Editing Somaliland (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Government of Somaliland|Politics of Somaliland}}
{{See also|List of Somaliland politicians}}
{{Multiple image
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| image1 = Abdirahaamn Abdullahi cirro (cropped).jpg
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| caption1 = [[Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi]]<br />[[File:Seal of the President of the Republic of Somaliland.png|20x20px]] [[President of Somaliland|President]]
| image2 = Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi delivering a speech (cropped).jpg
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| caption2 = [[Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi]]<br />[[File:Emblem of Somaliland.svg|15x15px]] [[Vice President of Somaliland|Vice President]]
}}

=== Constitution ===
The [[Constitution of Somaliland]] defines the political system; the Republic of Somaliland is a [[unitary state]] and [[Presidential Republic]], based on peace, co-operation, democracy and a [[multi-party system]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/somaliland_constitution.htm|title = Somaliland Constitution}}</ref>

=== President and cabinet ===
{{Main|President of Somaliland|Cabinet of Somaliland}}

The executive is led by an elected [[President of Somaliland|president]], whose government includes a vice-president and a Council of Ministers.<ref name="Administration">{{cite web|url=http://somalilandgov.com/the-administration/ |title=Somaliland Government |publisher=The Somaliland Government |access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> The Council of Ministers, who are responsible for the normal running of government, are nominated by the President and approved by the Parliament's House of Representatives.<ref name="Cabinet">{{cite web|url=http://somalilandgov.com/the-administration/ |title=Somaliland Cabinet |publisher=The Somaliland Government |access-date=28 July 2012}}</ref> The President must approve bills passed by the Parliament before they come into effect.<ref name="Administration" /> Presidential elections are confirmed by the [[National Electoral Commission (Somaliland)|National Electoral Commission of Somaliland]].<ref name="afp_2010-07-01">{{cite news |title=Opposition leader elected Somaliland president |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8hma5FaM4Jn8UUVlRwwK18hpStQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525021524/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j8hma5FaM4Jn8UUVlRwwK18hpStQ |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 May 2012 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |access-date=1 July 2010}}</ref> The President can serve a maximum of two five-year terms. The official residence and administrative headquarters of the President is the [[Presidential Palace, Somaliland|Somaliland Presidential Palace]] or State House in the capital city of [[Hargeisa]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=The president of Somaliland is bargaining for recognition |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/06/13/the-president-of-somaliland-is-bargaining-for-recognition |access-date=2025-02-24 |work=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The System Worked: Somaliland’s 2024 Presidential and Political Party Elections – De facto states research unit |url=https://defactostates.ut.ee/the-system-worked-somalilands-2024-presidential-and-political-party-elections/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=defactostates.ut.ee |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=Gregory Allen |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Connected/l9FVZiDVIyEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22somaliland+presidential+palace%22&dq=%22somaliland+presidential+palace%22&printsec=frontcover |title=Connected: Developing Somalia's Telecoms Industry in the Wake of State Collapse |date=2009 |publisher=University of California, Davis |language=en}}</ref>

=== Parliament ===
{{Main|Parliament of Somaliland}}
[[File:House of Representatives of the Republic of Somaliland.jpg|upright|thumb|left|[[House of Representatives of Somaliland|House of Representatives]] (Lower House) of the Somaliland Parliament.]]

Legislative power is held by the [[Parliament of Somaliland|Parliament]], which is [[bicameralism|bicameral]]. Its upper house is the [[House of Elders of Somaliland|House of Elders]], chaired by [[Suleiman Mohamoud Adan]], and the lower house is the [[House of Representatives of Somaliland|House of Representatives]],<ref name="Administration" /> chaired by [[Yasin Haji Mohamoud]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2021/aug/183439/somaliland_speaker_of_house_of_representatives_elected.aspx|title=Somaliland: Speaker of House of Representatives elected|website=Hiiraan}}</ref> Each house has 82 members. Members of the House of Elders are elected indirectly by local communities for six-year terms. The House of Elders shares power in passing laws with the House of Representatives, and also has the role of solving internal conflicts, and exclusive power to extend the terms of the President and representatives under circumstances that make an election impossible. Members of the House of Representatives are directly elected by the people for five-year terms. The House of Representatives shares voting power with the House of Elders, though it can pass a law that the House of Elders rejects if it votes for the law by a two-thirds majority and has absolute power in financial matters and confirmation of Presidential appointments (except for the [[Adan Haji Ali|Chief Justice of the Supreme Court]]).<ref name="MbST6">{{cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/body_somaliland_parliament.html|title=Somaliland Parliament|access-date=28 March 2016}}</ref>

