“ A wise knows the truth,
fools are best to ignore “
factual points regarding Sonaliland’s independency and Sovereignity.
Here are 13 clear, factual points that demonstrate that Somaliland functions as an independent country in both practice and law, despite lacking widespread international recognition. This status has been maintained for more than 34 years; however, on 26 December 2025, Somaliland received recognition from the state of Israel and is now awaiting renewed recognition from more than 35 other countries and more that previously recognized on 26 June, 1960.
Factual realities in points
Here map
1. The Historical Map (1884–1960)
British Somaliland was existed as a distinct protectorate from 1884 to 1960,
British Somaliland had its own map, borders and treaties,
It was internationally recognized as a distinct entity,
Somaliland’s statehood claim rests on documented legal history, Its current borders match those historical boundaries, with the territorial boundaries, as shown on historical maps :-
From North, Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea,
From West, French Somaliland now the Republic of Djibouti,
From South, Ethiopian Empire, now federal Republic of Ethiopia.
From East, Italian Somaliland now known as federal government of Somalia.
These borders were clearly demarcated and internationally recognized long before 1960.
Importantly, British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland were shown as separate territories on all colonial and international maps.
In addition, Somaliland was granted independence and received international recognition on 26 June 1960. At the time of union, Italian Somalia had not attained international recognition, but Somaliland joined the union with it, its own fully established and recognized sovereignty voluntarily and unconditionally.
This historical reality is supported by extensive and verifiable international evidence, which has been formally documented, recently presented to the world and remains undisputed today, free from any legitimate legal challenge, denial or ambiguity.
2. Key Agreements
1884–1886 Anglo–Somaliland Protection Treaties, the formal agreements signed between Britain and the leaders of Somaliland clans in the late 19th century:-
Between 1884 and 1886, a series of formal protection treaties were concluded between Great Britain and the traditional authorities of Somaliland clans,
These treaties were signed on a goat skin at sea ( Red Sea) rather than on the land, underscoring their character as mutual agreements between sovereign parties, not instruments of territorial conquest,
The agreements explicitly established British protection over Somaliland’s external affairs and maritime security, without annexation, colonization, or transfer of sovereignty,
Internal governance, customary law, land ownership, and clan authority remained entirely in Somali hands, a defining feature of a protectorate under international law,
Through these treaties, Britain formally recognized Somaliland as a distinct political and legal entity, separate from other Somali territories administered later by Italy and French,
The treaties created clearly defined boundaries and a unique international status, which later formed the legal basis for the British Somaliland Protectorate and its recognized borders at independence in 1960.
3. Separate Colonial History
There is undeniable historical and legal evidence that Somaliland and Somalia were separate and distinct entities, with verifiable and legitimate international status, throughout the colonial period as:
Somaliland followed a distinct and separate colonial trajectory from southern Somalia throughout the entire colonial period.
From 1884 until 26 June 1960, Somaliland existed as the British Somaliland Protectorate, administered under international protectorate law and governed through treaties that preserved local authority and internal autonomy.
In contrast, southern Somalia was administered as an Italian colony, subject to direct colonial rule, land expropriation and centralized Italian administration.
Somaliland attained full independence and international recognition on 26 June 1960 as a sovereign state within its internationally defined borders.
The union of 1st July 1960 between Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somalia was therefore a voluntary political act between two previously separate entities, not the restoration of a pre-existing state.
This historical separation is well documented in colonial records, international agreements and United Nations archives and it remains a core legal foundation for Somaliland’s contemporary claim to restored and renewed sovereignty.
4. Briefly Independent in 1960
Somaliland attained full statehood, independence and international recognition on 26 June 1960, when Britain formally ended its protectorate status.
At that moment, Somaliland became a sovereign state recognized by more than 35 UN member states, including the United Kingdom, Egypt, Israel, Ethiopia, France and others.
This independence preceded the voluntary union with Italian Somalia by five days, emphasizing that Somaliland entered the union with Somalia as an independent, fully sovereign state, rather than as a region controlled, governed or legally subject to Italy or any other external authority.
The legal and historical status of Somaliland as an independent state in June 1960 remains a foundational element of its contemporary claim to sovereignty and restoration of statehood and the recognition by multiple states at independence confirms its legitimacy under international law and distinguishes it from southern Somalia, which had not attained international recognition prior to the union.
5. Voluntary Union, Not a Merger
The 1st July 1960 union between Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somalia was entirely voluntary and the union was political in nature and not legally ratified through a formal binding and jointly approved Act of Union, no single treaty, no constitutional provision or international agreement.
There were no formal conditions or safeguards accompanying the union; Somaliland’s participation was driven primarily by the aspirations of its leaders and people to unite with fellow Somali territories, often referred to as the Greater Somali vision and besides that, the union did not dissolve Somaliland’s pre-existing sovereignty nor did it transfer its internationally recognized independence to the Somali Republic.
At the time of the union, Somaliland remained a fully established and recognized sovereign state and still by the historical records, including colonial documents, UN archives and diplomatic correspondence and this distinction underlines that Somaliland’s later restoration of sovereignty in 1991 was an exercise of the right to self-determination rather than secession from a legally unified state.
6. Withdrawal from a Failed Union
After decades of political marginalization, economic neglect and mass atrocities under the Somali Republic, the central government collapsed in 1991, followed a prolonged armed struggle led by the Somali National Movement (SNM) against the brutal dictatorship of Siyaad Barre, which had systematically targeted the northern regions, Somaliland.
