By: Mohamed Duale
HARGEISA, Aug 20 (Horndiplomat) — Taiwan awarded higher education scholarships to 27 Somaliland students on Thursday, as officials from both sides highlighted growing cooperation in education, healthcare, technology and human-capital development.
The scholarship certificates were presented during a ceremony at the Assod Hotel in Hargeisa attended by senior Somaliland officials, representatives of Taiwan and scholarship recipients preparing to pursue higher education in Taiwan.
Taiwan Representative to Somaliland Ambassador Allen C. Lou said more than 200 Somaliland students have benefited from Taiwan scholarships over the years and described the program as an important part of Taiwan’s contribution to Somaliland’s development.
“Taiwan scholarships have played a pivotal role in nurturing the new generation of talents with knowledge, expertise, skills, and capacity to shape a better future for Somaliland,” Lou said in remarks at the ceremony.
Lou said relations between Taiwan and Somaliland had expanded steadily since Taiwan established its representative office in Hargeisa on Aug. 17, 2020.
He recalled that the relationship received public acknowledgement from the U.S. White House National Security Council in July 2020 and said the establishment of Taiwan’s office in Hargeisa the following month marked a milestone in bilateral relations.
“Since that day, our cooperation has grown from strength to strength in many domains,” Lou said, adding that after six years the Taiwan-Somaliland cooperation model had become a “template” in the Horn of Africa.
Scholarships support Somaliland institutions
The latest group of scholarship recipients comes from a broad range of Somaliland government institutions and other sectors, including the ministries of foreign affairs, planning, health, information, energy and minerals, as well as Hargeisa Municipality, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and academia.
Recipients also include graduates of the University of Hargeisa, Amoud University, Edna Adan University, University of Burao and Berbera Maritime and Fisheries University, according to Lou’s remarks.
Lou said the diversity of the recipients demonstrated the role of the scholarship program in developing professionals who could contribute to Somaliland’s institutions and wider national development.
Seven of the 27 recipients are women, and Lou encouraged more Somaliland women to apply when applications for the next round of Taiwan scholarships open on Jan. 1, 2027.
Addressing the students, Lou urged them to use their time in Taiwan not only to advance academically but also to strengthen ties between the two sides.
He encouraged the recipients to act as Somaliland’s “cultural ambassadors,” make friends in Taiwan and share knowledge about Somaliland, describing the opportunity as a way to strengthen people-to-people relations.
Lou also called on the scholars to return home with the expertise they acquire abroad and use it to support Somaliland’s development.
“I am encouraging all of you to devote the knowledge, expertise and experience that you will gain in Taiwan” to Somaliland’s “development, growth, progress and prosperity,” he said.
He concluded by urging the students to work hard, embrace challenges and maintain a strong sense of purpose.
“Be curious, be ambitious and believe in yourself,” Lou said, adding that he hoped to see the students succeed academically in Taiwan and ultimately use their education to benefit Somaliland.
Somaliland welcomes growing partnership
Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Director General Mohamed Abdirahman Hassan, who represented the ministry at the ceremony, congratulated the 27 scholarship recipients and urged them to make full use of the opportunity.
Hassan said the students should work hard, develop valuable expertise and return home equipped to contribute to Somaliland’s development.
“It was a proud moment to see 27 Somaliland students receive their scholarship certificates,” Hassan said in a statement after the ceremony. “I congratulated them and encouraged them to make the most of this opportunity to work hard, build valuable expertise, and return home equipped to contribute to Somaliland’s development.”
He said the ceremony reflected the expanding relationship between Somaliland and Taiwan, particularly in education and human-capital development.
“This occasion reflects the growing partnership between Somaliland and Taiwan, particularly in education and human capital development,” Hassan said.
“The Government of the Republic of Somaliland deeply values this continued cooperation and looks forward to seeing what these talented young Somalilanders bring back home,” he added.
