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| Somaliland is the former territory ruled by Great Britain before becoming independent on June 26, 1960 and uniting with Italian Somalia to form the Somali Republic. On May 18, 1991, the people of the Isaaq clan from northwest of Somalia declared independence from Somalia, however, natives of northcentral and northeast Somalia (Hurti sub-clan of Darood) do not recognise the administration nor is it recognised by any other country or international organization. | |||
| {{For|other territories formerly called Somaliland|Somaliland (disambiguation)}} | |||
| Somaliland is accepted by the rest of Somalia as a clandestine movement and has been succesfull in administrating the native Isaaq boarders within Somalia however this has also created a backlash as other Somalis refuse its seperatist stance for fear of renewing clan conflicts. | |||
| {{Infobox_Country| | |||
| | native_name =''Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliland''<br>جمهورية أرض الصومال<br>''Jumhūrīyat Arḍ Aṣ-ṣūmālِ''<br>Republic of Somaliland<br> | |||
| | common_name = Somaliland | |||
| | image_flag = Flag of Somaliland.svg | |||
| | image_coat = Somaliland COA.gif | |||
| | symbol_type = National Emblem | |||
| | image_map = LocationSomaliland3.png | |||
| |national_motto = <big>]</big> <small>(])</small><br/>''Lā ilāhā illā-llāhu; muhammadun rasūlu-llāhi'' <small>(])<br/>"There is no God but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"</small> | |||
| And also : | |||
| "Justice, Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Success for All" | |||
| | national_anthem = Saamo ku waar | |||
| | official_languages =] and ] | |||
| | capital = ] | |||
| | latd=9 | latm=33 | latNS=N | longd=44 | longm=03 | longEW= E | |||
| | government_type = ] | |||
| | leader_title1 = ] | |||
| | leader_title2 = ] | |||
| | leader_name1 = ] | |||
| | leader_name2 = ] | |||
| | area_magnitude = 1 E11 | |||
| | area_km2= 134000 | |||
| | area_sq_mi= <!-- Border has changed, no longer valid --> | |||
| | percent_water = | |||
| | population_estimate = 3.5 million {{Fact|date=October 2007}} | |||
| | population_estimate_year = 2005 | |||
| | population_estimate_rank = | |||
| | population_census= | |||
| | population_census_year= | |||
| | population_density_km2 = 26 | |||
| | population_density_sq_mi = | |||
| | population_density_rank= | |||
| | GDP_PPP_year= 2005 | |||
| | GDP_PPP = | |||
| | GDP_PPP_rank = | |||
| | GDP_PPP_per_capita = | |||
| | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = | |||
| | sovereignty_type = ] | |||
| | sovereignty_note = from ] | |||
| | established_event1 = {{nowrap|Proclaimed}} | |||
| | established_date1 = ] ] | |||
| | established_event2 = {{nowrap|Recognition}} | |||
| | established_date2 = ] | |||
| | HDI_year = | |||
| | HDI = | |||
| | HDI_rank = | |||
| | HDI_category = | |||
| | currency = ] | |||
| | currency_code = SLSH | |||
| | country_code = So | |||
| | time_zone= ] | |||
| | utc_offset= +3 | |||
| | time_zone_DST= ''not observed'' | |||
| | utc_offset_DST= +3 | |||
| | cctld= none | |||
| | calling_code = 252 | |||
| | footnotes = ]<br>Rankings may not be available because of its unrecognized ''de facto'' state. | |||
| <br> Developments in the eastern half of the country have made area and population estimates unreliable until the situation settles.</br>}} | |||
| '''Somaliland''' ({{lang-so|Soomaaliland}}) is the former territory ruled by Great Britain before becoming independent on June 26, 1960 and uniting with Italian Somalia to form the Somali Republic. It is a '']'' ] ] located in the ] within the internationally recognized borders of ]. On ] ], the people of Somaliland declared independence from Somalia. However, it was not recognized by any other country or international organization. | |||
| The Republic of Somaliland considers itself to be the successor state of the former ] ], which had an area of about 137,600 ] (53,128 ]), briefly an independent country for five days in 1960. It is bordered by ] in the south and west, ] in the northwest, the ] in the north, and the autonomous regions of ] and ] in the east. | |||
| Control over eastern borders of Somaliland is unclear, due to disputes with Puntland<ref name=territory_dispute>. ''The Somaliland Times''. February 1, 2006 (afrol News).</ref> and separatist movements.<ref name=maakhir_state_declared>.</ref> | |||
| ==History== | |||
| {{main|History of Somaliland}} | |||
