“Today, we’re taking you to Somaliland, a little-known territory at the heart of geopolitical tensions far bigger than itself.”
That was the striking opening line of a major television report aired by France 24 on May 13, 2026. Titled “Somaliland: the country that does not exist,” the program explored one of the world’s most fascinating political paradoxes: a functioning state that remains officially unrecognized by most of the international community.
To tell the story, the French newspaper Le Monde dispatched reporter Noé Auch-Baudin and cartographer Francesca Fattori to the Horn of Africa, where they documented a territory balancing stability, ambition, and geopolitical danger.
A Nation Without Recognition
Located in the Horn of Africa, Somaliland restored its independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the Somali central government and a devastating civil war.
Its history traces back to colonial times. Somaliland was once a British protectorate, while southern Somalia was ruled by Italy. In 1960, both territories became independent and voluntarily united under the dream of a “Greater Somalia” — an effort to unite Somali-speaking populations across the region.
But the union eventually collapsed.
The war that followed left deep scars, particularly in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, which was heavily bombed during the conflict. Survivors still refer to it as the “Dresden of Africa.”
Out of those ruins emerged a self-governing republic that built its own institutions, currency, military, elections, and political system — despite lacking formal international recognition.
A Different Reality From Somalia
One of the most striking observations made by the France 24 team was the contrast between Somaliland and Somalia itself.
While Somalia continues to battle insecurity and extremist violence from groups like Al-Shabaab, Somaliland presents itself as a relatively stable and secure territory. Journalists traveling there described being able to move freely between Hargeisa and the coastal city of Berbera — something often impossible in southern Somalia.
Somaliland also emphasizes democratic governance. Elections are held regularly, political transitions are relatively peaceful, and traditional clan elders continue to play a role alongside modern state institutions.
For many Somalilanders, this stability is central to their argument for international recognition.
Berbera: The Port That Could Change Everything
At the center of Somaliland’s strategic ambitions lies Berbera, a Red Sea port city that has become increasingly important in global geopolitics.
Historically used by the British Empire, the Ottomans, and Cold War powers, Berbera has undergone major modernization in recent years under the management of Emirati logistics giant DP World.
The United Arab Emirates invested heavily in the port after tensions with neighboring Djibouti disrupted Emirati operations there.
Yet Berbera still faces serious limitations. Because Somaliland remains internationally unrecognized, foreign investment, banking, insurance, and trade agreements remain difficult to secure.
Still, Somaliland’s leaders see Berbera as their economic future — especially as a gateway for Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country, which lacks direct access to the sea.
Israel’s Recognition Shocked the Region
The report’s most explosive revelation concerned Israel.
According to the France 24 investigation, Israel officially recognized Somaliland in December 2025, becoming the first country to do so. The announcement reportedly stunned even some Somaliland officials, though behind-the-scenes contacts had allegedly existed for years.
For Somaliland, Israeli recognition was expected to trigger a diplomatic domino effect. Officials hoped countries such as Ethiopia, the UAE, or even India might follow.
That never happened.
Instead, Somaliland suddenly found itself pulled into the volatile politics of the Middle East.
From Isolation to Strategic Frontline
Somaliland’s location overlooking the Gulf of Aden and facing Yemen makes it strategically invaluable.
Since 2023, attacks by Houthi rebels near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait have transformed the region into one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints. Any military foothold there carries enormous strategic value.
The France 24 journalists reported extensive construction around Berbera’s former civilian airport, which satellite imagery suggests is being transformed into a modern military facility. Emirati companies are reportedly involved, while discussions about possible American or Israeli military use continue behind closed doors.
Some U.S. Republican circles reportedly view Somaliland as a potential alternative to the American military base in Djibouti.
But geopolitical attention comes with risks.
The Houthis have already warned that any Israeli military presence in Somaliland would make the territory a legitimate target. Extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab and Islamic State affiliates have also reacted aggressively.
Regional powers are watching carefully too. Turkey strongly backs Somalia’s federal government in Mogadishu, while Saudi Arabia increasingly views Somaliland through the lens of regional rivalry with Israel.
The report warns that Somaliland — after decades of surviving quietly outside international politics — may now be entering a dangerous new era.
Mapping a Country the World Barely Sees
For cartographer Francesca Fattori, the mission was deeply personal.
Working normally from Paris as part of Le Monde’s graphics department, she explained that visiting Somaliland transformed the way she understood geography and conflict.
Maps, she said, help explain power, borders, and geopolitical tensions. But standing on the ground — seeing destroyed cities, strategic ports, military construction, and the daily lives of ordinary Somalilanders — gave those maps human meaning.
That combination of journalism and cartography became one of the defining strengths of the France 24 and Le Monde investigation.
The Country That Refuses to Disappear
For 35 years, Somaliland has existed in political limbo: functioning like a state, behaving like a state, yet denied the recognition granted to most nations.
Now, with rising tensions in the Red Sea, global power competition, and new alliances forming across the Middle East and Africa, Somaliland may no longer remain invisible to the world.
Whether that attention leads to recognition, instability, or something far more dangerous remains uncertain.
But one thing is clear: the “country that does not exist” has become impossible to ignore.