Somaliland: Shackled to a Failed State‪.‬

I. INTRODUCTION Somalia lacks the basic characteristics that define a state in the international community. The rule of law has been obliterated by years of civil war and internal strife, leaving Somalia a "failed state." For the last decade and a half rival warlords have controlled Somaliland. The central government, elected by warlords at a conference in Kenya, does not have the capacity to exercise authority over its population. Somalia's beautiful beaches and historical city streets are largely inaccessible to the outside world, and the outside world is just as inaccessible to Somalis. In fact, while the national passport is sold at the public market in Mogadishu, it is no longer valid for international travel. The same public markets flood the country with machine guns and rocket propelled grenade launchers.