=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Somaliland}}
[[File:Supreme Court of Somaliland Building.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House of the [[Supreme Court of Somaliland|Supreme Court]]]]

The judicial system is divided into district courts (which deal with matters of family law and succession, lawsuits for amounts up to 3 million [[Somaliland shilling|SLSH]], criminal cases punishable by up to 3 years' imprisonment or 3 million SL fines, and crimes committed by juveniles), regional courts (which deal with lawsuits and criminal cases not within the jurisdiction of district courts, labour and employment claims, and local government elections), regional appeals courts (which deal with all appeals from the district and regional courts), and the [[Supreme court]] (which deals with issues between courts and in government, and reviews its own decisions), which is the highest court and also functions as the Constitutional Court.<ref name="QDbwG">{{cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/somaliland_judicial_system.html|title=Somaliland Judicial System|access-date=28 March 2016}}d</ref>

{{anchor|Citizenship}}[[Somaliland nationality law]] defines who is a Somaliland citizen,<ref name="o48bn">{{cite book | last=Manby | first=B. | title=Citizenship Law in Africa: A Comparative Study | publisher=Open Society Foundations | year=2012 | isbn=978-1-936133-29-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xKhONykaQKYC&pg=PA46 | access-date=2 August 2016 | page=46}}</ref> as well as the procedures by which one may be [[naturalised]] into Somaliland citizenship or [[renunciation of citizenship|renounce it]].<ref name="jeCoJ">{{cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/Xeerka_Jinsiyadda.htm|title=Xeerka Jinsiyadda (Xeer Lr. 22/2002) |trans-title=Nationality Law (Regulation No. 22/2023) |website=Somaliland Law|date=31 May 2001|language=so|access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref>

The Somaliland government continues to apply the 1962 penal code of the Somali Republic. As such, homosexual acts are illegal in the territory.<ref name="ILGA">{{Cite web |last1=Itaborahy |first1=Lucas |last2=Zhu |first2=Jingshu |date=May 2014 |publisher=International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association |url=http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_SSHR_2014_Eng.pdf |title=A world survey of laws: Criminalisation, protection and recognition of same-sex love |access-date=16 June 2017 |archive-date=20 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020202330/http://old.ilga.org/Statehomophobia/ILGA_SSHR_2014_Eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Parties and elections ===
{{Main|Political parties in Somaliland|Elections in Somaliland}}
[[File:Somaliland Kulmiye party elections.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Participating in a parade for [[Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party|Kulmiye Party]] prior to [[2021 Somaliland parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] in 2021]]

The ''guurti'' worked with rebel leaders to set up a new government, and was incorporated into the governance structure, becoming the Parliament's [[House of Elders of Somaliland|House of Elders]].<ref name="Gettleman">{{cite news|title=Somaliland is an overlooked African success story|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/world/africa/07iht-somalia.4826198.html|work=The New York Times|date=7 March 2007|access-date=27 July 2012|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman}}</ref> The government became in essence a {{qi|power-sharing coalition of Somaliland's main clans}}, with seats in the Upper and Lower houses proportionally allocated to clans according to a predetermined formula, although not all clans are satisfied with their representation.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}} In 2002, after several extensions of this interim government, Somaliland transitioned to multi-party democracy.<ref name="X5D7m">{{cite web|url=https://www.iri.org/sites/default/files/flip_docs/Somaliland%20Democratization%20Strategy%20Blog%20Post%20-%20E%20Lewis%20OME/files/assets/basic-html/page105.html|title=Somaliland International Democratization Support Strategy|website=IRI.org|date=1 May 2008|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> The election was limited to three parties, in an attempt to create ideology-based elections rather than clan-based elections.<ref name="Gettleman" /> As of December 2014, Somaliland has three [[List of political parties in Somaliland|political parties]]: the [[Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party|Peace, Unity, and Development Party]], the [[Justice and Welfare Party|Justice and Development Party]], and [[Waddani|Wadani]]. Under the Somaliland Constitution, a maximum of three political parties at the national level is allowed.<ref name="RHoR2">{{cite web|url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/body_xeerka_xisbiyadda.htm|title=Somaliland Political Parties Law|last=website|publisher=Somalliland Law|access-date=30 June 2017}}</ref> The minimum age required to vote is 15.

