Somaliland Independent day

On May 18, 1991, after the collapse of the central government in Somalia in the Somali Civil War, the territory asserted its independence as the self-described Republic of Somaliland. However, the region's self-declared independence remains unrecognized by any country or international organization.
The economic infrastructure left behind by British, Soviet Union, and American funding and military assistance programs has been largely destroyed by war. The Somaliland-based Somali National Movement had rebelled against the Siad Barre regime in Mogadishu which prompted a massive reaction by the government. By 1992, aerial bombing by the federal authorities had reportedly left 50,000 dead in the city alone. However, the reconstruction began shortly thereafter.
Abdurahman Ahmed Ali Tur was sworn as the first president of Somaliland, although he died just a year later. Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal was elected president in 1993, re-elected in 1998 and remained in power until his death on May 3, 2002. The vice president Dahir Riyale Kahin was declared the new president shortly afterwards.
Since independence Somaliland has been trying to extend its domination to include the Sanaag and Sool regions. This has led to conflict with neighboring Puntland's armed forces, as the latter macro-region also claims that territory.

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