Thursday June 26, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on
Wednesday night led the 65th Independence Week celebrations in Mogadishu,
honoring the country’s historic journey to freedom and calling for renewed
unity and national reconciliation.
The ceremony brought together senior government officials,
dignitaries, and hundreds of citizens to commemorate Somalia’s independence and
reflect on its future.
In his keynote address, President Mohamud congratulated the
Somali people on the anniversary and paid tribute to the heroes—particularly
from the northern regions—who led the struggle for liberation.
“Their courage helped forge the understanding that true
freedom means uniting the Somali people,” he said.
The president acknowledged the “political wounds” that have
shaped Somalia’s modern history, citing dictatorship, power abuse, and
mismanagement as causes of national division. He emphasized the urgent need for
sincere dialogue to rebuild trust and move the nation forward.
“True freedom will only be realized when the hearts and
aspirations of the Somali people are reunited,” President Mohamud said. “Unity
cannot be imposed—it must be cultivated through genuine brotherhood and
conversation.”
He also expressed appreciation to international partners for
their continued support in preserving Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial
integrity, and the unity of its people.
The president concluded his remarks by urging greater
collective efforts to achieve lasting peace, stability, and consensus across
the country.
June 26, 1960, marks the independence of British Somaliland
from colonial rule. Just days later, on July 1, 1960, it united with the Trust
Territory of Somalia—formerly Italian Somaliland—to form the Somali Republic.
This unification marked a pivotal step toward the vision of Greater Somalia, a
sovereign state for all Somali-inhabited territories.