| The origins of the ]s and their time of entry into present-day Somaliland have been debated, with some Somalis claiming descent from ] patriarchs who settled on the coast 1,000 years ago, although genetics do not bear this out and show Somalis to be for the most part native to the Horn of Africa. By the 12th century, the ancestors of some of the ] were already established in their present territories, while others moved southward through the 19th century. The borders of Somalia were set at the end of the 19th century and a great number of Somalis were left out by the border placement, leaving them in eastern Ethiopia and northern ]. | |||
| ===Historical Somaliland=== | |||
| ] | |||
| Evidence of early human habitation in what is modern-day Somaliland are the significant ] ]s at ] (Laas Geel), a site outside the capital ]. The paintings show people worshipping ], the cows wearing ceremonial robes while next to them are some of these people prostrating themselves in front of the animals. Paintings of ]s, domesticated ]s and wild ]s are also present. The caves were discovered by a ] archaeological team during November and December 2002, and have become a major tourist attraction and a national treasure. | |||
| ] was introduced in the 10th century into what are now the ]-inhabited parts of ] and Djibouti. A number of Islamic ]ates emerged in the following centuries, one of which was the ], centred on the towns of ] (and later ]) the port of ] as its second city, and the regions of ] and ]. Another early coastal city is ], first mentioned in the 13th century, but as I.M. Lewis notes, like ] to the east, its earliest history is obscure.<ref>I.M. Lewis, ''A Modern History of the Somali'', fourth edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2002), p. 21</ref> | |||
| These Islamic realms acknowledged the ] ] as their overlord in the 13th century, although they attempted to exert their independence periodically in the following centuries. In the mid 16th century Adal attempted a great conquest of Ethiopia from its capital of Harar, which ended in failure and led to the sultanate's collapse. The part of Western Somaliland centred around Zeila became part of the ] province of ]. | |||
| ===Ottoman and Egyptian Rule=== | |||
| {{main|Ottoman Empire}} | |||
| {{main|History of Egypt under the Muhammad Ali dynasty}} | |||
| In 1546, the ] occupied the western regions of Somaliland and made Zeila the regional capital due to its strategic location on the ]. The region became part of the province of Habesh. From 1630 to 1830, Ottoman Somaliland was under the rule of the ]. | |||
| Between 1830 to 1874, the Ottomans ruled Somaliland under ''de facto'' hereditary governors. The area was subsequently occupied and governed by ], whose rule commenced on ] ]. Though still nominally under Ottoman ], Egypt had been governed as an essentially independent state by the ] since the beginning of the ], and its current ruler, Khedive ] was eager to extend Egyptian control down the Red Sea coast. Ottoman and Egyptian buildings and houses can still be seen dotted all around Berbera, Zeila and Hargeisa. | |||
| ===Colonial era=== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|British Somaliland}} | |||
| During ], Egyptian Somaliland was taken over by the British following their occupation of Egypt itself in ]. The region now claimed by Somaliland was ] and officially became the British Somaliland ]. | |||
| In August of 1940, during ], as part of their ] ] conquered Somaliland from ]. This was the only victory of the Italian army - without German forces - against the ]. One year later, in the summer of 1941, the British defeated the Italians in the horn of Africa and again occupied ] and all Somaliland. | |||
| British Somaliland became independent on ] ] as the State of Somaliland, and ]'s independence came four days later, whereupon the two entities immediately merged on ] ] as the ]. The first minister of the State of Somaliland, ], became a minister of the new Somali Republic. | |||
| ===Merger into Somalia=== | |||
| Somaliland was a legal part of the Somali Republic from ], ]. As an administrative entity, Somaliland was dissolved after its merger with Somalia, and its area was divided or incorporated into provinces. The ] and ] clans suffered from repression under the regime of ], who came into power through a ] in the late 1960's. The regime of Siad Barre, however, did not last and collapsed during the ], paving the way for the creation of the Second Republic of Somaliland. | |||
| ===Second Republic=== | |||
| In 1991, after the collapse of the central government in Somalia, main part of the territory asserted its independence as the Republic of Somaliland in ], ]. It regarded itself as the successor state to the briefly-independent State of Somaliland, but did not receive any international ]. | |||