[[Freedom House]] ranks the Somaliland government as partly free.<ref name="dZYEs">{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2017/somaliland|title=Somaliland * – Country report – Freedom in the World – 2017|publisher=Freedom House|access-date=11 May 2017|archive-date=9 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509183937/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2017/somaliland}}</ref> Seth Kaplan (2011) argues that in contrast to southern Somalia and adjacent territories, Somaliland, the secessionist northwestern portion of Somalia, has built a more democratic mode of governance from the bottom up, with virtually no foreign assistance.<ref name="Kaplan248252">{{cite journal|last1=Kaplan|first1=Seth|title=The Remarkable Story of Somaliland|journal=Journal of Democracy|date=July 2008|volume=19|issue=3 |pages=248, 252|doi=10.1353/jod.0.0009 |s2cid=153442685 |url=http://www.sethkaplan.org/doc/JOD,%20Democratization%20in%20Africa%20chapter%203.10.pdf|access-date=6 August 2017|quote=The Republic of Somaliland, the secessionist northwestern slice of Somalia that declared independence in 1991, has a far better democratic track record than any of its neighbors despite—or, perhaps, because of—a dearth of assistance from the international community.&nbsp;... Whereas attempts to build stable state structures in Mogadishu have mostly been top-down, with outsiders in the lead, Somaliland has constructed a functioning government from the bottom up, on its own, with little outside assistance.|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807065437/http://www.sethkaplan.org/doc/JOD,%20Democratization%20in%20Africa%20chapter%203.10.pdf}}</ref> Specifically, Kaplan suggests that Somaliland has the most democratic political system in the Horn of Africa because it has been largely insulated from the extremist elements in the rest of Somalia and has viable electoral and legislative systems as well as a robust private sector-dominated economy, unlike neighbouring authoritarian governments. He largely attributes this to Somaliland's integration of customary laws and tradition with modern state structures, which he indicates most post-colonial states in Africa and the Middle East have not had the opportunity to do. Kaplan asserts that this has facilitated cohesiveness and conferred greater governmental legitimacy in Somaliland, as has the territory's comparatively homogeneous population, relatively equitable income distribution, a common fear of the south, and absence of interference by outside forces, which has obliged local politicians to observe a degree of accountability.<ref name="Kaplan248249253">{{cite journal|last1=Kaplan|first1=Seth|title=The Remarkable Story of Somaliland|journal=Journal of Democracy|date=July 2008|volume=19|issue=3 |pages=248–249, 253|doi=10.1353/jod.0.0009 |s2cid=153442685 |url=http://www.sethkaplan.org/doc/JOD,%20Democratization%20in%20Africa%20chapter%203.10.pdf|access-date=6 August 2017|quote=Abutting the Gulf of Aden just south of the Red Sea, across the water from Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and bordered by Ethiopia and the rest of Somalia, this strategically important territory is not even recognised by the international community but undoubtedly has the most democratic political system in the entire Horn of Africa. In contrast to the chaos and extremist threats that continue to plague much of the rest of Somalia—and unlike the authoritarian regimes that throng its neighborhood—Somaliland has held three consecutive competitive elections since its constitutional referendum in 2001, has a parliament controlled by opposition parties, and boasts a vibrant economy dominated by the private sector. Somaliland has achieved these successes by constructing a set of governing bodies rooted in traditional Somali concepts of governance by consultation and consent. In contrast to most postcolonial states in Africa and the Middle East, Somaliland has had a chance to administer itself using customary norms, values, and relationships. In fact, its integration of traditional ways of governance within a modern state apparatus has helped it to achieve greater cohesion and legitimacy and— not coincidentally—create greater room for competitive elections and public criticism than exists in most similarly endowed territories.&nbsp;... Somaliland has profited from a unity conferred by its comparatively homogeneous population, modest disparities in personal wealth, widespread fear of the south, and a lack of outside interference that might have undermined the accountability that has been forced on its leaders. This cohesiveness—which makes Somaliland sharply distinct from both Somalia and most other African states—has combined with the enduring strength of traditional institutions of self-governance to mold a unique form of democracy.|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807065437/http://www.sethkaplan.org/doc/JOD,%20Democratization%20in%20Africa%20chapter%203.10.pdf}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Somaliland}}
