Political status and decolonisation

History of Somaliland

From the 1960 independence and union with Somalia, through the 1991 renewed declaration, to the 2024 Ethiopia MOU.

Reading time
1 min read
Published
Status verified as of

Suggest a correction

1960: independence and union

British Somaliland became independent on 26 June 1960, uniting with Italian Somaliland five days later to form the Somali Republic.[1]

1991: renewed declaration

On 18 May 1991, Somaliland declared renewed independence, maintaining de facto statehood since without international recognition.[2]

2024: the Ethiopia MOU

The 1 January 2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland MOU triggered a regional diplomatic crisis; Turkey-mediated talks collapsed in February 2025.[3][4]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The British Somaliland protectorate became independent as the State of Somaliland on 26 June 1960 and was recognized by approximately 35 states, including permanent members of the UN Security Council; five days later, on 1 July 1960, it voluntarily united with the former Italian-administered Trust Territory of Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.

  2. 2.

    Claim: On 18 May 1991, following a conference in Burao attended by Somali clan leaders including from the Isaaq, Dhulbahante, Issa, Gadabursi and Warsangali clans, along with the Somali National Movement, Somaliland declared renewed independence within the boundaries of the former British protectorate; it has since maintained its own government, security forces, currency and institutions, though it remains internationally recognized by no UN member state as an independent state.

    • Somaliland (Wikipedia) link, 1991 Declaration of Independence section. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: On 1 January 2024, Ethiopia and Somaliland signed a memorandum of understanding under which Somaliland would lease Ethiopia approximately 19 kilometres of Gulf of Aden coastline for 50 years, reportedly including a provision for eventual Ethiopian recognition of Somaliland as an independent state; the deal drew condemnation from Somalia, Eritrea and Egypt, with Somalia recalling its ambassador to Ethiopia and, on 4 April 2024, expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and ordering the closure of two Ethiopian consulates.

    • 2024 Ethiopia-Somaliland memorandum of understanding (Wikipedia) link, MOU terms and regional reactions sections. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 11 December 2024, Ethiopia and Somalia signed an agreement in Ankara, mediated by Turkey, under which Ethiopia recognized Somalia's territorial integrity and sovereignty while Somalia acknowledged Ethiopia's interest in seeking sea access through lease arrangements under Somali sovereignty; however, subsequent Turkey-mediated expert-level talks held 2-4 February 2025 collapsed without progress amid continuing tensions over the Ethiopia-Somaliland port deal.

    • East Africa: Somalia-Ethiopia Talks Mediated By Türkiye Stall Over Somaliland Port Deal (AllAfrica) link, Ankara agreement and stalled talks sections. Source record

Source note

Show in the notes list

Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/somaliland/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.