Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but the world has largely failed to recognize Somaliland as its own state. In 1960, the northern region of British Somaliland joined with Italian Somaliland to the south, creating modern-day Somalia. Most former colonial states have maintained the borders laid out by Europeans. However, according to NPR, “Somaliland broke away from Somalia to keep from getting sucked down as Somalia disintegrated in the 1990’s.”
The African Union, to whom the international community defers on border issues, argues that to recognize Somaliland would be “to open a Pandora’s box of separatist claims in the region.” Somaliland has experienced relative peace and stability since declaring independence, with a functioning democracy and two peaceful presidential transitions, while Somalia has become a failed state. The Economist writes that recognizing Somaliland’s independence from Somalia would “require merely divorce, not reinvention,” due to their separate colonial pasts.
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/…/somaliland-wants-to-make-one-thing-cl…
https://www.economist.com/…/econ…/2015/11/economist-explains
https://oxfamblogs.org/…/somaliland-v-somalia-great-new-pa…/
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