Due to its unrecognized status, The Republic of Somaliland has no official contacts with any other nation. The current foreign policy of Somaliland is to try to secure international recognition as a sovereign, stable country, so that international aid can be more readilly secured. Motto: Freedom, Democracy and Success for All Anthem: Samo ku waar Samo ku waar Saamo ku waar Capital Hargeisa Largest city Hargeisa Official languages Somali Government President republic Dahir Riyale Kahin Independence  - Declared  - Recognition From Somalia  - 1991  - none Area  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Water (%)   137,600 km² (-) n/a Population  â€¢ 2005 est. ...

Somaliland was independent for a few days in 1960, between the end of British colonial rule and its union with the former Italian colony of Somalia, remaining so until the unilateral declaration of reestablishing its independence in 1991. Somaliland's claims to sovereignty rests on this former status. In addition to this, the fact that the rest of Somalia is in a state of anarchy while Somaliland is under stable government also lends credence to its claim. 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The attitude of the United Nations and the African Union on the preservation of existing national borders has so far prevented recognition of Somaliland, despite the examples of the former status of British Somaliland, and the fact that Eritrea successfully broke away from Ethiopia and became a recognized country. The examples and perspective in this article do not represent a worldwide view. ... Anthem: Let us all unite and celebrate together Official languages The African languages, as well as Arabic, Swahili, English, French and Portuguese Some member states have other official languages. ... The British Somaliland Protectorate was a British protectorate in the north part of the Horn of Africa, later part of Somalia. ...

Foreign Minister

Edna Adan Ismail is the current Somaliland Foreign Minister. Ms. Ismail has held this office since 2003. The fact that the foreign minister is a woman is unusual in a predominiantly Islamic african state. Edna Adan Ismail is the current Foreign Minister of the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland (North-Western Somalia). ...

Diplomatic Representative Offices

As Somaliland is so far not recognized as sovereign by any other country, no embassies are located in Somaliland. Somaliland does have representative offices in several countries, but these missions do not have formal diplomatic status under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is an international treaty on diplomatic intercourse and the privileges and immunities of a diplomatic mission. ...

Such offices exist in the following places:

• the United Kingdom (London)
• Ethiopia
• the United States
• Djibouti
• Italy

Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7,500,000 and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. ...

Disputes

Somaliland is in dispute with the neighbouring autonomous Somali region of Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool areas, some of whose inhabitants owe their allegiance to Puntland. Motto: None Anthem: Somalian National Anthem Capital Garowe Largest city Official languages Somali Government • President • Vice-President • Mohamud Muse Hersi • Hasan Dahir Independence  - Declared  - Recognition From Somalia 1998 none Area  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Water (%)   ~250,000 km² (not ranked) Negl. ... Sanaag is a region in northern Somalia, formerly part of the British Somaliland protectorate. ... Sool is a region (gobolka) in northern Somalia, and was part of the British Somaliland protectorate. ...

Somaliland's leaders have distanced themselves from Somalia's central transitional government, set up in 2004 following long-running talks in Kenya, which they see as a threat to Somaliland's autonomy.

Organizational Membership

Somaliland is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) was founded on February 11, 1991. ...