| The economic and military infrastructure left behind by Somalia has been largely destroyed by war. The people of Somaliland had rebelled against the Siad Barre ] in ], which prompted a massive reaction by the government. | |||
| The late Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur was the first president of Somaliland. Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal was appointed his successor in 1993 by the Grand Conference of National Reconciliation in ] (Borama), which met for four months and led not only to a gradual improvement in security, but solidified the fledgling state.<ref>Lewis, ''A Modern History'', pp. 282-286</ref> Egal was re-appointed in 1997, and remained in power until his death on ], ]. The vice president ] was sworn in as president shortly afterwards, and in 2003 Kahin became the first Somaliland president to be elected in a free and fair election. | |||
| The 2006 ] between the ] and the forces of ] and Somalia's transitional government has not directly affected Somaliland. | |||
| ==Politics and government== | |||
| {{main|Politics and Government of Somaliland}} | |||
| Somaliland has formed a hybrid system of governance under the ], combining traditional and western institutions. In a series of inter-clan conferences, culminating in the Boorama Conference in 1993, a ''qabil'' (clan or community) system of government was constructed, which consisted of an Executive, with a President, Vice President, and Council of Ministers, a ] Legislature, and an independent judiciary. The traditional Somali council of elders (''guurti'') was incorporated into the governance structure and formed the upper house, responsible for selecting a President as well as managing internal conflicts. Government became in essence a "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. In 2002, after several extensions of this interim government, Somaliland finally made the transition to multi-party democracy, with district council elections contested by six parties, considered the most peaceful in Africa for twenty years.<ref> by International Herald Tribune. March 7, 2007.</ref> | |||
| ===Foreign relations=== | |||
| :{{main|Foreign relations of Somaliland}} | |||
| ] ], part of the disputed territory declared the state of ].]] | |||
| Somaliland has political contacts with the ],<ref>{{cite web|title=Somaliland|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040204/halltext/40204h03.htm|publisher=United Kingdom Parliament|accessdate=2007-02-23}}</ref><ref name= "Future recognition" /> ],<ref name= "Future recognition" /> ],<ref name= "Future recognition" /> ],<ref name= "Future recognition" /> ],<ref name= "Future recognition" /> ]<ref name= "Future recognition" /> and ] (until 2006).<ref name= "Djibouti" >{{cite web|title=Somaliland, Djibouti at a nitter port feud | |||
| |url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/23556|publisher=afrol News|accessdate=2007-07-22}}</ref> On ], ], the ] sent a delegation for foreign affairs to discuss future cooperation.<ref>{{cite web|title=EU Breaks Ice on Financing Somaliland|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/sovereign/sover/emerg/2003/0211euaid.htm|publisher=Global Policy Forum|accessdate=2007-02-23}}</ref> The ] has also sent a foreign minister to discuss the future of international acknowledgment, and on January 29 and 30, 2007, the minsters said that they would discuss acknowledgement with other member states <ref>{{cite web|title=AU supports Somali split|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=263915&area=/insight/insight__africa/|publisher=Mail and Guardian online|accessdate=2007-02-23}}</ref> In ] ], the ], ] held a conference with President Kahin during which he was referred to in an official communique by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry as the ], the first time that Somaliland has been officially acknowledged as a sovereign state by another government. While this is not claimed as a move to official recognition by Ethiopia, it is seen as a possible step towards a unilateral declaration by Ethiopia in the event of the African Union failing to move its recognition of Somaliland forward. <ref name= "Future recognition" >{{cite web|title=Somaliland closer to recognition by Ethiopia | |||
| |url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/25633|publisher=afrol News|accessdate=2007-07-06}}</ref> | |||
| On ] ] Somaliland has been invited officially at ]'s Summit in ] | |||
| ===Border disputes=== | |||
