What is Somaliland?

[Jacaylbaro]

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Investments by returning refugees and remittances from those still abroad provide a lifeline to millions in the breakaway Somaliland Republic.

 

Here are some details about Somaliland:

 

GEOGRAPHY: Somaliland is about the size of England and Wales with an area of 137,600 sq km (68,000 sq. miles). It shares borders with Republic of Djibouti to the west, Ethiopia to the south and Somalia to the east.

 

POPULATION: The population of Somaliland is estimated at around 4.0 million.

 

CAPITAL: Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland with an estimated population of 0.45 million. The other main towns are Burao, Borama, Berbera, Erigabo and Las Anod.

 

LANGUAGE: Somali is the official language. Arabic and English are the other official languages.

 

RELIGION: Islam (Sunni).

 

GOVERNMENT: Somaliland's system of government consists of a house of representatives elected directly by the people and an upper chamber, or Guurti, consisting of traditional elders representing the different clans and sub-clans.

 

ECONOMY: The economy is mostly powered by $450 million a year in remittances from diaspora. The government's annual budget is around $40 million -- an amount the U.S. government spends every six minutes.

 

-- According to a European Union study, the region has substantial untapped resources of oil, coal and metals such as gold, platinum, copper, nickel and zinc.

 

A NEW BEGINNING:

 

-- There is hope in Somaliland that 2009 presidential elections will lead to international recognition of the northern Somali enclave as an independent country.

 

-- The polls are seen by many as an acid test for the former British protectorate which broke away from Somalia in 1991 when the ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre plunged the Horn of Africa country into anarchy.

 

-- Somaliland has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity and has held previous democratic elections, but analysts have said that it was not recognised globally because of concerns that rewriting colonial borders would open a Pandora's Box of other secession claims.