The only chance Somaliland had at being a UN member state was back in the 90s and early 2000s when there was literally no government at Mogadishu. They should have lobbied hard for recognition because Somalia pretty much stopped existing during that period yet they didn't and instead sat around twiddling their thumbs while Somalia was slowly recovering and started rebuilding diplomatic ties with the rest of the world. They blew their biggest opportunity and now Bixi is getting desperate since the Las Anod conflict went horribly for him. Yet he still doesn't understand that gaajo irrelevant Ethiopia potentially recognizing Somaliland doesn't mean they will be a UN member nation since the U.S., France, U.K, China and Russia have to do the same.
Somaliland tried but was told wait until Mogadishu is back on it's feet.
Now Mogadishu is back, in a way, with heavy dose of international funding and clout it seeks to assert itself over it's old territories through destablization - finanicial, miliatary and political. The same social chaos that destroyed the government is reflected in the political machinations of it's elite.
The people that came out of the long civil war it seems did not retain much sense or pragtism. Not enough to accept that Somalia cannot hope attain the aspiration that once had of regional dominance or that it must deal sensibly with it's monumental challenge of internal security instead prancing around on international stages it doesn't belong on .
Somaliland is still taking things slowly. Ethiopia didn't come alone. Ethiopia has development partners and military partners who have approved the deal. The security arrangements and economic arragnements alone will take Somaliland firmly out of Mogadishu's sphere of destablization and into a more productive, sensible business minded space.
I don't think Somaliland is aiming for a UN seat.