Somaliland
| |||
| National motto: None | |||
| Official language | Somali | ||
| Capital | Hargeisa | ||
| President | Daahir Rayaale Kaahin | ||
| Area - Total | 137,600 km² | ||
| Population - Total - Density | 3,500,000 25/km² | ||
| Independence - Declared - Recognition | From Somalia - 1991 - none | ||
| Currency | Somaliland shilling | ||
| Time zone | UTC+3 | ||
| National anthem | ? | ||
| Internet TLD | none | ||
| Calling code | 252 | ||
Somaliland is a former British territory located in the northwest region of Somalia in the Horn of Africa. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes five of the eighteen administrative regions of Somalia, roughly the region between Ethiopia, Djibouti and the Gulf of Aden, an area of about 137,600 square kilometres. The capital of Somaliland is Hargeisa.
Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs.
History
Formerly the British Somaliland Protectorate, shortly after gaining independence British Somaliland merged with Italian Somaliland in 1960 to form Somalia. The prime minister of British Somaliland, Haji Ibrahim Egal, became a minister in the new republic of Somalia. He became Prime Minister in 1967 but a coup deposed him in 1969.
In 1991, after the collapse of the government in Somalia, the territory asserted its independence as the Republic of Somaliland, although it has received little if any international recognition. Egal was elected president in 1993, re-elected in 1998 and remained in power until his death on May 3, 2002. The vice president Dahir Riyale Kahin was declared the new president shortly afterwards.
Since independence Somaliland has been in constant dispute with Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool regions. Colonel Abdillahi Yusuf's Puntlander forces have led several small scale invasions of Somaliland's eastern border. Sanaag is a large percentage of Somalilander territory. Such an annexation of national land could possibly cause the country to become unstable in the unrecognized nation.
Since these border disputes have been taking place President Dahir Riyale Kahin has been silent which has caused suspicions and talks of a presidential recall. It has become unclear to some Somalilanders as to where their president's alliances lie and to whether the president believes in the sovereignty of Somaliland and its people. Amongst all those problems the economy has gotten worse under President Kahin. Saudi Arabia's embargo is attributed to the matter as well.
Geography
Somaliland borders Djibouti, Ethiopia and Puntland. The 5 regions of Somalia within Somaliland include:
The population has been estimated at about 3.5 million. The capital, Hargeisa, has a population of about 300,000.
See also
External link
- UK parliament debate on recognition of Somaliland; led by Tony Worthington; 4 Feb 2004.
