From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In
international law
a political entity needs to fulfill different criteria to become an
independent
state
: One of these criteria is that other states must recognize it as a state. If more states recognize it, becoming a
de jure
sovereign state
will be easier.
Many of the territories listed below broke off (
separated
themselves) from their original parent
state
, and so they are often referred to as "break-away" states, that are
de facto
independent and are not recognized by other states or are only recognized by few states. They may have some military protection and informal diplomatic representation abroad. Another state may help them avoid forced reincorporation into its original state.
UN member states not recognized by at least 1 UN member state
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- The
People's Republic of China
is the more widely recognized of the two claimant governments of China, the other being the Republic of China (ROC, also known as Taiwan). The United Nations recognized the ROC as the sole representative of China until 1971 when it decided to give this recognition to the PRC instead (see
United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 2758). The PRC and the ROC do not recognize each other's statehood, and each enforces its own version of the One-China policy so that no state can recognize both of them at the same time. The states that recognize the ROC (14 UN members and the Holy See as of 20 September 2019) regard it as the sole legitimate government of China and therefore do not recognize the PRC. Bhutan is the only UN member state that has never explicitly recognized either the PRC or the ROC. The Republic of China considers itself to be the sole legitimate government of China (including Taiwan), and therefore claims exclusive sovereignty over all territory controlled by the PRC.
- The
Republic of Korea
is not recognized by one UN member,
North Korea
. North Korea considers itself to be the sole legitimate government of Korea and claims all territory controlled by South Korea
UN observer states not recognized by at least one UN member
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- The
State of Palestine
is a de jure sovereign state in
Western Asia
officially governed by the
Palestine Liberation Organization
and claiming the
West Bank
and
Gaza Strip
with
Jerusalem
as the designated capital; in practice, however, only partial administrative control is held over the 167 "islands" in the West Bank, and Gaza is ruled by a rival government (
Hamas
). Israel regards the area claimed by Palestine as 'disputed' territory (that is, territory not legally belonging to any state). Israel gained control of the
Palestinian territories
as a result of the
Six-Day War
in 1967 but has never formally annexed them. The State of Palestine (commonly known as Palestine) was
declared
in 1988 by the
Palestine Liberation Organization
, which is recognized by a majority of UN member states and the UN itself as the sole representative of the Palestinian people. Since the end of the
first Palestinian Intifada against Israel
, the Israeli government has gradually moved its armed forces and settlers out of certain parts of Palestine's claimed territory, while still maintaining varying degrees of control over most of it. The
Palestinian National Authority
, which performs limited internal government functions over parts of Palestine, was established in 1994. In 2007, the
split between the Fatah and Hamas political parties
resulted in competing governments with Fatah exercising authority exclusively over the West Bank and enjoying majority recognition from UN member states, and a separate Hamas leadership
exercising authority
exclusively over the Gaza area (except for a short period from 2014 to 2016). Palestine is currently
officially recognized as a state by 138 UN
member states, the
Holy See
, and the
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
. The remaining UN member states, including Israel, do not recognize the State of Palestine. The
United Nations
designates the claimed Palestinian territories as 'occupied' by Israel and accorded Palestine
non-member observer state
status in 2012. Palestine also has membership in the
Arab League
, the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
, and
UNESCO
.
Partially recognized states with
de facto
control over their territory
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- Abkhazia
in
Georgia
is a self-declared and mostly functioning independent state. It is recognized by the
Russian Federation
,
Nicaragua
and
Venezuela
. The country is between the
Caucasus
and the
Black Sea
. It is recognized by the Georgian government as a part of northwestern
Georgia
. During the
Soviet period
, Abkhazia became a part of Georgia in 1931. It was an autonomous republic within Soviet Georgia. The Abkhazian Soviets said it was
independent
from Georgia in 1992. A short war was fought from 1992 through 1994. In June 1994, a ceasefire ended the fighting and left Abkhazia outside the control of Georgia's central government.
United Nations
member states that are not recognized by all the other UN members are not listed here. (For example,
39 countries
do not recognize
Israel
.)
