Somaliland is an unrecognized republic in the Horn of Africa that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war. It has maintained relative stability through democratic elections and governance, in contrast to Somalia, though it faces challenges from a lack of international recognition. Somaliland's geography includes arid plains and mountain ranges along the Gulf of Aden coastline. The capital and largest city is Hargeisa, and the economy relies on livestock pastoralism, trade, and remittances while seeking to develop tourism.