Sunday July 5, 2020
MOGADISHU (HOL) - Somalia has dismissed the Taiwa-Somaliland diplomatic accord and reiterated its position on a ‘one-China-policy’.
A statement from Villa Somalia Friday following a meeting between President Mohamed Farmaajo and Chinese ambassador to Somalia Qin Jian noted the two sides ‘stressed the importance of strengthening the relations between the two countries.
“President Farmaajo reiterated that Somalia respects “One-China Policy” whilst, on the other hand, denounced Taiwan’s violation of the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of Somalia,” the statement read in part.
The meeting follows the announcement by Somaliland and Taiwan that htye had agreed to open ‘representative offices’ in each other’s territories.
Somaliland president Muse Bihi has Friday appointed ambassador Mohamed Omar Haji as Somaliland’s representative to Taiwan.Chinese ambassador to Somalia had on Thursday rubbished the deal noting Taiwan was part of China and did not have the capacity to engage in such a deal.
“We will never allow anyone, any organization or any political party to separate any piece of territory from China at any time or in any form. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China,” the embassy said in a series of tweets.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the central government and subsequent civil war to pursue its independence however the region has not been formally recognized.
Less than 20 countries globally recognize Taiwan’s independence over China.