More unrecognized states with de facto control over their territory
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- Somaliland
(since 1991) is located in north west of
Somalia
. In May of 1991, north western clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes five of the eighteen administrative regions of Somalia, corresponding to the
British Somali Coast Protectorate
which is located between
Ethiopia
,
Djibouti
,
Puntland
and the
Gulf of Aden
. Three regions of north Somalia claimed by Somaliland, Sool, Sanaag and Cayn are disputed with neighbouring
Puntland
in the north east.
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- Transnistria
(
Pridnestrovie
),
also spelled Transdniestria, is the part of
Moldova
east of the river
Dniester
and (since 1990) a self-declared and more or less functioning independent state with no international recognition from any
sovereign state
. It has a majority
Slavic
population, as opposed to majority
Moldovan
which Moldova has. Also known as the Dniester Republic, it has its own police, army, and currency and functions outside of the jurisdiction of
Moldova
, however, there is no sign of it becoming an internationally recognized country.
Partially recognized states largely under military occupation
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Internationally administered territory with de facto recognition
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Historic unrecognized or partially recognized states with de facto control over their territory
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- Anjouan
(1997-2002). Now part of
Comoros
.
- Biafra
controlled territory in eastern
Nigeria
between the time of its secession in May 1967 until its final military collapse in January
1970
. It was recognized by 12 nations.
- Katanga
controlled the state of the same name within the former
Belgian Congo
after
decolonisation
, between 1960 and 1964.
- Moheli
(1997-1998). Now part of
Comoros
.
- Rhodesia
. British Colony that unilaterally declared independence in 1965. This action was not legally recognized by any other nation, nor the declaration of Rhodesia as a republic in 1970. This entity remained until 1979, when it became
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
.
- Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
. Formed in 1979 after negotiations between white minority government and moderate black leaders. Existed 1 June to 12 December 1979, when it became the colony of South Rhodesia again. In 1980 it became the Republic of
Zimbabwe
.
Created by the
Republic of South Africa
from its own territory
- Bophuthatswana
(1977-1994). Former
Thuisland
formed and only recognized by
South Africa
, Transkei, Ciskei, and Venda. Now part of
South Africa
.
- Ciskei
(1981-1994). Former
Thuisland
formed and only recognized by
South Africa
, Bophuthatswana, Transkei, and Venda. Now part of
South Africa
.
- Transkei
(1976-1994). Former
Thuisland
formed and only recognized by
South Africa
, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, and Venda. Now part of
South Africa
.
- Venda
(1979-1994). Former
Thuisland
formed and only recognized by
South Africa
, Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, and Transkei. Now part of
South Africa
.
- Independent State of Acre
(1899-1903). Now part of
Brazil
.
- California Republic
(1846-1848). Now part of the
United States of America
.
- Confederate States of America
(1861-1865). Originally formed on February 4, 1861 by seven Southern slave states (
South Carolina
,
Mississippi
,
Florida
,
Alabama
,
Georgia
,
Texas
, and
Louisiana
) after confirmation of the election of
Abraham Lincoln
as
President of the United States
.
Jefferson Davis
was selected as its first President the next day. After the
American Civil War
began, the states of
Virginia
,
Tennessee
,
Arkansas
, and
North Carolina
joined. Recognized diplomatically only by
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
, though recognized by some nations as a "belligerent power". Now part of the
United States of America
.
- Republic of Hawaii
(1894-1898). Now part of the
United States of America
.
- Republic of Texas
(1836-1845). Five nations recognized this entity. Now part of the
United States of America
.
- Vermont Republic
(1771-1791). Now part of the
United States of America
.
- Piratini Republic
(1836-1845). Today's
Rio Grande do Sul
, part of
Brazil
.
- Republic of the Rio Grande
1840. Now part of the United States.
- Republic of the Yucatan
1841-1843. Short-lived separatist state; reintegrated into
Mexico
.
- Republic of Canada
(1837-1838). Now part of Canada.
Historic unrecognized or partially recognized governments with de facto control over their territory
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These
regimes
had control over the territory of a country for which most other states recognized a different government as being the legitimate government: