There are almost 200 official countries in the world, but there are dozens more breakaway states which are determined to be separate and independent. All of the breakaway states have declared independence after violent struggles with a neighbour. Some now survive peacefully, but others are a magnet for terrorists and weapons smuggling, and have armies ready for a fight.
View Holidays in the Danger Zone - Places that don't exists. Video hosted on Youtube. Holidays in the Danger Zone: Places That Don't Exist is a five-part BBC Four series on breakaway states and unrecognised nations, devised, written and presented by Simon Reeve. The series took Reeve to little-known parts of the world including Somaliland, recognised as part of Somalia; Transnistria of Moldova; Taiwan; Nagorno-Karabakh, of Armenia and Azerbaijan; Ajaria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, all technically in Georgia.
Transnistria, also known as Trans-Dniester, Transdniestria and Pridnestrovie (full name: Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic), is a breakaway republic within the internationally recognised borders of Moldova. Although not recognised by any state or international organisation and de jure part of Moldova, it is de facto independent and functions like a state. It is organised as a presidential republic, with its own government, parliament, military, police and postal system. Its authorities have adopted a constitution, flag, a national anthem, and a coat of arms.
Transnistria is located within Moldova mostly between the Dniester river and the border with Ukraine. After the collapse of the USSR Transnistria declared independence leading to the war with Moldova that started in March, 1992 and was concluded by the ceasefire of July, 1992. As part of that agreement, a three-party (Russia, Moldova, PMR) Joint Control Commission supervises the security arrangements in the de-militarized zone, comprising 20 localities on both sides of the river. The ceasefire has held; however the territory's political status remains unresolved and Transnistria has been de facto independent since that time. Transnistria is sometimes compared with other post-Soviet frozen conflict zones such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Somaliland
In the north of Somalia – one of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the world – is Somaliland, a stable working democracy which no other nation recognizes as a proper country. Somaliland used to be linked to Britain, but joined with Somalia in the 1960s to form one country. When the relationship soured Somaliland sought independence, but had to fight a bitter war against the Somali dictator during which thousands died.
Simon’s first stop on the way to Somaliland is Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, where a dozen armed guards are needed to prevent kidnap or killing. The war-ravaged city, abandoned by the rest of the world, is in a state of anarchy with warlords instead of a government, but the rest of the world recognizes Somalia as an official state. Because there’s no government there’s also no police force. In the main market, Simon buys himself a Somali diplomatic passport from a man called Mr Big Beard, then heads north to Somaliland.
Although this nation of 3.5 million people is relatively stable, with a government, police force and traffic lights, no country recognizes it officially. Simon is guided around by Yusuf, a national hero and former guerilla fighter who spent 10 years battling for Somaliland’s independence. Because Somaliland is not recognized it’s having trouble getting foreign aid to help with the worst drought in decades. Tens of thousands of people are at risk of starvation.
The President tells Simon he runs the country on just a few million pounds a year. Because nobody recognizes the government it cannot get loans, making Somaliland one of the few poor countries on the planet not burdened by foreign debt repayments. Because there is no money sloshing around, there’s also little corruption. Some countries want Somaliland to reunify with Somalia. Over a camp fire, Yusuf warns Simon that this could lead to war, and he would be prepared to fight.
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