Somaliland

{{countrybox|Somaliland
|flag=Flag_of_Somaliland.svg
|pop=5,741,086
|GDP=2,927
|GDPPC=675
|life=N/A
|dev=N/A
|dem=N/A
|cor=N/A
|edu=N/A
|rel=N/A
}}
[[File:Somaliland map de.png|thumb|right|250px|Somaliland within greater Somalia.]]
'''Somaliland,''' known by its constitutional name '''Republic of Somaliland,''' is a mostly unrecognized breakaway state and ''de jure'' [[Somalia]]n territory. Authorities in Somalia lay claim to the ''de facto'' independent territory with most of the rest of the United Nations member nations and non-member observer states backing Somalia's territorial claim. Their independence is due to a combination of older [[colonialism]] and armed conflict. As of 2025, Somaliland has gained recognition from one UN member state, [[Israel]].<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/somaliland-israel-recognition-somalia-republic-netanyahu-11272273 Newsweek], Retrieved on December 26, 2025.</ref>

==History==
===Scramble for Africa===
{{main|Scramble for Africa}}
The current troubles between Somalia and Somaliland stem from the Scramble for Africa when [[Britain]], [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], [[Belgium]], and [[Ottoman]] [[Turkey]] began colonizing [[Africa]]. Tensions between [[Europe]]an colonists and indigenous tribes fueled frequent conflict. The situation for the indigenous tribes became worse due to [[racism]], infighting and [[nationalism]] among all of them. The [[British Empire|British]] and [[French colonial empire|French]] gained a strong foothold in north Africa, thanks to their advanced technology and medicine for that period of time as well as infighting among various tribes.<ref>[https://somalilinknewspaper.com/2021/05/19/somalia-and-the-scramble-for-africa/ Somali Link], Retrieved May 30, 2022.</ref> The British had control over the northern portion of the Horn of Africa until 1889 when Italy invaded and took over most the territory.

===Modern history===

[[Italy]], which already had a hold on southern Somalia, invaded the British colony and largely taking control of it; in 1939 Italian Somaliland was merged with Italian East Africa.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Italian-Somaliland Britannica], May 31, 2022.</ref> This was fueled by the tensions between [[Ethiopia]] and Italy. When [[World War 2]] began, France, which sought out allies against [[Nazi Germany]], made a draft treaty between them and Italy that involved ceding territory to Italy. However, the treaty was never ratified. When Italy took control of Ethiopia, their new territory completely surrounded French and British Somaliland, making it ripe for invasion. In 1935, Italy under [[Benito Mussolini]] annexed Ethiopia and merged it with Italian Somaliland. Predictably, this imperialistic land grab led to violence between the people living in Ethiopia, Somaliland and the invaders. This culminated in the Italo-Ethiopian War and ended with Ethiopia falling under Italian control.<ref>[https://study.com/learn/lesson/italian-invasion-ethiopia-war-history-analysis.html study.com], Retrieved May 31, 2022.</ref> When World War 2 officially began, French and British Somaliland fell under Italian military occupation. In 1939, the allied forces began a military campaign in northern Africa against Italy. This conflict lasted till the Allied Forces victory. After the war, all but French Somaliland found itself under British civil administration. Ethiopia, British Somaliland and Italian Somalia engaged in small skirmishes until Ethiopia gained control of the British Somaliland territory which they claimed sovereignty over and what remained of Italian Somalia went back to Somalia. When this happened, Somalia would begin the process of independence from the UK.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/place/Somalia/Revolt-in-British-Somaliland Britannica], Retrieved on May 31, 2022.</ref>

===Current conflict between Somaliland and Somalia===
[[File:Somaliland,_fighters_of_the_Somali_National_Movement_(SNM),_1980s.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Somaliland independence fighters pose for the camera.]]
On July 1, 1960 a completely united Somalia declared independence from the UK. This is when the current conflict took off. After years of colonialism, racism and cultural divide, a [[civil war]] began.<ref>[https://colonizationofsomalia.weebly.com/somalias-independence.html Colonization of Somalia], Retrieved on May 31, 2022.</ref> General Said Barre came into power after a military [[coup]] and ruled the country as a [[totalitarian]] [[dictatorship]]. [[Civil liberties]] were restricted as opposition leaders, [[journalism|journalists]], [[academic]]s, and civilians suffered severe brutality from the Somalian government. Small scale insurgencies boiled over into a deadly civil war that is still ongoing to this day. Places such as Somaliland sustained severe damage from a near [[genocidal]] conflict with the people of Somaliland. This began a war of independence that created an independent Somaliland for a few decades before rejoining Somalia until 1991.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PBvfTmzsZ-0C&q=declared+economic+warfare+on+somalis+from+the+northwestern&pg=PA84#v=snippet&q=declared%20economic%20warfare%20on%20somalis%20from%20the%20northwestern&f=false Google Books], Retrieved May 31, 2022.</ref> Said Barre was ousted by rebels thus ending the dictatorship in 1991, only to cause a power vacuum with nobody knowing who was in charge. Political parties, warlords, clans and tribes took control of various parcels of land.<ref>[https://theowp.org/crisis_index/somali-civil-war/ Organization for World Peace], Retrieved May 31, 2022.</ref>

==Government==
[[File:House_of_Representatives_of_the_Republic_of_Somaliland.jpg|right|180px|thumb|The Somaliland House of Representatives.]]
The government of the Republic of Somaliland is a hybrid system mixed between ''[[Sharia]]'', traditional Somali customary law (''xeer''), and Westernized governmental systems. The separatist held territory is led by a [[president]]. A legislature votes on national [[law]]s. A judiciary branch manages legal affairs within the nation, much like the [[SCOTUS|United States Supreme Court]]. Women do not get any real representation.<ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-somaliland-and-who-controls-it.html World Atlas], Retrieved June 3, 2022.</ref>