[[File:The President of Somaliland, Musa Bihi Abdi And the Guinean Foreign minister, Mamadi Toure.jpg|thumb|left|The President of Somaliland [[Muse Bihi Abdi]] during a visit to the [[Republic of Guinea]]. He received a high-ranking delegation headed by the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Guinea)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guinea]] Mamadi Touré in 2019.]]
Somaliland has political contacts with its neighbours [[Ethiopia]]<ref name="Future recognition">{{cite web | title=Somaliland closer to recognition by Ethiopia | url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/25633 | publisher=Afrol News | access-date=19 October 2014}}</ref> and [[Djibouti]],<ref name="Djibouti">{{cite web | title=Somaliland, Djibouti in bitter port feud | url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/23556 | publisher=Afrol News | access-date=22 July 2007}}</ref> non-UN member state [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]],<ref name="cwhhB">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-somaliland/outflanked-by-china-in-africa-taiwan-eyes-unrecognised-somaliland-idUSKBN2424UI | title=Outflanked by China in Africa, Taiwan eyes unrecognised Somaliland | publisher=Reuters | date=1 July 2020 | access-date=31 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="Diplo">{{cite news |title = Taiwan Throws a Diplomatic Curveball by Establishing Ties With Somaliland|newspaper = The Diplomat|date=10 July 2020|url= https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/taiwan-throws-a-diplomatic-curveball-by-establishing-ties-with-somaliland/|access-date=31 August 2010|first= Nick |last= Aspinwall}}</ref> as well as with South Africa,<ref name="Future recognition" /> Sweden,<ref name="zNeov">{{cite web | title=Somaliland Diplomatic Mission in Sweden | url=http://www.somalilandembassy.se/ | access-date=2 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510080355/http://www.somalilandembassy.se/ | archive-date=10 May 2009 | df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.<ref name="sBLFI">{{cite web | title=Somaliland | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/halltext/40204h03.htm | publisher=United Kingdom Parliament | date=4 February 2004 | access-date=23 July 2007 | archive-date=7 February 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207145331/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/halltext/40204h03.htm }}</ref> On 17 January 2007, the European Union (EU) sent a delegation for foreign affairs to discuss future co-operation.<ref name="SGlUE">{{cite web | title=EU Breaks Ice on Financing Somaliland | url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/168/29775.html | publisher=Global Policy Forum | date=11 February 2003 | access-date=23 February 2007}}</ref> The [[African Union]] (AU) has also sent a foreign minister to discuss the future of international acknowledgment, and on 29 and 30 January 2007, the ministers stated that they would discuss acknowledgement with the organisation's member states.<ref name="hIkqD">{{cite web | title=AU supports Somali split | url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2006-02-10-au-supports-somali-split | publisher=Mail and Guardian | date=10 February 2006 | access-date=23 February 2007}}</ref>
In early 2006, the [[Senedd|National Assembly for Wales]] extended an official invitation to the Somaliland government to attend the royal opening of the [[Senedd building]] in [[Cardiff]]. The move was seen as an act of recognition by the Welsh Assembly of the breakaway government's legitimacy. The [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] made no comment on the invitation. Wales is home to a significant Somali [[expatriate]] community from Somaliland.<ref name="rWlgv">{{cite news | last=Shipton | first=Martin | title=Wales strikes out on its own in its recognition of Somaliland | work=Wales Online | date=3 March 2006 | url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/tm_objectid=16766640&method=full&siteid=50082-name_page.html | access-date=25 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126004952/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/tm_objectid%3D16766640%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082-name_page.html | archive-date=26 January 2012 }}</ref>

