Somaliland

 The US Department of State has dismissed the latest bid for recognition by the self-declared republic of Somaliland. 

Somaliland seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago, but it is not recognised as an independent state by the African Union or the United Nations. Since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991, Somaliland functions like a country - with its own passport, currency, flag, government and army.

President Muse Bihi Abdi is in the US where he made a passionate plea for international recognition as a nation-state.

President Bihi said 10 years of unification talks with Somalia "had achieved nothing".

"Somaliland believes that the international community has a moral obligation to support Somaliland’s pursuit of international recognition," he said.