Foreign relations of Somaliland

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Foreign relations of the Republic of Somaliland are the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland.[1] The region's self-declaration of independence (from Somalia on 18 May 1991, after the start of ongoing Somali Civil War) remains unrecognised by the international community.[2][3]

Due to its status, the Republic of Somaliland currently has official contacts with only a few nations, such as Ethiopia, which has signed a strategic and infrastructure agreement,[4][5] and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has signed a concession agreement to manage the Port of Berbera.[6] Somaliland has established de facto embassies with nations such as the United States, as well as Taiwan.[7] International recognition as a sovereign state remains at the forefront of the government's current foreign policy. Other key priorities include encouraging international aid and foreign direct investment.

Most multilateral organisations and countries in the international community support the territorial integrity (i.e. territorial unity) of Somalia and its central government, the Federal Government of Somalia during the ongoing civil war and oppose Somaliland's secession.[8]

British Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham addressing the Somaliland Parliament, July 2011
  1. ^ Council of Ministers. Government of Somaliland.
  2. ^ "UN in Action: Reforming Somaliland's Judiciary" (PDF). Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. ^ Lacey, Marc (5 June 2006). "The Signs Say Somaliland, but the World Says Somalia". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia: Somaliland signed strategic trade and infrastructure agreement - Geeska Afrika Online". www.GeeskaAfrika.com. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  5. ^ geeskadmin (19 November 2014). "Ethiopia: Somaliland signed strategic trade and infrastructure agreement - Geeska Afrika Online". Geeska Afrika Online. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  6. ^ Stevis, Matina; Fitch, Asa (30 May 2016). "Dubai's DP World Agrees to Manage Port in Somaliland for 30 Years". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 December 2016 – via www.WSJ.com.
  7. ^ "Somaliland and Taiwan: Two territories with few friends but each other". BBC News. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Communiqué on Secretary-General's Mini-Summit on Somalia". United Nations. Retrieved 7 August 2013.