相較於塞爾維亞境內的科索沃與俄羅斯境內的車臣等分離獨立事件，索馬利蘭自其一九九一年宣布事實上的獨立建國時起則鮮少有學術上的研究文獻。少數學者致力評價索馬利蘭的國際法律地位，但是他們時常以一種必然及決定性的思考模式來分析，甚至有時候會嚴重受到特定意識型態的驅使，而非基於純粹學術研究的動機。於是，我們必須注意任何有關國際法上分離與自決權的理論分析中所固有的一般缺點。換言之，政治上的理想主義與代表利益最終都有可能影響或甚至決定客觀分析的研究結果。因此，本文將特別針對索馬利亞境內事實上的政治實體「索馬利蘭」是否已發展為國家之議題，試圖依據國際法之規範提供客觀的檢視，一方面將考慮索馬利亞的國家瓦解情勢，另一方面將斟酌國際社會不願意授予索馬利蘭承認的各種因素。故本文首先將探討索馬利蘭是否已符合國家資格的構成要件該當性。其次闡釋國際社會不願意給予承認的實際原因，以及申論索馬利蘭國家資格的主張是否應予以駁斥及其理由。

Compared to the secessionist cases of Kosovo in Serbia and Chechnya in Russia, Somaliland case has received much little academic concern since its de facto establishment and secession from Somalia in 1991. The few scholars who have concerned to assess the status of Somaliland in accordance with international law have often done so in apodictic and determinative fashion, and sometimes heavily inspired by ideological rather than academic aspiration. Thus, we must be reminded of this general risk inherent in any doctrinal analysis of secession and self-determination of people, that is to say, the political idealism and interests might eventually influence or determine the result of the objective analysis. Therefore, regarding the question of whether the de facto entity, called Somaliland, has evolved as a state, this essay will attempt to provide an objective evaluation in international law. It will consider Somalia's recent collapse, and think about the international community's reluctance to give recognition to Somaliland. Subsequently, it will examine whether Somaliland fulfils the requirement of statehood. Thereby, after discussing the reasons why international community is reluctant to grant recognition, it will consider the question of whether Somaliland's claim to statehood should be rejected.