In 2007, a delegation led by President Kahin was present at the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007|Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]] in [[Kampala]], Uganda. Although Somaliland has applied to join the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] under [[observer status]], its application is still pending.<ref name="1561D">{{cite web | title=Somaliland on verge of observer status in the Commonwealth | url=http://www.qarannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6381&Itemid=59 | publisher=Qaran News | date=16 November 2009 | access-date=2 February 2010}}</ref>

On 24 September 2010, [[Johnnie Carson]], Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, stated that the United States would be modifying its strategy in Somalia and would seek deeper engagement with the governments of Somaliland and Puntland while continuing to support the Somali Transitional Government.<ref name="PSMPf">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/world/africa/27somalia.html?ref=world | work=The New York Times | title=Helicopter Attacks Militant Meeting in Somalia | first1=Mohamed | last1=Ibrahim | first2=Jeffrey | last2=Gettleman | date=26 September 2010}}</ref> Carson said the US would send aid workers and diplomats to Puntland and Somaliland and alluded to the possibility of future development projects. However, Carson emphasised that the US would not extend formal recognition to either region.<ref name="LRG65">{{cite web|url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/36651|work=Afrol News |title=US near de-facto recognition of Somaliland |access-date=28 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307151856/http://afrol.com/articles/36651|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Somaliland Foreign Minister Hagi Mohamoud with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.jpg|thumb|Somaliland Foreign Minister [[Yasin Haji Mohamoud|Hagi Mohamoud]] with Taiwan President [[Tsai Ing-wen]]]]
The then-UK Minister for Africa, [[Henry Bellingham, Baron Bellingham|Henry Bellingham]] MP, met President Silanyo of Somaliland in November 2010 to discuss ways in which to increase the UK's engagement with Somaliland.<ref name="YAv8r">{{cite web | url=http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=204732682 | title=Strengthening the UK's relationship with Somaliland | publisher=Foreign and Commonwealth Office | date=25 November 2010 | access-date=29 March 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807153007/http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=News&id=204732682 | archive-date=7 August 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> President Silanyo said during his visit to London: {{qi|We have been working with the international community and the international community has been engaging with us, giving us assistance and working with us in our democratisation and development programmes. And we are very happy with the way the international community has been dealing with us, particularly the UK, the US, other European nations, and our neighbours who continue to seek recognition.}}<ref name="J659i">{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/feature_button.php?id=20 |title=Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo, President of the Republic of Somaliland |work=This is Africa |date=20 January 2011 |access-date=29 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130180830/http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/feature_button.php?id=20 |archive-date=30 January 2011}}</ref>

Recognition of Somaliland by the UK was also supported by the [[UK Independence Party]], which came third in the popular vote at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]], though only electing a single MP. The leader of UKIP, [[Nigel Farage]], met with Ali Aden Awale, Head of the Somaliland UK Mission on Somaliland's national day, 18 May, in 2015, to express UKIP's support for Somaliland.<ref name="2dW78">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukip.org/ukip_supports_somaliland_national_day|title=UKIP supports Somaliland national day|work=UKIP|access-date=28 March 2016|archive-date=5 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205113932/http://www.ukip.org/ukip_supports_somaliland_national_day}}</ref>

In 2011, Somaliland and the neighbouring Puntland region each entered a security-related [[memorandum of understanding]] with the [[Seychelles]]. Following the framework of an earlier agreement signed between the Transitional Federal Government and Seychelles, the memorandum is {{qi|for the transfer of convicted persons to prisons in 'Puntland' and 'Somaliland'.}}<ref name="37bHo">{{cite report |title=Report of the Secretary-General on specialized anti-piracy courts in Somalia and other States in the region |date=2012 |url=http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/Somalia%20S%202012%2050.pdf |publisher=UN Security Council |access-date=24 August 2021}}</ref>

