Somaliland: a photographic diary – in pictures

This Soviet-era Mig in Freedom Square in Hargeisa, Somaliland's capital, is a reminder of the heavy bombardment the city endured in 1988, when Somaliland broke away from Somalia – then ruled by the dictator Siad Barre. Reduced to rubble, Hargeisa became known as the 'Dresden of Africa' Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Hargeisa is experiencing a construction boom, financed by remittances from the Somali diaspora, many of whom are in the US and the UK Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Hargeisa and Somaliland are in desperate need of good roads. Some construction and repairs are being financed jointly by local authorities and private-sector money
Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Somaliland is about to pass a banking law that would allow the country to have proper banks for the first time. Dahabshiil, a money transfer company, has set up this new banking facility, which will open for business once it is granted a licence Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Street vendors in Hargeisa are a reminder of the hard existence for many Somalilanders. Youth unemployment is estimated to be as high as 75%, and at least 65-70% of the population of 3.5 million are younger than 30 Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Mini-vans are the main form of public transport, although recently yellow taxis have begun to appear in Hargeisa Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Goats munching on rubbish are a common sight in Hargeisa. Livestock is a mainstay of Somaliland's economy Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Sheep, donkey and bus on a main street in Hargeisa Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Typical street scene in Hargeisa. Note the colourful stonework favoured by Somalilanders Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

A truck sets off from Hargeisa to collect camel's milk Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Typical stonework in Hargeisa Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Workmen dig trenches in Hargeisa for a new fibre optic cable Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Vendors selling drinks at the Hargeisa book fair. The drinks come from Somaliland's new Coca-Cola bottling plant located an hour outside the capital, in the desert. Local produce is also on show, including watermelons, papayas and lemons Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

Somaliland is highly security conscious. Even though this was a book fair, armed guards were out in force. Here they are talking to the fair's founder, Jama Musse Jama Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

A view of the port at Berbera. Somaliland has a big rubbish problem, which the authorities are struggling to deal with Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian

A statue at Berbera, the port from where cattle, camels and oxen are shipped out in their thousands every day to Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Gulf Photograph: Mark Tran/Guardian