Before the collapse of Apartheid, the South African regime set up ethnic homelands for their black population. They called them bantustans (land of the bantus). Each Bantustan was "independent" and treated like a separate nation, recognized only by the white regime in Pertoria. These "bantustans" were never recognized by any other nation on earth and depended heavily on South Africa for assistance: financial and military.
Today, Somalia is carved up into mini bantustans each jostling for power and influence. The two principle Bantustans: Somaliland and Puntland are both recognized by only 1 nation on Earth: Ethiopia. Both are dependent on Ethiopia for military protection (or simple promises of no aggression) and economic trade. When the leaders of these two bantustans (who refer to themselves as "Presidents") arrive in Addis Ababa, they are lulled into believing that they are leaders of "independent" nations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantustan
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761 ... stans.html