Somaliland Administration Foreign Minister Confuses Thailand with Taiwan

Somaliland Administration Foreign Minister in Taipei: “This is my first time to visit Thailand. And I am thanking them very much.”

Hargeisa (PP News Desk) — The Foreign Minister Somaliland Administration Essa Kayd Mohamud visiting Taipei had to be corrected twice when he referrred to Taiwan as Thailand.

At a press conference organized for the visiting delegation, one member of the delegation, Keyd said that “This is my first time to visit Thailand. And I am thanking them very much”. He was corrected by a person nearby, but in the same breath referred to Taiwan as Thailand. “Thailand we started with good relations” he added, oblivious to the correction made.

A clip of the gaffe-laden press conference in Taipei.

Somaliland Administration President was criticized for diplomatic setbacks his administration had faced after the British government described it as “Hargeisa authorities” following a petition to signed by ten thousand signatories prompted by a Tory backbencher’s questions in support of Somaliland secession claim. Somaliland Administration claims to have seceded from Somalia. No country has recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state.

The Chinese Government denounced Somaliland Administration’s policy to send a delegation to Taiwan, which China views as a part and parcel of the People’s Republic of China.

© Puntland Post, 2022