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| Republic of Somaliland Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliland | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
Motto: لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of God | |
 Claimed but uncontrolled territory in light green | |
| Capital and largest city | Hargeisa |
| Official languages | Somali |
| Demonym(s) | Somalilander |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic |
• President | Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi |
• Vice President | Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi |
• Speaker of the House | Yasin Haji Mohamoud |
• Chief Justice | Adan Haji Ali |
| Area | |
• Total | 177,000 km² |
| Population | |
• 2024 estimate | 6,200,000 |
| Currency | Somaliland shilling |
| Driving side | right |
Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is a USA and UK-backed separatist state in East Africa that broke away from Somalia in 1991. It is located in the Horn of Africa with a northern coast on the Gulf of Aden bordering Djibouti to the west, Ethiopia to the south and the rest of Somalia to the east. It is currently experiencing protests seeking reunification with Somalia.[1]
History
Colonization
The northern region of Somalia was formerly a British protectorate while the rest was an Italian colony.[1]
Republic
Somaliland seceded from Somalia in 1991 after its federal government collapsed in a civil war and used British colonial borders for its boundaries.[1]
After the Yemeni Civil War began in 2014, the UAE began searching for regional partners against Ansar Allah. In 2016, the UAE signed a $442 million deal to build a port in the Somaliland city of Berbera, the port was later expanded to include a naval and airbase which, since 2018, has been used to strike Yemen. The UAE military base continues to expand in size and UAE has made efforts to foster relations between Somaliland and Israel.[2]
The official U.S. position has long been "One Somalia" but in recent times the Biden administration has began moving away from this position. The incoming Trump administration reportedly will go further and plans to recognise Somaliland's independence upon taking power. The move is likely an attempt to counter Chinese influence in the region and prevent attacks on Zionist ships in the Red Sea by Ansar Allah.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pavan Kulkarni (2023-01-17). "Protests in breakaway Somaliland call for reunification with Somalia" Peoples Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Aidan J. Simardone (2024-12-19). "Recognizing Somaliland: A geopolitical game-changer for West Asia?" The Cradle. Archived from the original on 2024-12-19.