Somaliland is a self-declared independent region in the north of Somalia. It declared independence from Somalia in 1991, following the collapse of Somalia’s central government.

Somaliland has its own government, military, currency, and constitution. It holds elections and operates separately from the Federal Government of Somalia, which it does not recognize as having authority over its territory.

Despite functioning like an independent country, Somaliland is not recognized by any other nation or by the United Nations. Officially, it is still considered part of Somalia.

Many residents of Somaliland identify strongly with their region’s independence and point to its relative stability compared to the rest of Somalia. However, the lack of international recognition limits its access to foreign aid, investment, and diplomatic relations.

Whether Somaliland is a country depends on how one defines statehood: it meets many practical criteria but lacks formal recognition. The situation remains one of the world’s unresolved geopolitical questions.