HARGEISA – The President of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (Irro), joined citizens in a grand celebration marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Somaliland’s independence. This year’s event holds special significance as it is the first time the internationally recognized Republic of Somaliland commemorates its liberation with formal global recognition.
The ceremony took place at the main celebration square in the heart of Hargeisa, the capital. President Cirro was joined by the Vice President, the Speakers of both houses of Parliament, the Chief Justice, several former presidents and vice presidents, members of parliament, ministers, diplomats, and international guests from various countries. The event was also attended by women, intellectuals, and other dignitaries.
A major highlight of the day was a professional military parade by the national armed forces, featuring a display of armored vehicles, tactical parades, and a flyover. The troops showcased modern weaponry and equipment, drawing cheers from crowds that lined the streets of the capital.
Speaking briefly at the ceremony, the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Somaliland, His Excellency Abdalle Mohamed Arab, expressed profound gratitude to the people of Somaliland and its armed forces for their continued dedication.
In his keynote address, President Irro congratulated the nation on this historic occasion—the first anniversary celebrated while Somaliland holds formal international recognition. He issued a warning to countries around the world against forcing incompatible political systems or governments onto nations, advising them instead to follow the pathway already opened by recognizing the Republic of Somaliland.
The 35th anniversary of Somaliland’s independence restoration is a landmark moment, celebrated as a sovereign nation now formally acknowledged among the community of nations.
HARGEISA – Peaceful celebrations swept across the Republic of Somaliland on Sunday as citizens marked the 35th anniversary of Somaliland’s National Day, a date of profound significance for the nation. The annual observance on 18 May commemorates the region’s declaration of independence from Somalia in 1991.
Across cities, towns, and rural districts, residents gathered for commemorative events that reflected a strong sense of national pride. While festive, the atmosphere was also one of heightened vigilance, as authorities rolled out extensive security measures to ensure public safety throughout the country.
In a coordinated effort, national police forces, other security agencies, and local communities worked closely together to maintain stability. Security personnel were deployed extensively in key public areas and along major thoroughfares in population centers.
As part of the broader safety strategy, Somaliland’s military forces reinforced border security. Additionally, vehicle movement in several areas was temporarily suspended or restricted while security operations remained active.
Despite these precautions, officials confirmed that celebrations continued without disruption across all regions and districts. The peaceful nature of the events, they noted, underscores the deep and unifying national spirit that surrounds the annual 18 May observance.
“Our people are celebrating responsibly, and the cooperation between citizens and security forces has been exemplary,” a senior security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The goal is to ensure that this historic day remains both joyous and safe for everyone.”
No major incidents have been reported as of Sunday evening. The celebrations are expected to continue through the night, with cultural performances, public gatherings, and official ceremonies paying tribute to Somaliland’s self-declared statehood.
At its 35th anniversary of independence (1991–2026), Somaliland marks a transition from survival to strategic assertion. The phrase “Celebrate with confidence at 35” reflects not only endurance, but accumulated achievement. Over three decades, Somaliland has maintained relative peace in a volatile region, built functioning democratic institutions, and sustained governance without formal international recognition or consistent access to global finance. These accomplishments have fostered a strong internal confidence rooted in self-reliance.
Equally significant is the assertion that Somaliland has “arrived on the global stage.” For much of its existence, it operated in geopolitical limbo—independent in practice but unrecognized in law. Today, its growing visibility signals a shift. Its strategic position along the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea places it at the heart of critical maritime routes, drawing the attention of global powers concerned with trade and security. Major investments, such as the development of the Port of Berbera by DP World, and high-level agreements like the Memorandum of Understanding with Ethiopia, illustrate a move from isolation toward direct engagement. These developments have forced international actors to interact with Somaliland as a practical reality.
This evolution represents a deeper transformation in political identity—from “asking for recognition” to “asserting presence.” For decades, Somaliland pursued formal legitimacy through appeals to international institutions, emphasizing its democratic record and historical claims. Yet this approach met resistance, as global powers prioritized Somalia’s territorial integrity. The result was prolonged diplomatic stagnation despite internal stability.
