)).
- **Maritime:** US$166,000 for Somali port security centres in 2015 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2015](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=32652)).

## What about security?

Taiwan's coast guard signed a cooperation agreement with Somaliland's coast guard on 24 July 2025 ([Focus Taiwan, 2025](https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202507240027)). Taiwan has no forces in Somali territory. See [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/).

## How does Taiwan deal with Somaliland and the member states?

Taiwan describes Somaliland as "an important East African partner" ([Taiwan MOFA, 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=118808)). It says the two cooperate in public health, agriculture, information technology and women's empowerment ([Taiwan MOFA, 2024](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=116312)). No ties with [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/), [Jubaland](/en/states/jubaland/) or the other member states appear in Taiwan's ministry releases.

## Have there been disputes?

**The 2020 offices.** Each party stated its position:

- **Somalia** called the move a reckless attempt to undermine its sovereignty ([France 24, 2020](https://www.france24.com/en/20200909-somaliland-launches-representative-office-in-taiwan)).
- **China** accused Taipei of separatism ([France 24, 2020](https://www.france24.com/en/20200909-somaliland-launches-representative-office-in-taiwan)).
- **Somaliland's** representative Mohamed Hagi said: "From Somaliland's perspective we are independent," and that the tie posed no threat to China ([France 24, 2020](https://www.france24.com/en/20200909-somaliland-launches-representative-office-in-taiwan)).

**The 2025 travel-document ban.** Somalia's Civil Aviation Authority told airlines on 22 April 2025 that Taiwan-issued travel documents would not be valid from 30 April ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)). It cited the one-China principle and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)).

- **Taiwan** said: "It demands that the government of Somalia immediately revoke this notification," and rejected Somalia's reading of Resolution 2758 ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)).
- **China's embassy** backed the step and praised Somalia for "upholding the one-China principle" ([Chinese Embassy in Somalia, 30 April 2025](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202504/t20250430_11614512.htm)). It said it "firmly opposes the Taiwan authorities and Somaliland hosting each other's institution" ([Chinese Embassy, 2025](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202504/t20250430_11614512.htm)).

**Other exchanges.** In March 2025 Taiwan's Hargeisa office said "China has never governed Taiwan for a second"; China's embassy replied that "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory" ([Chinese Embassy, 19 March 2025](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202503/t20250319_11578454.htm)). In September 2026 the embassy condemned remarks on Taiwan made in the United States by Somaliland's President Irro ([Chinese Embassy, 16 September 2026](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202609/t20260916_12023118.htm)). It said "Somaliland is an inalienable part of Somalia's territory" ([Chinese Embassy, 2026](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202609/t20260916_12023118.htm)).

## Where does Taiwan stand in the UN and other bodies on Somalia?

Taiwan is not a UN member. Somalia's aviation notice and China's embassy both cite UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 as the basis for their position ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762); [Chinese Embassy, 2025](https://so.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zsgx_1/202503/t20250319_11578454.htm)). Taiwan rejects that reading ([Taiwan MOFA, 2025](https://en.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=1329&s=119762)).

## Related pages

- [Somaliland institutions](/en/institutions/somaliland-institutions/)
- [Muse Bihi Abdi](/en/people/muse-bihi-abdi/)
- [Foreign forces in Somalia](/en/institutions/foreign-forces-in-somalia/)
- [Somalia and South Korea](/en/relations/south-korea/)

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