Somaliland Is Independent. So Why Does No One Recognize It?

Video written by Adam Chase

[timgb]

Interestingly, while WikiTravel says that independent travel to Mogadishu (Somalia's capital) will almost certainly get you killed, it lists Hargeisa (Somaliland's capital) as a safe and peaceful city, and has no downsides besides there being very little to see. It's not often that the secessionist region of a country is the safest part of it.

[bababababababa]

Somaliland is in the small club of breakaway states that are way better than the country they’re trying to breakaway from

[quuaaarrrk]

"The British took a much more hands-off approach"
So did the Belgians.

[ywc]

Recently Ethiopia signed a huge deal with Somaliland for its coastal port in return for the recognition as a country. As a Kenyan having briefly worked near a Somali refugee camp in north Eastern Kenya, I can only wish the best for the nation of Somaliland. Somali people I've interacted with in Kenya are nice . I wish to visit Somaliland someday

[TheHorrorDevotee]

"They didn't have the bullets to say no."

That absolutely creased me

[WizzardJC]

My father’s best friend said he would never travel to Somalia itself again but he felt surprisingly safe in Somaliland, apparently you can really feel the difference between the two

[Oneofakind]

A Somalilander here! The only thing we want more than anything in this world is to have our country be RE-RECOGNISED AGAIN, so we can take our rightful place on the world stage among all the nations of the world once again<3

[Strong_Tomato_]

Shouldve included the fact that recognizing it as its own country would set precedent for a lot of countries currently dealing with the same issue(like Spain and Catalonia)

[lewisblackwiththenicehair]

I grew up with a lad from Somaliland, one of the most polite, kind hearted people I've ever had the pleasure to have in my company. So for that alone, I'll recognise it. Shout out to Libaan

[danielbickford]

another potential sticking point is that it's seldom a good idea to recognize Breakaway regions. if you do, regions within your own Nation might get ideas.

[CyanideSlushie]

As someone in Taiwan I’d say it’s a contender lol. Completely independent and have diplomatic relationships with countries like the US but since it’s not officially recognized due to China it can’t even call it’s embassies embassies

[samueltrusik]

It is a very interesting country. While not a perfect democracy, it has done a lot to improve the lives of its people.

[Just_A_Little_Kit]

I honestly never knew that Somaliland wasn’t internationally recognized, I’ve always heard it referred to as its own nation by friends who live and work in and around the region

[TheAnthraxBiology]

Iraqi Kurdistan also functions very independently. They have their own border control and run their own affairs. Rojava too but it's a lot newer whereas Iraqi Kurdistan has more experience.

[Morbos]

I've always really wanted to go to Somalia as I'm a botanist and they have some really interesting plants, and probably a ton of undiscovered ones. So Somaliland has intrigued me since I first heard about it. A good chunk of "Somalia" that is safe enough for foreigners to visit, although a pain in the ass because of the lack of international recognition.

[ENCHANTMEN_]

My favorite part of Somaliland was when Somaliland said "it's secessionist militia time" and secessionist militiaed all over those guys

[bababababababa]

Once Somaliland finds oil, just watch every single country magically start to recognise it 😂the US would be first to build an embassy there 😂

[kitrulfer]

What I’m wondering is why South Sudan, which also fought a civil war and claimed independence, is generally accepted as a country and not in the same boat. Anyone know the reason?

[haris]

Somaliland has done more for its civilians than Somalia ... So, Somalia does not get a say ...

[exploshaun]

In my opinion it's pretty hypocritical that countries don't recognize a de facto functional democratic state that is much more stable than the state they're breaking away from.