The current paradigm replaces appeal with leverage. Somaliland no longer waits for validation; instead, it uses its assets—geography, trade routes, and stability—to compel engagement. Its coastline along a vital maritime corridor has become a strategic asset. Rather than relying on aid, Somaliland has pursued economic partnerships, positioning itself as a logistics hub through the Berbera port project. The agreement with Ethiopia exemplifies this shift: by offering access to the sea in exchange for steps toward recognition, Somaliland has engaged a major regional actor based on mutual interest, bypassing traditional diplomatic frameworks.
At its core, this is a psychological shift. The earlier mindset framed Somaliland as a qualified but excluded participant seeking entry into the international system. The emerging mindset asserts that Somaliland is already an indispensable player whose relevance demands acknowledgment. Sovereignty, in this view, is not granted externally but demonstrated through action—through trade, partnerships, and regional influence.
This changing posture is further underscored by a major geopolitical breakthrough: Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland on December 26, 2025. As the first UN member state to take this step in over three decades, Israel broke a longstanding diplomatic barrier. The recognition validates Somaliland’s long-standing claim to statehood and signals a new phase in its international trajectory.
The move also carries historical resonance. When Somaliland briefly gained independence in 1960, Israel was among the countries that recognized it. This renewed recognition reconnects that earlier moment of sovereignty with the present. More broadly, it affirms that sustained internal stability and governance, even without formal support, can eventually force shifts in international policy.
Beyond symbolism, recognition introduces tangible geopolitical advantages. It sets a precedent that may encourage other states—such as the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, or sectors within the United States—to formalize their engagements. Somaliland’s strategic coastline enhances its value as a security and trade partner, particularly in a region affected by maritime threats. Closer ties with Israel may translate into enhanced security cooperation, economic partnerships, and access to technology and investment, helping Somaliland overcome the structural disadvantages of being unrecognized.
However, this progress also introduces new complexities. Israel’s recognition has triggered strong reactions, particularly from Somalia, which views it as a violation of sovereignty. Other international actors, including some major powers and regional organizations, have expressed opposition, reflecting ongoing divisions over Somaliland’s status.
Domestically, the development has also generated mixed responses. While many Somalilanders celebrated the recognition as a historic achievement, others—particularly within a conservative, Muslim society—have expressed concern over ties with Israel, given broader regional sensitivities. The government must therefore balance international engagement with internal cohesion.
In sum, Somaliland’s 35th anniversary marks more than longevity; it marks transformation. The shift from seeking recognition to asserting presence reflects a broader redefinition of sovereignty itself—from a legal status conferred by others to a practical reality demonstrated through governance, stability, and strategic engagement.
Israel’s recognition has accelerated this transition, broken diplomatic inertia and opened new pathways for engagement. While challenges remain—both externally and internally—the trajectory is clear: Somaliland is no longer positioned as a passive claimant awaiting validation. It has emerged as a strategic actor shaping its own place in regional and global affairs.
The central message is one of confidence grounded in achievement. After 35 years, Somaliland is not merely asking to be seen—it is positioning itself as impossible to ignore.
About the Author Mohamed Osman, a retired physician and public health specialist from Somaliland, is a Canadian citizen who has worked with Ottawa Public Health and Alberta Health Services. He is also recognized for supporting Somaliland’s recognition.
There are certain anniversaries that, over time, become personal and cease to belong to history alone. They settle into the emotional memory of a people, carried in households, conversations, songs, and passed from one generation to the next. For Somalilanders, May 18 is one of those days.
To understand the emotional significance of May 18, one must first understand the history that preceded it.
On June 26, 1960, the former British Somaliland Protectorate attained independence as the State of Somaliland. Days later, driven by the optimism of the era and the wider dream of Somali unity, Somaliland voluntarily entered into union with the Trust Territory of Somalia in pursuit of a greater Somali republic.
At the time, it was a sincere political vision. Across Africa, newly independent nations were emerging from colonial rule with enormous hope and ambition, imagining futures shaped by unity, self-determination, and shared identity. Somalilanders, too, believed they enormous hope and ambition, imagining futures shaped by unity, self-determination, and shared identity. Somalilanders, too, believed they were contributing to something larger than themselves.
