Published by participants in the  Certificate in Journalism program

of the African Virtual University-Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

The African Star

Homepage

Pictures (GAMBIA)
Pictures (Somaliland)

Somaliland: Internationally unrecognized but a very stable country

The territory formerly known as the Somaliland protectorate became independent on June 26 June 1960. The new state then merged with the Italian colonized Somalia on July 1 1960 creating the Somali Republic, which later becomes the Somali Democratic Republic.

As Somalia plunged into civil war, the Somaliland of old restored its independence by a unanimous decision reached at a congress attended by a council of clan elders which went into session from April 27 to May 15, 1991. On May 18 1991, the Congress declared Somaliland a sovereign state.

Somaliland is situated in the horn of Africa its boundaries are defined by the Gulf of Aden in the north, Somalia, on the east, the federal republic of Ethiopia in the south and west, and the Republic of Djibouti in the North West.

The total area of Somaliland is 68,000 square miles.

 The capital of Somaliland is Hargeisa with approximately 800,000 inhabitants the major town include Burao, Borama, Las-Anod, Erigavo and Berbera – the country’s seaport.

The population of Somaliland is estimated at around three million, of which 60 percent are nomadic and 40 percent  are urban and rural. Life expectancy at birth is between 45 and 60 years, while the population growth rate is 3.1% the population density is about 22 persons per square kilometer.

Somaliland is an Islamic state and the population is mostly Muslim. The influence of Islam in Somaliland is profound. The Islamic faith plays a major role in people’s day-to-day lives and an important factor in both social and cultural life in the country.

The official languages of Somaliland are Somali and Arabic. Somali is the most widely spoken language.

The official   currency is Somaliland shilling. The shilling is divided into 100 cents. Note of 500, 100, 50, 20, 5 shillings are used. The rate of exchange for one US Dollar currently is 7200 Shillings.

Although, Somaliland is still unrecognized country but it has all the acceptable signs of nationhood. The security in the country has been improving   since the collapse of the military rule of the late Dictator Said Barreh.

After the defeat of the oppressive regime in the early 1991 a series of conferences were among the Somali National Movement (SNM) leadership, traditional leaders and the country’s intellectuals. In these conferences all major clan conflicts were resolved and peace accords were signed.

Somaliland consists of six regions.

I hope that Somaliland will soon join the internationally recognized countries. Long live Somaliland!