Tuesday, July 1, 2025 | HAN | Mogadishu
Somalia commemorated its National Day on July 1st with grand and well-organized ceremonies held in major cities across the country and in Somali communities around the world. The day, which marks the unification of northern and southern Somalia in 1960 and the country’s independence from colonial rule, was celebrated with great national pride and unity.
Thousands of people gathered at a central square along Maka Al-Mukarama road in the capital, Mogadishu, where government officials, military leaders, artists, and citizens from all walks of life came together in a show of patriotism and national solidarity. The celebrations were described as unprecedented in scale and enthusiasm.
Senior leaders of the federal government, the Banadir regional administration, foreign diplomats from Somalia’s partner nations, and prominent opposition figures attended official ceremonies held at Villa Somalia (the presidential palace) and other key venues across the city. At exactly midnight, the Somali blue flag was ceremonially raised, symbolizing the country’s hard-won independence and enduring unity.
Similar high-profile events took place in regional capitals including Garowe, Kismayo, Dhusamareb, Beledweyne and Baidoa, where state leaders joined in the festivities. Crowds gathered in the streets waving the national flag and expressing their pride in Somalia’s historic day.
In Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda, hundreds of members of the Somali diaspora attended a vibrant celebration, despite reports that local security forces attempted to restrict gatherings in some areas.
July 1st commemorates the historic merger of British Somaliland in the north and Italian Somaliland in the south, forming the Somali Republic in 1960. Now, 65 years later, the day is being remembered amid ongoing political and security challenges, with hopes for renewed national unity and stronger state institutions.