But history unfolded differently.
The years that followed gradually gave way to political marginalisation, authoritarianism, violence, and ultimately the collapse of the Somali state itself. For Somaliland, particularly during the final years of the military regime, the consequences were devastating. Entire communities were displaced. Cities were heavily damaged. Families were fractured by war and loss. Much of the physical and institutional foundation of society was left in ruins.
And yet, even in the aftermath of such destruction, Somaliland’s story did not end there. This part of its history deeply moves me because Somaliland was not rebuilt under easy circumstances. It was rebuilt by people who had every reason to surrender to exhaustion and despair, yet chose not to. There was no certainty then that peace would endure. No certainty that the institutions being formed would survive. No certainty that the sacrifices being made would amount to anything lasting.
And still, they built.
They built through dialogue. Through reconciliation. Through communities willing to sit together after years of conflict and slowly attempt the difficult work of trusting one another again. Elders and ordinary citizens alike became part of a national conversation about coexistence, governance and survival.
What Somaliland achieved through locally led reconciliation remains one of the most important yet often overlooked chapters in modern African state-building.
Because rebuilding after conflict is not simply an infrastructural exercise, it is psychological. It requires people to trust again. To coexist again. To sit across from one another again after years in which fear and violence had shaped everyday life.
Over the course of my first year serving as Ambassador of the Republic of Somaliland to Kenya, I have found myself reflecting on this history much more deeply than ever before. Representing Somaliland has reminded me that behind every national story are ordinary people whose resilience carried history forward. And perhaps nowhere is that resilience more visible than within Somaliland’s diaspora communities, with whom I have the honour of interacting.
Thirty-five years later, this past year has, in many ways, felt like a moment in which the outside world has begun paying closer attention to a reality Somalilanders have long known and sustained for themselves.
Conversations surrounding Somaliland have gradually shifted toward discussions of partnership, stability, trade, regional security, and its growing role within the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor.
That shift became particularly noticeable following the State of Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland in December 2025, a development that marked an important diplomatic moment in Somaliland’s modern history. Yet even then, it did not feel like the beginning of Somaliland’s story. If anything, it felt like a long-overdue acknowledgement of a reality that Somalilanders themselves had never abandoned.
Thirty five years later, Somaliland’s story remains, above all else, a human one. A story carried by memory, sacrifice and reconciliation. It is to that generation that I pay tribute today.
By Dr. Mohamed Abillahi Omar, Ambassador of the Republic of Somaliland to the Republic of Kenya
Somaliland’s first ambassador in a foreign country will present his diplomatic credentials to President Isaac Herzog tomorrow, according to the President’s Residence.
Mohamed Hagi, appointed in February, has been serving as adviser to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, and was an architect of Israel-Somaliland relations.
In December, Israel became the only country in the world to recognize Somaliland’s independence — something the territory has been seeking since declaring its autonomy from Somalia in 1991.
Israeli diplomat Michael Lotem in Kenya, July 2025. Photo: Screenshot
The relationship between Israel and Somaliland has rapidly evolved into a strategic partnership spanning security, energy, infrastructure, and economic cooperation, according to the Jewish state’s first ambassador to the self-declared republic, who noted the strengthening of ties was part of a broader outreach effort by Jerusalem across Africa.
“They are looking to deepen cooperation in nearly every field — from energy and infrastructure to technology, education, and communications — and their desire to work with Israel is stronger than ever,” Michael Lotem said of Somaliland in an interview with Israeli news outlet N12 published on Friday.
“Security discussions are naturally part of the relationship, but our political dialogue extends far beyond that into many different areas,” he added.
Somaliland, which has claimed independence for decades in East Africa but remains largely unrecognized, is situated on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the south and east. It has sought to break off from Somalia since 1991 and utilized its own passports, currency, military, and law enforcement.
Unlike most states in its region, Somaliland has relative security, regular elections, and a degree of political stability.
Lotem, who was serving as a non-resident economic ambassador to Africa at the time of his appointment, will now shift to work as a non-resident ambassador to Somaliland. He previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, and Seychelles, a position he concluded in August.
