Somalia has been celebrating its national day in grand style, with citizens at home and abroad expressing pride in the country and restating their commitment to patriotism.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud led the official ceremony in Mogadishu.

President Mohamud congratulated the Somali people on the 66th independence anniversary, which he described as a “great occasion of nationalism”.

He also stressed the importance of protecting the country’s national unity and territorial integrity to ‘’ensure a safe, developed Somalia’’.

The Somali National Armed Forces took part in the celebrations, vowing their commitment to the defence of the country with professionalism to ensure peace, security, and national development.

The national day on 1 July, known as Independence and Unification Day, commemorates the establishment of the Somali Republic in 1960.

Messages of congratulations

That year, Somalia’s southern region officially gained independence from the Italian colonialists on 1 July, while the north gained independence from the British colonialists on 26 June.

The two regions then mutually agreed to unite as one country on 1 July, following their collective struggle.

There has been an outpouring of messages of congratulations from the international community to the Horn of Africa country, which is now fast recovering from years of insecurity and natural disasters.

Türkiye has been at the forefront of rebuilding Somalia across several sectors, including security, education and the economy.

In its message, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Somalia as a ‘’friendly and brotherly’’ country.

The ministry said Ankara would continue to work with Mogadishu ‘’for the stability, prosperity and economic development of Somalia’’ and to further deepen their bilateral cooperation.

Sovereignty and territorial integrity

The US has also congratulated Somalia on its independence anniversary, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying Washington stands with the country in its ‘’efforts to build a more prosperous future’’.

He also stressed US’s commitment to working with Somalia ‘’to advance peace’’.

The international solidarity for Somalia on this occasion is significant, coming at a time when Mogadishu is working to ensure respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

This follows Israel’s unilateral recognition of Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state.

Tel Aviv’s decision announced in December last year sparked international condemnation, as no other country in the world has recognised the breakaway region.