Republic of Somaliland - the trappings of State

Somaliland Mission, unrecognized diplomatic outpost in London	Somaliland - the former colony of British Somaliland - gained independence from the UK in 1960	The Republic of Somaliland, a break away region of Somalia in the Horn of Africa	5 days after its 1960 independence, the former British Somaliland united with Italian Somaliland to form Somalia
After the collapse of the Mogadishu government in the late 1980s, Somaliland reasserted its independence on 18 May 1991	Despite the license plates, no country has recognized Somaliland's defacto independence	Blue NGO license plate, Somaliland	Green government license plate, Somaliland
With all the trouble to get Somaliland recognized, why "S.LAND" on the new license plates?	In contrast to the failed state in the rest of Somalia, Somaliland has managed to establish a functioning democracy	The goal now is for the international community to recognize Somaliland as an independent state	The President and Vice President of Somaliland
Bank of Somaliland	For Sale on the streets of Hargeisa - blank passports of the old Democratic Republic of Somalia	Stacks of Somaliland Shillings at a moneychanger on the streets of Hargeisa	Somaliland Banknote - 100 Shillings
At the time of our visit, the rate was approximately 6500 Somaliland Shillings to 1 US$	Somaliland Banknote - 50 Somaliland Shillings	Somaliland Banknotes - 500 Somaliland Shillings	Somaliland Banknotes - 1000 Somaliland Shillings
The largest Somaliland banknote, 5000 Shillings, less than $1	The current Somaliland Shilling banknotes in circulation 2013	Special Protection Units ensure the security of foreigners travelling in Somaliland	Shoulder patch of an SPU - Special Protection Unit