8 Obscure Countries or Autonomous Republics on my bucket list

Posted April 29 2019

               

The next in the series of Obscure Countries, Autonomous Republics and UN-Recognised States. The ones that I hope to get to one day! Again I posted the screen shots to prove I ain't making this shit up. These places really do exist. Just cos the UN doesn't recognise them. Some require no extra effort to get there: Adjara or Karaklapaksan. Others like Abkhazia and South Ossetia require permits. The first two in this list are still at war.

1. Donetsk People's Republic

May 12 2014, the day after the referendum, the People's Soviet of the Donetsk People's Republic proclaimed Donetsk to be a sovereign state. Partially recognised South Ossetia and Luhansk People's Republic, it receives military and humanitarian help from Russia (sounds pretty ominous).

2. Lugansk People's Republic

Claimed to be independent on May 12 2014 as Donetsk People's Republic.

3. Republic of Somaliland

Became a de facto republic on 18 May 1991 and considered by almost everyone to be just another region of Somalia.

4. Republic of South Ossetia

Similar to Abkhazia, very pro Russian. As of 2019, you need a double entry Russian visa and to have registered with the MFA.

5. Republic of Kosovo

Declared independent from Serbia on February 17, 2008 and remains only partially recognised. 102 of the UN Member States.

​I have since visited Kosovo in 2020.

6. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Declared independent, November 15, 1983, recognised only by Turkey

7. British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar

A proudly British enclave in southern Spain!

8. Chinese special administrative region - Macau​

A bit like Hong Kong but more pro Chinese.

This year I will be going to Transnistria. I hope I can go to Gibraltar and Northern Cyprus later on. Macau, Somaliland and the Lugansk/Donetsk People's Republics are gonna have to wait for a bit.

Related Posts: 13 Obscure Countries That I have Visited