In his interview, Lotem described the growing bilateral relationship as part of Israel’s broader diplomatic and strategic push across Africa, saying the partnership also sends a wider message of legitimacy and engagement to Muslim-majority countries throughout the region.
“Over the past several years, Israel has invested significant diplomatic effort in strengthening its presence across Africa, an initiative that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has strongly prioritized, and the results are already becoming visible very quickly,” the diplomat said.
He also pointed to what he described as major untapped potential for economic cooperation, particularly regarding Somaliland’s vast natural resources and minerals sector — including oil, gas, coal, iron, and gold.
“They are extremely interested in partnering with Israel across the entire minerals industry supply chain,” Lotem said, adding that there are also strong prospects for cooperation in energy, medicine, agriculture, education, water management, and communications.
“We hope more countries will come to recognize the strategic value and importance of this relationship,” he continued.
Although no other UN-recognized country has formally recognized Somaliland (Taiwan did so in 2020), several — including the United Kingdom, Ethiopia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, and Kenya — have maintained liaison offices, allowing them to engage diplomatically and conduct trade and consular activities without full formal recognition.
According to experts, the growing Israel-Somaliland partnership could be a “game changer” for the Jewish state, boosting the country’s ability to counter the Iran-backed, Yemen-based Houthi terrorist group while offering strategic and geographic advantages amid shifting regional power dynamics.
“Somaliland’s significance lies in its geostrategic location and in its willingness — as a stable, moderate, and reliable state in a volatile region — to work closely with Western countries,” argued a report by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), a prominent Israeli think tank.
“Somaliland’s territory could serve as a forward base for multiple missions: intelligence monitoring of the Houthis and their armament efforts; logistical support for Yemen’s legitimate government in its war against them; and a platform for direct operations against the Houthis,” it continued.
Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi has previously said that the republic would join the Abraham Accords, calling it a step toward regional and global peace and affirming his government’s commitment to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity, and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa.
Hargeisa – Daami Youth Development Organization officially opened a two-day Digital Security & Resilience Training for 50 participants from different CSOs on 5-6 May 2026, in Burao at D-Dahab Hotel targeting civil society networks and aimed at strengthening the safety, resilience, and operational capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs), human rights defenders (HRDs), journalists, community-based organizations, and vulnerable minority groups.
The training is being implemented under the Hivos Project and is facilitated by a Digital Security Specialist, providing participants with practical and context-sensitive knowledge to address the growing digital risks faced by civil society actors. As organizations increasingly depend on digital tools for advocacy, documentation, and service delivery, the training focuses on threats such as surveillance, phishing, account hijacking, data breaches, online harassment, and doxxing—risks that disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Capacity Building and Digital Resilience Training for minority and youth rights defenders equips activists with the skills to navigate online threats, counter disinformation, and safely document human rights violations. Core modules typically cover threat modeling, secure communications, digital rights advocacy, and psychological well-being.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Mahmoud Abdi , the Director of Daami Youth Development Organization underscored the urgency of building digital resilience among civil society networks, particularly those working with vulnerable minority and other marginalized led organizations. He noted that digital security is essential not only for organizational protection but also for safeguarding beneficiaries, sensitive data, and community trust.
Mr. Mohamud also addressed participants, emphasizing the critical role of youth-led and network-based organizations in mainstreaming digital security practices across their work. He encouraged participants to integrate digital safety measures into organizational policies and daily operations.
The executive director of the Daami Youth told participants, “As we live in the digital age, Cybersecurity is a plan that requires a set of practices, tools, infrastructure, and most importantly qualified human resources specifically trained for the purpose. In contemporary times, every government and private sector needs to invest in securing its vital data as a nation as well as the data and identity of each and every one of its citizens. This requires an internal technical capacity building at the government level, but also developing rules and regulations to govern the IT security.
The Republic of Somaliland is standing strong with Israel despite outcry from Somalia and Gaza. And Somaliland also has a warning for Americans about a Democrat activist in Minnesota who reportedly has jihadi ties.
