To date, no country has recognized the Republic of Somaliland. The UN and African Union have instead given Somalia’s seat to the Transitional National Government (TNG) based in North Mogadishu.

The TNG claims to represent Somaliland but has no influence there. It is not surprising that Somaliland seeks international recognition, as this would open many foreign assistance possibilities that are now largely closed. In the meantime, there are other steps Somaliland could take that would enhance its chances for recognition. This analysis looks at the background to Somaliland’s declaration of independence, notes the obstacles to recognition, and discusses the current situation in Somaliland based on a recent visit there.

The rest of this article has been published in the Ethiopian newspaper "Addis Tribune"