For decades, a well-worn argument has circulated among Somali nationalists: Somaliland and Somalia were never independent states before 1960; they were just two regions that merged to form the Somali Republic. The claim, often repeated, is as misleading as it is persistent.
The historical record tells a different story. Somaliland was not only an independent, internationally recognized state before it entered into a rushed and legally unratified union with Somalia. Today, more than six decades later, that flawed arrangement continues to fuel Somaliland’s quest for full recognition as a sovereign nation.
A Nation That Briefly Took Its Place in the World
On June 26, 1960, Somaliland achieved independence from British colonial rule. It was not a partial or conditional handover of authority; it was full sovereignty, officially proclaimed in the Royal Proclamation Terminating Her Majesty’s Protection:
“Whereas it is intended that the Somaliland Protectorate shall become an independent country on the twenty-sixth day of June 1960.” (Gazette No. 42074)
The world took note. More than 30 nations, including key members of the United Nations Security Council, sent formal congratulatory messages, welcoming Somaliland into the international community. Treaties were signed, agreements made. Treaty Series No. 44 (1960), a legal framework established between Somaliland and the United Kingdom, set out provisions for currency, military forces, and, crucially, Somaliland’s sovereign right to enter agreements with other nations.
Somalia’s Delayed Independence and Mismatched Timing
While Somaliland had already gained sovereignty, Italian-administered Somalia was still under a United Nations trusteeship, with its path to independence set for July 1, 1960. The UN General Assembly confirmed this timeline in Resolution A/RES/1418 (XIV):
“Approval of the Trusteeship Agreement by the General Assembly, at the conclusion of which the Territory shall become an independent sovereign State.”
This detail is more than a historical footnote. It means that Somaliland and Somalia were never legally on equal footing when they “merged.” One was an already recognized independent nation; the other was still transitioning out of foreign oversight.
Further reinforcing this distinction, the Trusteeship Agreement’s Article 1 explicitly outlined Somalia’s borders:
“…bounded by the Somaliland Protectorate, Ethiopia, [and] Kenya.”
These were not two “regions” uniting. These were two separately recognized territories.
The Unratified Union: A Flawed Foundation
Despite their separate paths to independence, leaders in Somaliland and Somalia moved swiftly to create a new state—the Somali Republic. The problem? The union was never legally finalized.
At the 871st meeting of the UN Security Council (July 5, 1960), British diplomat Sir Pierson Dixon described Somaliland and Somalia as “two independent nations” choosing to unite. But on the ground, the legal mechanics of the merger were deeply flawed.
1. Somaliland drafted its own Act of Union (Law No. 1), but it was never ratified by Somalia’s parliament.
2. Somalia, in turn, drafted a different Act of Union (Law of 31/1/1961, Article 4), attempting to retroactively formalize the merger—months after it had supposedly taken effect.
This was not how legitimate state unions were meant to function. No internationally recognized treaty was signed. No referendum was held. Somaliland was never legally absorbed into Somalia. It was, instead, effectively swallowed into a political system where its status was never clarified.
That ambiguity would later come back to haunt Somalia, and ultimately, the ill-fated union collapsed.
Somaliland Today: A Democracy in a Volatile Region
If the past 30 years have proven anything, it is that Somaliland was never just another Somali region. While Somalia has struggled with militancy, factional violence, and political instability, Somaliland has quietly built something different: a functioning democracy.
Since declaring its re-independence in 1991, Somaliland has held multiple peaceful elections, established stable institutions, and maintained internal security—a stark contrast to the turmoil in Mogadishu. Unlike Somalia, Somaliland has largely avoided the grip of extremist insurgencies and has created an environment where businesses can operate and governance remains intact.
In a region where failed states are common, Somaliland’s ability to maintain order and democratic processes should make it a model for self-governance in Africa. And yet, international recognition remains elusive.
A Case for Recognition
The facts are clear: Somaliland was an independent nation before the union, and that union was never properly ratified. Today, it functions as a de facto independent state, yet the world continues to ignore its legitimacy.
For decades, Western policymakers have emphasized their commitment to stability, democracy, and self-determination in Africa. Somaliland offers all three—yet remains in diplomatic limbo.
The question is no longer whether Somaliland deserves recognition. The real question is, why hasn’t it received it yet?
