Context: Political Violence in Somalia
55 people were injured in Mogadishu during protests against constitutional and electoral reforms proposed by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Somalia and Somaliland: Basics
Somalia
- Located in the Horn of Africa.
- Capital: Mogadishu.
- Borders: Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.
- Water bodies: Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
- Political instability has continued since the fall of Siad Barre in 1991.
Somaliland
- Former British Somaliland.
- United with Italian Somaliland in 1960.
- Declared independence in 1991.
- Capital: Hargeisa.
- Has its own government, parliament, currency and security forces.
Recent Update
- Ethiopia–Somaliland MoU on Berbera Port: Ethiopia obtained access to the Red Sea through Berbera Port in Somaliland.
- Israel reportedly became the first country to recognise Somaliland as an independent sovereign state.
- Somalia opposes any recognition of Somaliland, considering it part of its sovereign territory.
PYQ Link
- Dadaab Refugee Complex in Kenya hosts refugees from Somalia.
- Country associated with prolonged civil strife and state collapse: Somalia.
