Somaliland

American  

[soh-mah-lee-land, suh-] / soʊˈmɑ liˌlænd, sə- /

noun

1. a coastal region in E Africa, including Djibouti, Somalia, and the Ogaden part of Ethiopia.

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Somaliland British  

/ səʊˈmɑːlɪˌlænd /

noun

1. a former region of E Africa, between the equator and the Gulf of Aden: includes Somalia, Djibouti, and SE Ethiopia

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Example Sentences

Minister to the presidency Khadar Hussein Abdi told AFP on Saturday that Somaliland, seeking further international recognition, was prepared to grant exclusive mining rights to the United States.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Armed with nothing but a crowbar and shovel in the hills of Somaliland, Ahmed Ibrahim hacks away at rocks where he and fellow miners have already found tonnes of lithium.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

It has invited Somaliland water sector workers for training -- a first batch of 25 left this weekend -- with Israeli experts due to visit the territory to help install technology soon.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Locals say no rain has fallen on Lallays, around 45 minutes' drive from the capital Hargeisa, since last June or July -- even though this is traditionally the wettest part of Somaliland.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

He explained that many of the countries, like Siam and Italian Somaliland, no longer existed in the same way; the names had changed by now.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri