Somaliland says it has a right to choose its relationships as it opens new Taiwan office

By Ben BlanchardTAIPEI, June 12 (Reuters) - Somaliland has a right to choose its own relationships and pressure tactics from Beijing and Mogadishu have not succeeded in altering its friendship with Taipei, its top diplomat in Taiwan said on Friday at the opening of a new office. Strategically situated on the Horn of Africa, Somaliland has enjoyed effective autonomy - and relative peace and stability - since 1991, when it broke away from Somalia as that country descended into civil war.