18th May celebrations held in major cities in Somaliland and around the world

Thousands of enthusiastic Somalilanders have celebrated today the Somaliland National Independence Day, 18^th May, in the capital of Hargeisa, major cities of the country and all around the world.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Muse Bihi Abdi, has participated in the Hargeisa, the commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the rebirth of the Republic of Somaliland in 1991.

The event took place in a newly build podium along the main Road-One Street.

The ceremony was also attended the by Speaker of the House of Elders (Guurti), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, members of the cabinet, members of parliament, the three political parties, the UCID, Kulmiye and WADDANI, three former Vice Presidents of the Republic of Somaliland, various national military commanders, politicians, scholars, and other dignitaries.

Foreign participants included lawmakers from Kenya and Uganda. Also in attendance were Ministers of the Somali Regional Administration of Ethiopia, a delegation from Djibouti, UK, Denmark, the European Union, and the United Nations (UN).

Hundreds of different types of civil society organizations and government agencies marched in groups, waving the flag of the Republic of Somaliland, presenting joy and a variety of skills attracted to the leaders and officials in the stand.

Students from various schools and universities across the country have also taken part in the ceremony.

Hundreds of newly recruited National Service Youth have also demonstrated their military experience.

Several units of the Armed Forces, Police, Military, Coast Guard, Immigration and Fire Brigade sections have also marched in. Exhibitions of new vehicles and modern military weapons were showcased which the citizens enjoyed and felt the power of the country and the importance of independence.

The President of the Republic of Somaliland, H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi, addressed the audiences about wide-ranging issues and summarizing the achievements of his government, expressing the government’s readiness to hold this year’s planned elections of the House of Representatives and the local councils.

President Muse Bihi Abdi also outlined how the government is committed to developing national strategies and policies that would support the transformation of the country forward.