In the wake of the state’s collapse, Somaliland exercised its inherent right to self-determination, formally withdrawing from the union and declaring restoration of its pre-legal independence achieved on 26 June 1960 as it became a sovereign state recognized by several countries, before the voluntary union with Italian Somalia on 1 July 1960.
Since 1991, Somaliland has maintained its own governance, security and democratic institutions, proving its capacity to function as an independent state in practice and truly the withdrawal was not secession, but rather a restoration of sovereignty, consistent with international law principles and the rights of a people to self-determination when subjected to marginalization and systemic human rights violations.
International observers, scholars and legal analyses recognize that Somaliland’s claim is legally distinct from secession, reaffirming its status as a restored sovereign entity.
7. Defined Territory & Borders
Somaliland controls a clearly defined territory that corresponds to the former British Somaliland borders, which are internationally recognized by the UN Security Council, the UN Charter and the relevant states which are stable, indisputable and legally valid strategically located along the Gulf of Aden with a coastline exceeding 850 km along the Red Sea, giving it a significant maritime and geopolitical position in the region and the world.
Its territorial integrity and borders shows and provide a firm foundation for its sovereignty, security and international relations.
8. Permanent Population
Somaliland has a stable permanent population of approximately six million people, who strongly identify themselves as Somalilanders who overwhelmingly supports independence, as demonstrated in a referendum where 97% voted to restore sovereignty and break away from the so-called Federal Republic of Somalia.
Therefore, this widespread support reflects a clear expression of self-determination and underpins Somaliland’s claim to legitimate statehood.
9. Functioning Government
Over the past 34 years, Somaliland has maintained a fully functioning government and independent state institutions, including:
Territory and Constitution that operate under its own constitution and controls its defined territory.
Executive Leadership, Six elected presidents in sequence, demonstrating continuity and political legitimacy.
Judiciary, Independent courts and three administrative councils Legislation, Judiciary and Executive ensuring rule of law, legality and justice.
Security Forces, operational army, police, coast guard and other security agencies, providing internal stability and external defenses.
Symbols of Sovereignty, National flag, anthem and currency.
Democracy and Freedoms, Multi-party system with regular, free, and fair presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections, alongside protections for freedom of speech.
Strategic and geopolitical significance, Secured territory spanning ~137,600 square kilometers, facing the Gulf of Aden, approximately 260 km south-east of Bab al-Mandab Strait from Berbera or ~115–120 kms to Lowya’addo.
Independent Administration, all government institutions and agencies operate fully, independently without any authority from Mogadishu.
Somaliland demonstrates all the hallmarks of a functioning sovereign state, with stable governance, democratic legitimacy, security and administrative capacity.
10. Democratic Legitimacy
Somaliland has conducted multiple peaceful, free and fair elections, accompanied by orderly transfers of power, a record that is rare in the region and most of the world.
Such sustained democratic practice has been largely absent in Somalia for extended periods, underscoring Somaliland’s political maturity, stability and democratic legitimacy.
11. Independent Security & Stability
Somaliland has maintained internal peace and security for more than 30 years, with its own effective law‑enforcement and security structures, while Somalia continues to rely heavily on foreign African peacekeeping troops to maintain its basic security and peace.
Under this mission, several African countries contribute troops deployed in central and southern Somalia to fight insurgency and support the Somali government and the agreed troop commitments, approximately,include:
Uganda: ~4,500 soldiers,
Ethiopia: ~2,500 soldiers,
Djibouti: ~1,520 soldiers,
Kenya: ~1,410 soldiers,
Egypt: ~1,091 soldiers,
Total force around is approx. 11,000–12,000 troops authorized and part of a UN‑mandated African Union peacekeeping mission to support Somali federal authorities in combating al‑Shabab and stabilizing the country.
In salaries, particularly allowances, for foreign troops are 10 times over than those in the Federal government, in some cases around $10,000 annually compared to about $1,000 per year at home soldier.
In contrast, Somaliland’s own security forces, including army, police, coast guard and other agencies operate independently without reliance on any external troop deployments and external assistances for more than that 30 years.
12. Meets Montevideo Convention Criteria
Under international law (1933 Montevideo Convention), a state must have:
Permanent population,
Defined territory,
Government ,
Capacity to enter relations.
Somaliland meets all four of these criteria and has consistently demonstrated the attributes of statehood, exercising them fully and responsibly in practice.
13. Legal Significance Today
Under international law, colonial borders are protected by the principle of law, which preserves territorial boundaries as they existed at the time of independence.
The former British Somaliland borders are therefore legally and internationally valid, providing a firm legal basis for Somaliland’s territorial claims grounded in restoration of its 1960 sovereignty, not secession, distinguishing it from other breakaway regions.
This legal foundation is central to Somaliland’s contemporary case, supporting its right to self-determination, international recognition and eligibility to occupy its rightful place in global governance, including seats at forums such as the United Nations Security Council and others.
In conclusion, Somaliland is a fully sovereign and independent state, with clearly defined and historically established borders, a permanent and supportive population, a functioning government, democratic institutions and internal security by which It’s independence is grounded in international law, recognized sovereignty and historical legitimacy, representing a lawful restoration of statehood rather than secession as some uninformed people believe so.
Thanks,
A wise man knew and recognizes the truth; Wisdom is valuable as it pays no heed to fools.
Prof. M. J. Robleh
– Mujaahidka –
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