MogADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia
Somalia marked its 66th Independence Day on Wednesday with military parades, heightened security and celebrations across the country, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined hundreds of residents in Mogadishu while opposition leaders used the occasion to raise concerns about the country’s political direction.
Anniversary Celebrations
The anniversary commemorates July 1, 1960, when southern Somalia gained independence from Italy and united with the northern territory, now known as Somaliland, which had gained independence from Britain days earlier, creating the Somali Republic.
In the capital, President Mohamud joined crowds celebrating the anniversary overnight at Taleh Junction along Makka Al Mukarama Road. The gathering formed part of nationwide commemorations marking one of the most significant dates in Somalia’s history.