| The Republic of Somaliland continues to claim the entire area of the former ]. Somaliland is currently in control of the western half of the former British Somaliland, with northeastern ] having declared a separate, unrecognized autonomous state within Somalia on ], ]<ref name=maakhir_state_declared/> and southeastern ] disputed with ], who has been in de facto control over it since 2003.<ref name=territory_dispute/> A separatist movement exists also in the westernmost ] province.<ref>{{cite web | |||
| |url=http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/awdal.html | |||
| |title=Awdal "Republic": Declaration of Independence, | |||
| |publisher=] - African Studies Center | |||
| |accessdate=2007-01-29 }}</ref> | |||
| Further complicating the situation may be the probable future declaration of the autonomous region of ] in Sool.<ref></ref> | |||
| Tensions heightened to a violent clash between Puntland and Somaliland in October, 2007, when Somaliland forces ] ], the capital of the disputed region of Sool.<ref>.</ref> | |||
| ===Military=== | |||
| {{main|Military of Somaliland}} | |||
| ] | |||
| The Somaliland Armed Forces are the main military system in the unrecognised Republic of Somaliland. They consist of three main military services: the ], the ] and ]s. Also, the Somaliland Police Force are part of the internal security forces and are subordinate to the military. Currently around 20 000 personnel are active in Somaliland. The Somaliland Armed Forces takes the biggest share of the government's budget with the police and security forces. The current person in charge of Somaliland's Armed Forces is the ] ] Adan Mire Mohammed MP. | |||
| Some military facilities were bought during Egal's administration to assist the military's usual duties and the necessary movements. The army is organised into 12 divisions which comprise of 4 tank brigades, 45 mechanized and infantry brigades, 4 commando brigades, surface-to-air missile brigade, 3 artillery brigades, 300 field battalions, and an air defense battalion. | |||
| ==Administrative divisions== | |||
| ] | |||
| {{main|Regions of Somaliland}} | |||
| Regions of Somaliland under control of the Republic of Somaliland: | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] (Status still unclear) | |||
| * Western ] (eastern Sanaag declared its own state as ] in July 1, 2007) | |||
| The main cities and towns in the Republic of Somaliland are: | |||
| * ] (Hargeysa), capital | |||
| * ] (Burao) | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] (Borama) | |||
| * ] (Erigabo) | |||
| * ] (Las Anod) | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] (Saylac) | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==Geography== | |||
| ] | |||
| Somaliland is situated on the eastern horn of Africa and lies between the 08°00' - 11°30' parallel north of the equator and between 42°30' - 49°00' meridian east of Greenwich. It shares borders with the Republic of ] to the west, the Federal Republic of ] to the south, the ] region to the northeast and ] to the southeast. Somaliland has 460 miles (740 km) of coast with the majority along the ]. Somaliland is slightly larger than ] with an area of 137 600 km² (53 100 sq miles). | |||
| ] coastline is situated in the ] region of Somaliland]] | |||
| Somaliland's climate is a mixture of wet and dry. The northern part of the country is hilly and in many places the altitude ranges between 900 and 2,100 metres (3,000-7,000 ft) above sea level. The ], ] and ] regions are fertile and mountainous, while the ] is rather ] with a few fertile greenery around. The Awdal region is known for its offshore islands, ]s and ]s. | |||
| Ten kilometres to the north of ] are the remains of a ] forest, running along the edge of the ] which looks down to the ]. The escarpment is approximately 2,000 ]s above ], where the road from Ceerigaabo drops down to the coast. Two kilometres to the west it rises to the highest point in Somaliland and ] alike; At 2,416 metres high, it is known variously as (] ] or Shimbir Beris) meaning in ] ''the abode of the birds''. | |||
| Due to the fertility and greenery of some of the regions of Somaliland, wild animals (e.g. ]s) come to the area; to either breed or graze on the grassland ]. There are many animals which are native to Somaliland. The prominent animals found are the ], wild ], ], ]s, ]s, the ], wild ] and ]s. Moreover, many birds and different types of ] are also found in and around Somaliland. | |||
| ==Economy== | |||
| ] note]] | |||
| Somaliland's economy is in its developing stages, as is the country itself. | |||
| The ], while stable, is not an internationally recognized ] and currently has no official ]. It is regulated by the ], the ], which was established constitutionally in 1994. | |||
