Somaliland Celebrates 35th Independence Anniversary in Hargeisa

HARGEISA: President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro joined thousands of citizens in Hargeisa on Sunday to mark the 35th anniversary of Somaliland’s self-declared independence from Somalia, using the occasion to call for international recognition and to describe Somaliland as a “neighbouring country” to Somalia. The ceremony, held in the city’s central square, was attended by senior Somaliland officials, including the vice president, parliamentary leaders, judiciary members, former presidents, ministers, diplomats, foreign guests, religious leaders and women’s groups.

Somaliland’s armed forces conducted military parades, ceremonial drills and tactical demonstrations, with crowds gathering across the city to watch displays of military vehicles and weaponry. In his keynote address, President Irro congratulated Somaliland citizens and described the anniversary as historically significant, noting that it was the first time the celebration had received international recognition. “I tell the Somali people that we are another country that has emerged for the Somali nation. Recognising Somaliland as an independent nation will greatly contribute to economic development and stability in neighbouring Somalia,” President Irro said. He urged the international community to avoid merging political systems and governments he described as incompatible, while encouraging support for Somaliland’s recognition efforts.

The celebrations came nearly six months after Israel became the first United Nations member state to formally recognise Somaliland in December 2025, a move that drew sharp condemnation from the Federal Government of Somalia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the recognition, describing Somaliland as a “strategic partner”. The announcement prompted Somalia’s Cabinet to hold an emergency session, calling the recognition “a dangerous precedent” and reaffirming its commitment to the country’s territorial integrity. The Federal Government of Somalia continues to reject Somaliland’s independence claims and insists on maintaining Somalia’s territorial unity.

President Irro’s remarks represent a more assertive diplomatic message aimed at both Somalia and the wider international community. By describing Somaliland and Somalia as “two neighbouring countries,” the leadership is normalising the idea of Somaliland’s independence in regional discourse. The military displays during the celebrations also served as a political message, highlighting Somaliland’s stability, security capabilities and institutional control amid broader instability in parts of Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Since declaring independence in 1991 following the collapse of Somalia’s central government, Somaliland has maintained its own government, currency, security institutions and electoral system for more than three decades, but most countries and international organisations still recognise it as part of Somalia.

The anniversary comes amid increasing diplomatic activity involving Somaliland. The United Arab Emirates has welcomed Somaliland’s president with elevated protocol, and Somaliland’s leadership has held high-level meetings with Gulf partners on trade, investment and security cooperation. The territory has also established a representative office in Taiwan, and the Israeli recognition has opened new diplomatic channels. However, the African Union continues to oppose any redrawing of colonial-era borders, and the Federal Government of Somalia has consistently rejected any attempts at international recognition, arguing that such actions violate Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The celebrations in Hargeisa demonstrate Somaliland’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its identity as a separate political entity and reinforce its campaign for international recognition, a question that remains one of the region’s most complex diplomatic challenges.