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 |