On 1 July 2020, Somaliland and [[Taiwan]] signed an agreement to set up representative offices to promote cooperation between the two countries.<ref name="WlYiq">{{cite news |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202007010011 |title=Taiwan and Somaliland to set up representative offices: MOFA |author=Chiang Yi-ching |work=Focus Taiwan |date=1 July 2020 |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> Cooperation between the two polities on education, maritime security, and medicine began in 2009, and Taiwanese staff entered Somaliland in February 2020 to prepare for the representative office.<ref name="XifKf">{{cite news |url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202007010019 |title=Taiwan and Somaliland to set up representative offices (update) |author=Chiang Yi-ching |work=Focus Taiwan |date=1 July 2020 |access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> As of 2023, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs refers to Somaliland as a country.<ref name=taiwanmofa/>

On 1 January 2024, a [[2024 Ethiopia–Somaliland memorandum of understanding|memorandum of understanding]] was signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland, where Ethiopia will lease the port of [[Berbera]] on the [[Gulf of Aden]], and a 20-kilometre stretch of Gulf of Aden coastline, for 20 years, in exchange for eventual recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and a stake in the [[Ethiopian Airlines]]. If this agreement is honoured, Ethiopia would become the first United Nations member state to recognise the breakaway nation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kheyr |date=1 January 2024 |title=Somaliland and Ethiopia: Recognition for Sea Access |url=https://thesomalidigest.com/somaliland-and-ethiopia-recognition-for-sea-access/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |website=Somali News in English {{!}} The Somali Digest |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Ethiopia's gambit for a port is unsettling a volatile region |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/01/02/ethiopias-gambit-for-a-port-is-unsettling-a-volatile-region |access-date=2 January 2024 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

==== Border disputes ====
{{Main|Puntland–Somaliland dispute}}
{{further|Somalia–Somaliland border}}
[[File:Somaliland-Khatumo Agreement.png|thumb|left|President [[Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud|Silanyo]] and [[Ali Khalif Galaydh|Ali Khalif]] signing the Somaliland-Khatumo Agreement in [[Aynabo]] in October 2017]]
[[File:Somaliland. Anglo-Italian Boundary Commission 1929-1930. Index to Field sheets etc. War Office ledger (WOOS-33-1).jpg|thumb|right|Map showing the eastern boundaries of Somaliland by the Somaliland Treaties including the Anglo-Italian boundary.]]

Somaliland continues to claim the entire area of the former [[British Somaliland]] which gained independence in 1960 in the name of [[State of Somaliland]].<ref name="const" /> It is currently in control of the vast majority of the former [[State of Somaliland]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=BFA Staatendokumentation, Analyse zu Somalia – Lagekarten zur Sicherheitslage. Situation Maps – Security Situation|url=https://lifos.migrationsverket.se/dokument?documentAttachmentId=42837|language=de|publisher=[[Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum]]|location=Austria|via=[[Swedish Migration Agency]]}}</ref>

[[Puntland]], a federal member state of [[Somalia]], disputes the [[Harti]]-inhabited territory in the former British Somaliland protectorate based on kinship. In 1998, the northern Darod clans established the state, and the [[Dhulbahante]] and [[Warsangali]] clans wholly participated in its foundation.<ref name="Lund">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pDLNDgAAQBAJ&q=dhulbahante+sool&pg=PT301|title=Rule and Rupture: State Formation Through the Production of Property and Citizenship|last1=Lund|first1=Christian|last2=Eilenberg|first2=Michael|date=4 May 2017|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-119-38480-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Höhne |first1=Markus V. |title=Traditional Authorities in Northern Somalia: Transformation of positions and powers |journal=Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology |page=16 |url=https://www.eth.mpg.de/pubs/wps/pdf/mpi-eth-working-paper-0082.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mesfin |first1=Berouk |title=The political development of Somaliland and its conflict with Puntland |journal=Institute for Security Studies |date=September 2009 |page=10 |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/111689/P200.pdf}}</ref>

