Middle East & Africa | The anxiety of hope

The world’s next country?

New presidents in Somaliland and America could hasten international recognition

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the 2024 Somaliland presidential election
A consequential votePhotograph: AFP
|Hargeisa

Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, the people of Somaliland have built a surprisingly stable democracy in a volatile region where autocracy is the norm. Yet no country has recognised the breakaway state’s claim to sovereignty. Geopolitical developments in the past year and Donald Trump’s victory have raised the hopes of Somalilanders that this may soon change. But their nerves have been jangling ahead of a presidential poll on November 13th, since internal ructions could kibosh their national dream.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The world’s next country?”

From the November 16th 2024 edition

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