Somaliland - Somaliland

	ATTENTION: Given the precarious general safety conditions, before embarking on the journey, it is advisable to consult the "safety" section of the site Safe travel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who strongly discourages unnecessary travel to Somaliland) and contact the Crisis Unit of the Farnesina-Ministry of Foreign Affairs (tel. 39 06 36225).

Somaliland is a state ofEast Africa (not recognized by the international community) overlooking the Gulf of Aden and bordering the Djibouti to the west, with theEthiopia to the south and with the Somalia at East.

To know

Somaliland occupies the entire area of ​​what was British Somalia until 1960. It is made up of what are now recognized as the northern provinces of the Somalia.

Background

In 1884 the British Empire founded British Somalia on what is now known as Somaliland. On June 26, 1960, it gained independence from UK and a few days later it joined the former Italian Somalia to form the Republic of Somalia. 1991 this unsuccessful union resulted in a ferocious civil war that led Somaliland to declare its independence not yet officially recognized.

Territories and tourist destinations

Urban centers

Other destinations

How to get

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How to get around

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What see

The capital Hargheisa, has a provincial museum. There is also a menagerie which includes lions, leopards, antelopes, birds and reptiles. Outside of Hargheisa, is the Gaal Lasa, a complex of caves and shelters carved into the rock that contain some of the earliest known rock art in Somalia and the entire African continent, dating back to 9000 BC.

What to do

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Currency and purchases

The national currency is the Somaliland shilling (SQS). Not being recognized by the international community, there is no official exchange rate. As a mere indication, it should be borne in mind that in December 2008 1 USD was exchanged for 7,500 Somaliland Shillings.

At the table

For breakfast, Somalis eat a kind of bread called laxoox with cereals or millet porridge or cornmeal. They also eat rice or pasta with meat sauce or for lunch. Pasta became very popular under Italian rule. Bananas are common in the south of the region. A traditional soup called maraq (also part of the kitchen of the Yemen) is based on vegetables, meat and beans and is usually eaten with focaccia or pita bread. Beans, oatmeal or corn balls and salad are usually eaten for dessert. Somalis occasionally eat it xalwo, a kind of sweet jelly made from water, sugar and honey, although peanuts are sometimes added. In Somali culture, it is considered polite for guests to leave some food on their plate after finishing a meal that has been provided to them. This shows that the guests have had enough food and are therefore treated well.

Drinks

Many Somalis love spiced tea. Milk is equally common in Somaliland's rural areas. Alcohol is prohibited and will not be found served publicly anywhere in the country.

Tourist infrastructure

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Events and parties

National holidays

Safety

Before embarking on the journey consult:

• Safe travel - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina) (Country safety information). 

Health situation

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Respect the customs

Many social norms come from the Islamic religion. For example, men shake hands only with men, and women shake hands only with women. Many Somali women wear hijabs when in public. In addition, Somalis refrain from eating pork, gambling and drinking alcohol, and receiving or paying any form of interest. Muslims generally gather on Friday afternoons for a sermon or prayer group.

How to keep in touch

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Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Somaliland
• Commons contains images or other files on Somaliland
  

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