HARGEISA – Taiwan has on Monday awarded its 2026 security fellowship to a new cohort of Somaliland military officers during a brief ceremony in the capital, Hargeisa, attended by top cabinet ministers.
In a statement, Taiwan’s representative office in Somaliland hailed the Taiwan-Somaliland relationship as “a Horn of Africa benchmark,” calling the alliance “a strategic catalyst attracting democratic partners for trilateral, quadrilateral, and multilateral ventures.”
Analysts say Taiwan’s engagement with Somaliland also serves broader regional and diplomatic goals, allowing Taipei to expand its international presence and build partnerships with democracies in Africa.
Taiwan and Somaliland have maintained close ties despite limited international recognition for Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991.
Over the years, the partnership has expanded to include cooperation in security, trade, investment, technology, and diplomatic engagement.
Nevertheless, the security fellowship program is believed to be part of Taiwan’s ongoing effort to support Somaliland’s military training and strengthen strategic collaboration in the Horn of Africa.