The Harti were the second most powerful clan confederation in Somaliland until the 1993 [[Borama]] Conference, when they were replaced in importance by the Gadabursi.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Balthasar |first1=Dominik |title=State-making in Somalia and Somaliland: Understanding War, Nationalism and State Trajectories as Processes of Institutional and Socio-Cognitive Standardization |type=PhD thesis |date=2012 |publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science |page=179 |url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/572/1/Balthasar_State-Making_Somalia_Somaliland_2013.pdf |access-date=11 March 2022}}</ref> The [[Dhulbahante]] and [[Warsangali]] clans established two separate administrations in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hoehne |first1=Markus |title=Somaliland: the complicated formation of a de facto state |page=8 |url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a44f918f9a61e04cdd5d717/t/5e9622ac275e9c745d1f8c10/1586897581908/Hoehene.pdf |access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> First, the former was to hold the [[Boocame]] I conference in May 1993, while the later held a conference in [[Hadaaftimo]] in September 1992.<ref>{{cite news |title=Raadreeb: Midnimada Soomaaliya iyo qodobada shirkii beesha Warsangeli ee 'Hadaaftimo 30 Siteenbar 1992' |url=https://www.daljir.com/raadreeb-midnimada-soomaaliya-iyo-qodobada-shirkii-beesha-warsangeli-ee-hadaaftimo-30-siteenbar-1992/ |access-date=14 March 2022 |agency=Daljir |date=17 January 2018}}</ref> In both conferences the desire to remain part of [[Somalia]] was expressed.

Tensions between Puntland and Somaliland escalated into violence several times between 2002 and 2009. In October 2004, and again in April and October 2007, armed forces of Somaliland and Puntland clashed near the town of [[Las Anod]], the capital of Sool region. In October 2007, Somaliland troops took control of the town.<ref name="CtrHR">{{cite web | title=Puntland and Somaliland clashing in northern Somalia | url=http://hornofafrica.ssrc.org/Hoehne/printable.html | last=Hoehne |first=Markus V. | date=7 November 2007 | access-date=2 December 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117043205/http://hornofafrica.ssrc.org/Hoehne/printable.html | archive-date=17 November 2007 }}</ref> While celebrating Puntland's 11th anniversary on 2 August 2009, Puntland officials vowed to recapture Las Anod. While Somaliland claims independent statehood and therefore "split up" the "old" Somalia, Puntland works for the re-establishment of a united but [[federal state|federal]] Somali state.<ref name="QMuAy">{{cite journal | title=Mimesis and mimicry in dynamics of state and identity formation in northern Somalia |journal = Africa|volume = 79|issue = 2|pages = 252–281 | year=2009 |doi = 10.3366/E0001972009000710|last1 = Hoehne|first1 = Markus V.|s2cid = 145753382}}</ref>

Somaliland forces took control of the town of [[Las Qorey]] in eastern [[Sanaag]] on 10 July 2008, along with positions {{convert|5|km|mi|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} east of the town. The defence forces completed their operations on 9 July 2008 after the Maakhir and Puntland militia in the area left their positions.<ref name="1hhVN">{{cite web | title=Somaliland Defence Forces take control of Las Qorey | url=http://www.qarannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2016&Itemid=59 | work=Qaran News | date=9 July 2008 | access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref>

In the late 2000s, [[SSC (militia)|SSC Movement]] (Hoggaanka Badbaadada iyo Mideynta SSC), a local unionist group based in [[Sanaag]] was formed with the goal to establish its own regional administration (Sool, Sanaag and Cayn, or SSC).<ref name="Sqfirhbmsscf" /> This later evolved into [[Khatumo State]], which was established in 2012. The local administration and its constituents does not recognise the Somaliland government's claim to sovereignty or to its territory.<ref name="Srwiks">{{cite news|title=What is Khatumo State?|url=http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/3271/What_is_Khatumo_State|access-date=14 April 2015|newspaper=Somalia Report|date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312061049/http://www.somaliareport.com/index.php/post/3271/What_is_Khatumo_State|archive-date=12 March 2014}}</ref>