| ]]] | |||
| The bulk of Somaliland's exports are of ], which has been estimated to be at 24 million. In 1996, 3 million heads of livestock were exported to the ]. In February 1998, this export was negatively impacted by a ]n ban on imports of beef. The ban was eventually lifted on December, 2006, and thus, allowed the industry to recover. Other exports include ]s, skins, ], and ]. | |||
| ] is generally considered to be a potentially successful industry, especially in the production of ]s and ]. Mining also has potentials, although currently it consists solely of ]ing. Deposits of hugely diverse quantities of minerals are present.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.somalilandgov.com/cprofile.htm | title= Republic of Somaliland Country Profile | work=Somaliland Official website | accessdate=2005-12-02}}</ref> | |||
| A recent research around Somaliland shows that the country has large offshore and onshore ] and ] reserves. There are several wells that have been excavated during the last few years but due to the country's unrecognised status, foreign ] cannot benefit from it. | |||
| Since the ], Somaliland has grown as a major export port for ]. The two countries signed a deal that the port city of ] will export and import goods for Ethiopia, while the latter will pay for it. | |||
| ===Tourism=== | |||
| When Somaliland broke away from Somalia, the ] industry began to re-build itself. Somaliland is often considered to be home to one of the most interesting attractions in the ], the ] ]s. It is believed that a small number of tourists travel to the country to witness this sight. The paintings are situated near ] and were discovered by a ] archaeological team in 2002. The government and locals keep the cave paintings safe and only a restricted number of tourists are allowed. Other notable sights include the Freedom Arch in Hargeisa and the war memorial in the city center. Natural attractions are very common around the country. The ] hills are twin hills located on the outskirts of Hargeisa that Somalilanders consider to be a majestic natural landmark. | |||
| ] countryside en route to ]]] | |||
| The Ministry of Tourism has also encouraged travellers to visit historic towns and cities in Somaliland. The historic town of Sheikh is near ] and it is home to old British colonial buildings that have been untouched for over forty years. Berbera also houses historic and impressive ] buildings. Another equally famous historic city is ]. Zeila was once part of the ], a dependency of ] and ] and a major trade city during the 19th century. The city has been visited for its old colonial landmarks, offshore ]s and coral reefs and its towering cliffs and beach. The ] culture of Somaliland has also attracted tourists. Most nomads live in the countryside. | |||
| ==Demographics== | |||
| ===Languages=== | |||
| Most people in Somaliland speak the country's two official languages: the ] and the ], with Article 6 of the Constitution of 2001 designating the official language of Somaliland to be Somali. It is mandatory that Arabic be taught to school students and in ]s around the country. English is spoken and taught in schools. | |||
| Somali belongs to a set of languages called lowland ] spoken by peoples living in Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya. Eastern Cushitic is one section of the ], which in turn is part of the great ] stock. Arabic is the most spoken language of the Afro-Asiatic language branches. | |||
| The main Somali dialect which is the most widely used is Common Somali, a term applied to several sub dialects, the speakers of which can understand each other easily. Common Somali is spoken in most of Somaliland and Somalia and in adjacent territories (Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti), and is used by broadcasting stations in Somaliland. | |||
| Facility with language is highly valued in Somali society; the capability of a suitor, a warrior, or a political or religious leader is judged in part by his verbal adroitness. In such a society, ] becomes an art, and one's ability to compose verse in one or more of its several forms enhances one's status. Speakers in political or religious assemblies and litigants in courts traditionally were expected to use poetry or poetic proverbs. Even everyday talk tended to have a terse, vivid, poetic style, characterized by carefully chosen words, condensed meaning, and alliteration. | |||
