Somaliland wants to secede -- will it be Africa's 55th country?

Peter Robert Woodward, The Conversation

Updated 1339 GMT (2139 HKT) September 15, 2016

Woman waves flag during celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Somaliland's declaration of independence in the capital, Hargeisa on May 18, 2016.<br /><br />Despite the declaration, Somaliland is still considered an autonomous region of Somalia by the United Nations. But President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo is pushing hard for recognition of full sovereignty.
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Woman waves flag during celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Somaliland's declaration of independence in the capital, Hargeisa on May 18, 2016.

Despite the declaration, Somaliland is still considered an autonomous region of Somalia by the United Nations. But President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo is pushing hard for recognition of full sovereignty.
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Somaliland military personnel march on independence day. The region spends heavily on its army and navy but is operating under a UN arms embargo.
Photos: New member in family of nations?
Somaliland military personnel march on independence day. The region spends heavily on its army and navy but is operating under a UN arms embargo.
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Hargeisa War Memorial in Freedom Square features a representation of a Russian fighter jet used to bomb the city by former dictator Mohamed Siyad Barre, who was overthrown in 1991.
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Hargeisa War Memorial in Freedom Square features a representation of a Russian fighter jet used to bomb the city by former dictator Mohamed Siyad Barre, who was overthrown in 1991.
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Downtown Hargeisa in the week before the independence day celebrations. The fast-growing city is home to almost a million residents. Somaliland is considered a relatively safe haven as the rest of Somalia remains plagued by conflict.
Photos: New member in family of nations?
Downtown Hargeisa in the week before the independence day celebrations. The fast-growing city is home to almost a million residents. Somaliland is considered a relatively safe haven as the rest of Somalia remains plagued by conflict.
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Loading cargo ship at the Port of Berbera on December 5, 2015. The main exports from Somaliland are livestock to the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar.
Photos: New member in family of nations?
Loading cargo ship at the Port of Berbera on December 5, 2015. The main exports from Somaliland are livestock to the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar.
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Traders preparing to load goats and sheep ready for export into a truck, at the biggest livestock market in Somaliland. Livestock farming is the backbone of the Somaliland economy. Every year, an estimated 4.2 million sheep, goats, cattle and camel are sold to neighboring Arab States via the port of Berbera.