On 20 October 2017 in [[Aynaba|Aynabo]], an agreement was signed with the Somaliland government that stipulated the amendment of Somaliland's constitution and integrating the organisation into the Somaliland government.<ref name="JUrFgD3S">{{Cite web|last=Mahmood|first=Omar S.|date=1 November 2019|title=Overlapping Claims by Somaliland and Puntland: The Case of Sool and Sanaag|url=https://www.africaportal.org/publications/overlapping-claims-somaliland-and-puntland-case-sool-and-sanaag/|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Africa Portal}}</ref><ref name="bz9hy">{{Cite web|date=21 October 2017|title=Khaatumo and Somaliland reach final agreement|url=http://somalilanddaily.com/articles/137/Khaatumo-and-Somaliland-reach-final-agreement|access-date=29 June 2020|website=Somaliland Daily}}</ref> This signalled the end of the organisation even though it was an unpopular event among the [[Dhulbahante]] community.<ref name="MufR56NB">{{Cite journal|last=Doon|first=Run|title=Current Affairs in the Horn of Africa|url=https://www.michael-walls.com/wp-content/uploads/Run-Doon-180817_web.pdf|journal=Anglo-Somali Society Journal|volume=Autumn 2017|issue=Somaliland, Khaatumo agreement reached|access-date=12 September 2020|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629192548/https://www.michael-walls.com/wp-content/uploads/Run-Doon-180817_web.pdf}}</ref><ref name="JUrFgD3S" />

=== Military ===
{{Main|Somaliland Armed Forces}}
[[File:Commemoration of the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Somaliland National Army.jpg|thumb|left|Commemoration (on 2 February 2021) of the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the [[Somaliland National Army]]]]
The [[Somaliland Armed Forces]] are the main military command in Somaliland. Along with the [[Somaliland Police]] and all other internal security forces, they are overseen by Somaliland's [[Ministry of Defence (Somaliland)|Ministry of Defence]]. The current head of Somaliland's Armed Forces is the Minister of Defence, [[Abdiqani Mohamoud Aateye]].<ref name="Z6CbY">{{cite web|url=https://www.radiodalsan.com/en/2019/03/31/somaliland-president-makes-major-cabinet-changes/|title=Somaliland President Makes Major Cabinet Changes|website=Radio Dalsan|date=31 March 2020|access-date=18 February 2020|archive-date=8 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808182609/https://www.radiodalsan.com/en/2019/03/31/somaliland-president-makes-major-cabinet-changes/}}</ref> Following the declaration of independence, various pre-existing militia affiliated with different clans were absorbed into a centralised military structure. The resultant large military takes up around half of the country's budget, but the action served to help prevent inter-clan violence.<ref name="Mesfin" />{{rp|2–3}}

The Somaliland Army consists of twelve divisions equipped primarily with light weaponry, though it is equipped with some [[howitzer]]s and mobile [[rocket launcher]]s. Its armoured vehicles and tanks are mostly of Soviet design, though there are some ageing Western vehicles and tanks in its arsenal. The Somaliland Navy (often referred to as a Coast Guard by the [[Associated Press]]), despite a crippling lack of equipment and formal training, has apparently had some success at curbing both piracy and [[illegal fishing]] within Somaliland waters.<ref name="06jX7">{{cite web| last =Houreld| first = Katharine| title = Somaliland coast guard tries to prevent piracy| work = Navy Times| publisher = Gannett Government Media Corporation| date = 4 April 2011| url = http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/04/ap-piracy-somaliland-coast-guard-040411/ | access-date = 27 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="DsayD">{{cite web | last = Hussein | first = Abdi | title = Somaliland's Military is a Shadow of the Past | work = Somalia Report | date = 13 August 2011 | url = http://somaliareport.com/index.php/post/1299/Somalilands_Military_Is_A_Shadow_of_the_Past_ | access-date = 27 January 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130120162017/http://somaliareport.com/index.php/post/1299/Somalilands_Military_is_a_Shadow_of_the_Past_ | archive-date = 20 January 2013 | df = dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Somaliland}}

According to the 2023 [[Freedom House]] report, Somaliland has seen a consistent erosion of political rights and civic space. Public figures and journalists face pressure from authorities. Minority clans are subject to economic and political marginalisation, and violence against women remains a serious problem.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Somaliland: Country Profile |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/somaliland |access-date=24 September 2023 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}</ref>