There are many instances of Jihadis who have attacked their fellow Muslims when they perceive those Muslims to be not radical enough. Perhaps the most obvious example in recent years was on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas terrorists were, of course, primarily targeting Jews, but they also murdered and tortured Muslim Arabs who were Israeli citizens. And Muslim Israeli soldiers were casualties in combat against Hamas and its fellow terror groups in the war that followed. A similar hatred appears to be latent in the case of the Minnesota radical who is just as eager to see Jihad against the Muslim Republic of Somaliland as he is against Christian or Jewish nations.
The Republic of Somaliland’s account on X reshared an article from Horndiplomat highlighting how the envoy from Somaliland, Ambassador Bashir Goth, attended Israel’s independence celebration in Washington on May 15. Israel, like Taiwan, recently recognized Somaliland as independent from corrupt and undemocratic Somalia, launching a partnership between the only democratic nation in the Horn of Africa and the only Jewish nation in the world.
links to Al-Shabaab. The Trump White House confirmed at the end of last year that Minnesota Somali fraudsters funneled U.S. taxpayer money to Al-Shabaab, so it wouldn’t be surprising if a Democrat Minnesota activist turned out to have Al-Shabaab ties, too.
Editor’s Note: Every single day, here at PJ Media, we will stand up and FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT against the radical Left and deliver the conservative reporting our readers deserve.
ACCRA – The leader of Somaliland’s WADDANI Party, H.E. Mr. Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, has announced that the party held a significant meeting in Accra, the capital of Ghana, with the leadership of Ghana’s ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NDC leadership welcomed the delegation warmly at the party’s national headquarters.
In addition, WADDANI held a preliminary meeting with Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who is also a senior figure within the NDC.
During the discussions with the NDC leadership, both sides exchanged valuable insights and practical recommendations aimed at fostering inter-party relations and deep cooperation, which will now commence between the two parties.
“As WADDANI, this step represents a major achievement for us,” said Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan. “It follows our earlier engagements with ruling parties in Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. Our main objective is for WADDANI to benefit from the experience of political parties around the world and to elevate the reputation of the Republic of Somaliland.”
He concluded: “WADDANI triumphs, Somaliland triumphs!”
Each and every year on the 18th May, we the people of Somaliland remember, we will always remember the mothers and fathers who laid down their lives for peace and progress of this honourable nation. We always remember these fallen heroes and heroines because of their loyal contribution. Saeed Furaa
Today the history of our beloved country is written as a result of their hands, we remember them because our history is written by their toil and misery. We remember them because their hunger to give us equal opportunities is unmatched, we remember because they taught us to change the world with words and not with guns, we remember because we cannot afford to forget.
It is my greatest hope that this year’s anniversary (18th May 2026) could be different in that we can remember our duties to continue writing and teaching our history to the young and the frail, so they can take pride in their historical identity as the people of courage and wisdom, because those who fell taught them better.
Anniversaries are not supposed to be fashion shows or just happy moments, but a chance to reflect about whom we are and who we want to be.
When the 18th May 2026 arrives (insha allah), I hope we could all of us remember where we come and where we want to go as the people of Somaliland. When we celebrate we must ask ourselves: “how will history remember us?” will it remember us as fashionable people who gathers to entertain large audience by dancing or just singing with no modest, or as people of duty to a country? Will people in centuries to come speak about our names or they will never know we existed?
As the co-founder of Somaliland Community in Southern Africa, I will commemorate and remember the befallen this year because it is the right thing to do. I believe that when this year’s anniversary comes we all must ask ourselves what we can do for Somaliland. Personally I think we can do more as the people of the Diaspora. I think we can make significant changes to the lives of the many and millions by constantly talking and urging other nations to take cognizance of our strides as the Somaliland people in as far as peace stability is concerned and economic attempts in reconstruction.
The theme on the forth coming 18th May, should be CHANGE, I am ardent believer in socio-political and economical change in Somaliland and civic duty and I believe we have the resources to foster change from where we are. We can do more together.
I believe Somaliland is fortunate to have us in the Diaspora in order to strengthen foreign relations and support, but to do that we must have common vision.
Long Live Somaliland
Saeed Furaa
South Africa
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“Horn of African Social Entrepreneurs in South Africa (HASEFSA) are passionate about youth development through practical business and entrepreneurial skills”
