Somalia, 27 October 2025 — The President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi ‘Irro’, has laid the foundation stone for the Taiwan Medical Center, a $22 million state-of-the-art healthcare facility to be built in Hargeisa.
In his speech, President Irro expressed gratitude to the President and people of Taiwan for their continued partnership and support for Somaliland’s development. He described the new hospital as “a symbol of partnership and progress — a reflection of how cooperation between Somaliland and Taiwan can directly improve the lives of our people.”
The President also emphasized that the support from Taiwan reflects the strong collaboration between the two self-governing territories. He noted that the Taiwan Medical Center will provide advanced medical services to residents of Hargeisa and the wider western regions, and announced plans to construct another modern hospital in Burao, with assistance from the United Arab Emirates, to serve eastern Somaliland.
“This project will further strengthen the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two partners,” President Irro added, highlighting that the partnership extends beyond healthcare to include education, agriculture, and technical cooperation.
Taiwan’s Representative to Somaliland, Allen Lou, described the hospital as the first in Africa to bear the name of Taiwan and emphasized its role as a symbol of friendship, partnership, and international cooperation.
“Taiwan Medical Center will not only channel our medical expertise to Somaliland but also act as a hub for collaboration with like-minded partners,” Lou said, noting Taiwan’s global leadership in healthcare, ranked first in the Health Care Index for seven consecutive years.
He detailed the hospital’s features, including a two-story building with 105 beds and three operating theaters, and explained the phased construction plan, which involves local contractors for the main structure and Taiwan experts for final detailing, equipment installation, and quality oversight.
The Taiwan Medical Center is among Taiwan’s largest development initiatives in Somaliland since the two territories established representative offices in 2020.
