SLSUN: Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but remains internationally unrecognized
In a post via X account @princeamralsaud His Royal Highness Prince Amir bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, informs that
Political Status
•It was briefly an independent country for 5 days in 1960 before joining Somalia
•Despite lack of recognition, Somaliland has its own government, currency, and democratic elections
Geography and Demographics
Located in the Horn of Africa, bordering Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia
•Area of 176,120 square kilometers (about the size of England and Wales)
•Population of approximately 6.2 million as of 2024
•Capital city is Hargeisa
Economy and Development
•Livestock production is the dominant economic sector, contributing 60% of GDP
•Has one of the world’s cheapest rates for mobile calls
•Developed its own government and infrastructure without international aid
Unique Features
Plans to use iris biometric scanning for voting, the most advanced system globally
•Has a lower HIV infection rate than most Western countries
•The greater kudu is the official animal of Somaliland
•Home to the Lass Geel cave paintings, which are older than Ancient Greece
Rich in natural resources
Somaliland is rich in natural resources, particularly minerals and potential hydrocarbon deposits. Here are some key points about Somaliland’s natural resource wealth
Mineral Resources
Somaliland possesses a diverse range of mineral deposits, including:
Gemstones
•Large variety of gemstones such as emerald, ruby, sapphire, aquamarine, topaz, tourmaline, zircon, garnet, amethyst, and opal
•Gemstone deposits are mainly found in pegmatite veins between Berbera and Bawn
Precious Metals
•Gold deposits in numerous localities, including Cirshida, Arabsiyo, and NW Hargeisa
•Recent gold nugget discoveries in the Irshida Mountains in 2019
Base and Industrial Metals
•Iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, copper, and tin deposits
•Large tin deposit known at Assilih-Dalan-Dagah Kul area in eastern Sanaag region
•Potential for rare earth metals like tantalite-columbite and molybdenum
Industrial Minerals
Abundant deposits of gypsum, cement materials, mica, marble, feldspar, quartz, and decorative stones
•Estimated 180 million tons of high-purity gypsum and anhydrite near Berbera
•Significant deposits of potassium feldspar and quartz along the basement belt
Hydrocarbon Potential
Somaliland has favorable geological settings for hydrocarbon resources
•Major sedimentary basins with potential for oil and gas accumulations
•Genel Energy granted a license to explore for oil in 2012, with estimates of over 7 billion barrels of prospective resources
Other Resources
Coal deposits reported in central Somaliland along the Gulf of Aden coast
•Potential for heavy mineral sands containing ilmenite, rutile, and zircon
•Large quantities of glass-making sand
Despite this wealth of natural resources, Somaliland remains largely unexplored and underexploited due to its unrecognized political status and lack of international investment. However, the government has been making efforts to promote its mining sector and attract foreign investment to develop these resources.
International Relations
•Denmark was the first Western country to open an embassy in Somaliland in 2012
•Cannot receive direct humanitarian aid due to its unrecognized status
