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Jul 7, 2021 · For 30 years, Somaliland has called for its independence as a sovereign nation. Now, as Somalia is gripped by its latest democratic crisis and Somaliland unveiled a new strategically-located ...
- Introduction
- Where Is Somaliland?
- What Is Its Political Status?
- How Did It Get Here?
- What Is Somaliland’s Case For Independence?
- What Is Its Financial situation?
- Where Do Negotiations Between Somalia and Somaliland Stand?
- Is There International Support For Somaliland’s Independence?
- What Is Somaliland’s Strategic importance?
Somaliland has been a self-governing region of Somalia for more than three decades, but its claim of independence is not recognized by Mogadishu or any foreign government. While this has limited Somaliland’s access to international markets, it has not prevented the breakaway state from making steady democratic gains. Some analysts say Somaliland, w...
Somaliland is part of Somalia and the larger Horn of Africa region. It has hundreds of miles of coastline along the Gulf of Aden to the north, and it borders Ethiopia to the south and west and Djibouti to the northwest. Puntland, a semiautonomous state of Somalia that lies due east, disputes some of Somaliland’s territorial claims.
Somaliland broke ties with Somalia’s government in Mogadishu after declaring independence in 1991, and has sought international recognition as an independent state since then. No foreign government recognizes its sovereignty, but many effectively acknowledge the region as separate from Somalia. It has held its own democratic elections since 2003, a...
Somaliland’s history as a distinct region of Somalia dates back to the late nineteenth century. The territory was a British protectorate until 1960, when it unified with the rest of present-day Somalia, which had been under Italian rule. The merger faced challenges early on, with many in Somaliland rejecting the centralization of power in the count...
The Somaliland government asserts that it meets most of the requirements of a sovereign democratic state: it holds free and fair elections, has its own currency and security forces, and issues its own passports. It also says that its independence claim is consistent with a longstanding norm of the African Union and its predecessor that colonial-era...
A weak economy and limited opportunities for foreign trade and investment have stifled the government’s capacity to provide services to its approximately four million residents. Somaliland has a gross domestic product (GDP) of about $2 billion, most of which it receives in remittances from Somalilanders working abroad. The area’s unemployment remai...
Mogadishu continues to reject Somaliland’s call for independence and strongly condemns its unilateral attempts to negotiate major international agreements. However, Somaliland remains steadfast in its ambitions. In December 2023, Somalia announced that the country was readyto reopen talks with Somaliland to resolve their disputes, under mediation b...
Many countries have encouraged the breakaway state’s elections and economic development, but none have recognized Somaliland. While some experts see historical and geopolitical reasonsfor countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya to take this step, others say the African Union (AU) would have to be the first to do so. “The United States and the UN and a...
Somaliland is positioned along the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a major sea-lane through which almost one-third of the world’s shipping passes. Its coastline has made it and neighboring Eritrea and Djibouti attractive partners for foreign governments looking for sea access and a maritime presence in the region. Djibou...
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May 18, 2021 · 30 years after declaring independence, Somaliland is still at the margins of the international system despite its considerable successes. 30 years ago, on 18 May 1991, the Republic of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia. This bold move lacked preparation and was not supported by any other state. For over a decade, it was unclear where secession would lead. Today, it is clear ...
Jan 22, 2024 · The would-be state of Somaliland might finally be recognized, but at what cost? Peaceful and democratic Somaliland is considered the better Somalia, although no country recognizes the de facto ...
May 18, 2021 · The self-declared country of Somaliland remains largely unrecognized by the rest of the world. But that hasn’t stopped its estimated 3.6 million people from celebrating its 30 years of independence. In Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, the crowded streets witnessed patriotic music blaring from honking cars. Videos on social media showed young ...
Dec 16, 2006 · It is important to reiterate that Somaliland’s current boundaries are those of the original British Somaliland Protectorate created in 1884 and the independent country recognized by the international community beginning on June 26, 1960, and therefore have a solid legal basis under international law.
May 18, 2016 · Somaliland is not officially recognised as a sovereign state, but it has achieved relative stability since it declared independence in 1991, says Mary Harper.
