Taiwan welcomes new Somaliland envoy

Taipei, Feb. 4 (CNA) A senior Taiwanese diplomat on Tuesday welcomed Somaliland's new representative Mahmoud Adam Jama Galaal, who recently took up his post in Taipei.

Speaking at a weekly news briefing in Taipei, Chen Yung-po (陳詠博), deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of West Asian and African Affairs, expressed hope that Galaal would continue to enhance bilateral relations.

Galaal was appointed by new Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi last month.

In a Jan. 29 Facebook post by the Somaliland Representative Office in Taiwan, Galaal sent Lunar New Year's greetings from his government and people to Taiwan.

"On the joyous occasion of the Lunar New Year, the Republic of Somaliland and its Representative Office in Taipei extends its warm greetings and best wishes to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan). May this New Year bring you prosperity, happiness, and continued success."

"We cherish the strong bonds and friendship between our two countries and look forward to many more years of fruitful cooperation and shared prosperity. Happy New Year!" the envoy wrote in the post.

Before taking up the post in Taipei, Galaal served as Somaliland's representative to Ethiopia as well as its minister of planning and health minister.

Galaal was previously critical of closer ties between Somaliland and Taiwan while in opposition.

In a Feb. 2022 X post, he criticized Somaliland for having close relations with Taiwan, saying the move is a form of what he termed as "short-term megaphone diplomacy for local consumption only."

However, Galaal wrote in a Jan. 16 X post following his nomination that "foreign policy evolves with the times."

"You may embrace something you were once uncertain about... Taiwan has won hearts & minds with unparalleled assistance for the Republic of Somaliland," he wrote.

Asked about the new envoy's previous comments, Chen told reporters in Taipei Tuesday that it is the ministry's understanding that the representative's remarks were aimed at a domestic audience based on the political situation at the time, without elaborating.

Taiwan's office in Somaliland has had "smooth communications" with the new government after President Mohamed Abdullahi was sworn into office on Dec. 12, Chen said.

Chen added that Galaal himself was now very supportive of strengthening Somaliland-Taiwan relations.

Ties between Taiwan and Somaliland have warmed since the two sides set up representative offices in each other's capitals in 2020.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has functioned as a de facto sovereign state ever since, but is not officially recognized by any other countries.