When does a country become a state? On 18 May 1991 the leaders of the Somali National Movement and the elders of northern Somali clans proclaimed that they were setting up the new Republic of Somaliland. It is based on the territory of the former British protectorate which had merged with the Italian colony in 1960 to form the Republic of Somalia. Why has Somaliland not followed Somalia into 'state collapse'? Over the past fifteen years Somaliland has successfully managed a process of reconciliation, demobilisation and the restoration of law and order. The capital Hargeysa has become an international trading centre. Why is Somaliland yet to be recognised by the international community? The international community purports to promote 'good governance'. Somaliland has held one of the freest series of elections in the region and has one of the most democratic governments of any Muslim country. Yet this new republic still has no international legal status, while Somalia, which has had no effective government since 1990, is still accorded de jure sovereignty. Should a unitary government be re-established for all of Somalia? Since the collapse of the Somali state international diplomacy has supported fourteen peace conferences, each focusing on re-establishing Somalia as a whole.

Somalia has recently seen new international military intervention by Ethiopia and the USA. Yet it is Somaliland which challenges the typical image of war, disaster and social regression associated with this part of Africa. Book jacket.