| In the prerevolutionary era, English became dominant in the school system and in government. However, the overarching issue was the development of a socioeconomic stratum based on mastery of a ]. The relatively small proportion of ]s (less than 10 percent) with a grasp of such a language--preferably English--had access to government positions and the few managerial or technical jobs in modern private enterprises. Such persons became increasingly isolated from their nonliterate Somali-speaking brethren, but because the secondary schools and most government posts were in urban areas the socioeconomic and linguistic distinction was in large part a rural-urban one. | |||
| Even before the 1969 revolution, Somalis had become aware of social stratification and the growing distance, based on language and literacy differences, between ordinary Somalis and those in government. The 1972 decision to designate an official Somali Latin script and require its use in government demolished the language barrier and an important obstacle to rapid literacy growth. | |||
| In the years following the institution of the Somali Latin script, Somali officials were required to learn the ] and attempts were made to inculcate mass literacy--in 1973 among urban and rural sedentary Somalis, and in 1974-75 among nomads. Although a few texts existed in the new script before 1973, in most cases new books were prepared presenting the government's perspective on Somali history and development. Somali scholars also succeeded in developing a vocabulary to deal with a range of subjects from mathematics and physics to administration and ideology. | |||
| ===Religion=== | |||
| Almost all Somalis are ] ]s; ] is the principal faith and state religion. Though traces of pre-Islamic traditional religion exist in Somaliland, Islam is extremely important to the Somali sense of national identity. Many of the Somali social norms come from their religion. For example, men shake hands only with men, and women shake hands with women. Many Somali women wear a ] when they are in public. In addition, Somalis abstain from ], ], and ], and receiving or paying any form of interest. Muslims generally congregate on Friday afternoons for a sermon and group prayer. Accordance with these prohibitions depends on each individual's level of ]. | |||
| Nevertheless there has been ] missionary activity. In colonial days, ] was under the care of the ], like the ''Vicariate Apostolic of the Gallas'' (including French Somaliland (Djibouti) as well as its Ethiopian main territory) confided to the ]. | |||
| ==Culture== | |||
| {{main|Culture of Somaliland}} | |||
| ===Clan system=== | |||
| There are approximately 3.5 million people in Somaliland. The Somali society is organized into ] families, which range from 5,000 to over 50,000 in size. The major clan family in Somaliland is the ]. The second clan family and also the clan family of the president is the ]. Other clan families include ], ] family and the Somaliland ] such as the ] and ] (a sub-group of the ] clan). The Warsangali and Dhulbahante mostly reside in the ], ], and a small part of the ] regions of Somaliland, while the Isaaqs live in the regions of ], Togdheer, ], eastern and northern ], western Sanaag and western Sool. The Gadabursi clan family lives in the west of the country, in the Awdal region and parts of ]. | |||
| The clan families are divided into lineage units, typically ranging from 2,500 to 10,000 members. It is possible for Somalis to know how they are related simply by giving their name and clan membership. Clan discrimination in Somaliland is highly forbidden and every clan is considered equal by the ]. | |||
| ===Marriage=== | |||
| Most Somalilanders choose to marry who ever they desire as long as they are Muslims. In the case of arranged marriages, brides are usually much younger than the grooms. Marriage to a cousin from the mother's side of the family (of a different lineage) is traditionally favored to strengthen family alliance, but this practice is not as common as earlier. ] is valued in women prior to marriage. In addition, divorce is legal in Somaliland. Romantic marriages are becoming more common and are now the majority of marriages in Somaliland. But even these choices are influenced by the partner's clan. | |||
| ===Cuisine=== | |||
| {{main|Cuisine of Somaliland}} | |||
