TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) pledged to deepen Taiwan’s partnership with Somaliland on Thursday.

In a meeting with Somaliland Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adam, Lai pointed out that authoritarian regimes have intensified suppression of Taiwan and Somaliland’s international participation. Thus, the two countries should join forces to showcase the resilience of democratic alliances and their firm commitment to shared values, Lai said.

The president praised Somaliland’s reputation as a “beacon of democracy” in the Horn of Africa and congratulated the country on successfully holding its presidential and party elections last November. 

Lai also said that the coast guard cooperation agreement signed Thursday afternoon opens a new chapter of maritime collaboration. The agreement aligns with Somaliland’s focus on maritime security and the blue economy, he said. 

Adam acknowledged the pressure the two countries face regarding their relations. He said that no amount of external pressure would change the strong friendship between Somaliland and Taiwan.

The foreign minister added that Taiwan and Somaliland can collaborate in many areas, such as education and maritime security. He thanked the Taiwanese government for its assistance and support and expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to grow.