===Human rights (or lack there of)===
{{main|Human rights}}
Being what amounts to a [[theocracy]], the human rights situation is dismal. [[Freedom of speech]], freedom of expression and [[freedom of religion]] are often oppressed by the government. Arbitrary arrests are commonplace.<ref>[http://hrcsomaliland.org/press-release-human-rights-centers-statement-on-our-quarterly-report-january-april-2022/ HRC], Retrieved June 3, 2022.</ref> Criticism of the government generally results in arrest. Any depiction of the flag of Somalia is illegal. Religious minorities are targeted by the government.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/08/somaliland-prosecutions-threaten-free-expression Human Rights Watch], Retrieved June 3, 2022.</ref> [[Female genital mutilation]] is at ''98%'' of women in the region. <ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somaliland-women-fgm/village-by-village-the-quest-to-stop-female-genital-cutting-in-somaliland-idUSKCN1VJ0C8/ Reuters], Retrieved on November 20, 2024.</ref> Racism is a serious problem as ethnic minorities face severe oppression with militias frequently killing those people.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111118224900/http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=22&country=7974&year=2010 Web Archive-Freedom House], Retrieved June 3, 2022.</ref> LGBTQ rights are non-existent in Somaliland. Being LGBTQ in the separatist region has resulted in death threats and murders. Straight camps are common place where LGBTQ youth are forced to conform to traditional gender roles. Horrifying abuse of all types take place in those places. Long story short, human rights abuses against LGBTQ people are commonplace. <ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-53438112 BBC], Retrieved on February 7, 2024 .</ref>

===Government instability===

Despite ''de facto'' independence and having a stable government during a deadly civil war, not everything is going well for the separatist authorities. Due to the lack of civil liberties and the illegal occupation of territory in Puntland, the stability of the Somaliland separatist government is being affected.<ref>[https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/africa/ethnic-clashes-hit-somaliland-ahead-of-this-years-elections-sxo4les9 Zwaya], Retrieved on Jan 17, 2023.</ref> While the US and UK have made security deals with separatist authorities, in context of the "One Somalia Policy", some residents of the breakaway state were demanding reunification with Somalia.<ref>{{cite web | title=What's driving conflict in the disputed Somali city of Las Anod? | website=Al Jazeera | date=2023-02-20 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/20/whats-driving-conflict-in-the-disputed-somali-city-of-las-anod | ref={{sfnref|Al Jazeera|2023}} | access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref> This has resulted in an on-going {{wpl|Las Anod conflict|conflict}} that has severely damaged Somaliland's bid for international recognition.<ref>{{cite web | title=Conflict in disputed Las Anod dims Somaliland's diplomatic dreams | website=Al Jazeera | date=2023-05-10 | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/5/10/conflict-in-disputed-las-anod-dims-somalilands-diplomatic-dreams | ref={{sfnref|Al Jazeera|2023}} | access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref>

==International recognition==

The Republic of Somaliland largely lacks recognition of its sovereignty. The main reason behind Somaliland's lack of recognition is that it could further destabilize the Horn of Africa region. Due to loopholes in international law, many companies have set up shop in the separatist held territory.<ref>[https://www.odu.edu/content/dam/odu/offices/mun/2015/specpol-international-recognition-of-somaliland.pdf SPECPOL], Retrieved on June 4, 2022.</ref> However, Somaliland's portents seem to slowly be changing. [[Taiwan]] and Somaliland have become major economic partners. Taiwan has even opened up a representative office in Somaliland.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/taiwan-swap-office-breakaway-state-somaliland-110221328.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall Yahoo News], Retrieved June 4, 2022.</ref> As of 2025 the State of [[Israel]] has become the first country to formally recognize Somaliland's independence.<ref>{{cite web | title=Israel becomes first country to formally recognise Somaliland as independent state | website=Reuters | date=2025-12-26 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-recognises-somaliland-somalias-breakway-region-independent-state-2025-12-26/ | ref={{sfnref|Reuters|2025}} | access-date=2025-12-26}}</ref>

==Economy==
The GDP per capita of Somaliland is the fourth lowest in the world, and huge socioeconomic problems need to be addressed by the Somaliland government in order to create a functioning country. These socioeconomic problems include a 70% rate of unemployment among the young and a high rate of illiteracy amongst women and the elderly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2014/01/29/new-world-bank-gdp-and-poverty-estimates-for-somaliland|title=New World Bank GDP and Poverty Estimates for Somaliland|website=World Bank}}</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20210605135206/https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1150581/download</ref>

The economic situation isn't helped by Somaliland's almost total diplomatic isolation on the world stage, as donors of international aid find it particularly difficult to ''get'' aid to Somaliland in the first place. Somaliland instead gets most of its revenue through tax remittances and aid from the Somali diaspora.<ref>Daniel Harris with Marta Foresti 2011. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120118210403/http://www.developmentprogress.org/progress-stories/somaliland-progress-governance-case-blending-old-and-new Somaliland's progress on governance: A case of blending the old and the new] [https://web.archive.org/web/20200807114908/https://www.odi.org/our-work/programmes/development-progress Archived entry.] London: Overseas Development Institute</ref>

==See also==
*[[Libertarian paradise#Somalia: failed state, loaded language, or paradise lost?]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
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[[Category:Disputed countries]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Ongoing armed conflicts]]

Categories: Disputed countries, Territorial disputes, Africa, Islam, Ongoing armed conflicts