| It is considered polite for one to leave a little bit of food on a plate after finishing a meal at another's home. This tells the host that one has been given enough food. If one were to clean his or her plate that would indicate that he or she is still hungry. Most Somalis don't take this rule so seriously, but it is certainly not impolite to leave a few bits of food on one's plate. Traditionally, the main meal of the day is eaten at lunchtime and Somali people usually begin their day with a flat bread called ] or La'hooh, liver, toast, cereal or porridge made of millet or cornmeal. Lunch can be a mix of rice or noodles with meat and sauce. When the ] ruled the ] they brought some of their cuisine to Somaliland for example ''Pasta Al Forno'' (in ] ''Paasto Forno''} and they also planted ]s in the south of the region. Also during lunch their diet may consist of a traditional soup called ''maraq'' (It is also part of ]i cuisine) made of vegetables, meat and beans and usually eaten with ] or ] bread. Later in the day a lighter meal is served which includes ]s, ], muffo (patties made of oats or corn), ] or a salad with more laxoox/]. A minority of Somalis drink ] which they brought from Arab countries to their homeland. ] is also drunk in Somaliland; it has been adapted to become one of the famous drinks in the region - the traditional and cultural ''Shaax Xawaash''. Consumed by the majority of Somalis, it is made of ] (Somali ''Xawaash''} and ] (Somali ''Qoronfil''). | |||
| ===Arts=== | |||
| ] and ] have been described as the twin pillars of Somali culture. Most Somalis are Sunni Muslims and Islam is vitally important to the Somali sense of national identity. Most Somalis don't belong to specific ] or sect and can pray in any mosque they find. | |||
| Celebrations come in the form of religious festivities, two of the most important being ] and ] which marks the end of the fasting month. Families get dressed up to visit one another. Money is donated to the poor. Other holidays include ] and ], which celebrates Somaliland's independence from Britain and Somalia, however it is unrecognised by the international community. | |||
| In a ] culture, where one's possessions are frequently moved, there is little reason for the ] to be highly developed. Somalis embellish and decorate their woven and wooden milk jugs (Somali ''Haano'', the most decorative jugs are made in Ceerigaabo) and their wooden headrests, and traditional dance is important; though mainly as a form of courtship among young people. The traditional dance known as the ''Ceeyar Somaali'' in the Somali language is Somaliland's favourite dance. | |||
| ] and then applied on the hair]] | |||
| Also, an important form of art in Somaliland is ] (Mehndi) (Somali: Xenna). The ] is widely grown across the region and it was ] merchants and settlers that first brought the art of henna painting in early Somaliland. During special occasions, a Somali women's hands and feet are expected to be covered in decorative mendhi. Girls and women usually apply or decorate their hands and feet in henna on joyous celebrations like Eid, weddings etc. The henna designs can be very simple to highly intricate. Unlike ]i, ]n or ]i henna designs, the Somali and Arab designs are more modern and simple compared to the latter. Traditionally, only women apply this ] and it is considered as a ] procedure therefore men don't apply such procedure. | |||
| Henna is not only applied on the hands and feet but at the same time it is used as a ]. Somali men and women alike use henna as a dye to change their ]. Mostly, elderly men with grey hair apply such procedure because black hair dye is, allegedly, forbidden in Islam. Women are free to apply henna on their hair as most of the time they are wearing a ]. | |||
| ==Notes== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ==Sources and references == | |||
| *{{Catholic}} | |||
| * | |||
| ==See also== | |||
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| * '']'' - ] ] on unrecognised countries that featured Somaliland | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{Commons}} | |||
| * | |||
| * (primarily ]; some English) | |||
| * English language news website. | |||
| * | |||
| * , ] ] led by ] | |||
| * | |||
| {{Somaliland Regions}} | |||
| {{States of Somalia}} | |||
| {{Africa}} | |||
| {{Indian Ocean}} | |||
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Revision as of 10:05, 2 December 2007
Somaliland is the former territory ruled by Great Britain before becoming independent on June 26, 1960 and uniting with Italian Somalia to form the Somali Republic. On May 18, 1991, the people of the Isaaq clan from northwest of Somalia declared independence from Somalia, however, natives of northcentral and northeast Somalia (Hurti sub-clan of Darood) do not recognise the administration nor is it recognised by any other country or international organization.
Somaliland is accepted by the rest of Somalia as a clandestine movement and has been succesfull in administrating the native Isaaq boarders within Somalia however this has also created a backlash as other Somalis refuse its seperatist stance for fear of renewing clan conflicts.