From the Heritage Foundation, I'm Tim Dessier, and this is Heritage Explains.

Somalia has been wracked by instability and violence since the overthrow of the military dictator,

Mohammed Siyadh-Cyad Bade, more than two decades ago.

But one region has managed to avoid much of the chaos. Somaliland has been independent since it broke away from Somalia in 1991. Since then,

the region has formed its own democratic government and started its own currency. Somaliland's

biggest industry is selling livestock mainly to Arab countries, but the region's economy is also dependent on money sent home for migrants who are working overseas.

Despite being independent from Somalia, the international community still does not recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state.

Somaliland. Have you heard of it?

I know you've heard of Somalia.

In fact, after the famous movie Black Hawk Down, we were all aware of the serious instability

within the region. But after Somaliland chose to declare independence from Somalia, they drew a line in the sand,

and relative peace and stability ensued.

Again, in a very challenging region.

But as noted above, the 4.5 million Somalilanders have no official recognition on the world stage,

even though they've basically been an independent nation for 30 years with peaceful transitions of power,

and an emphasis on free speech, press, and markets.

But without formal recognition, it makes it difficult to acquire foreign loans, aid, and investment.

Now, we're all aware that many nations in Africa, including the ones surrounding Somaliland,

have become increasingly dependent on Chinese investment.

But Somaliland stands out from the nations surrounding them.

Here's the Somaliland foreign minister on China.

China cannot dictate who Somaliland can have relations with, the Foreign Minister of the

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