Audio By Vocalize
Chairman of the Waddani Party Xirsi Hersi Ali Hassan, Chairman of the KAAH Party Mohamoud Hashi Abdi, and Chairman of the House of Representatives of Somaliland Yasin Haji Mohamoud Hiir “Faratoon”, attend the 35th Independence Day celebrations near the presidential palace in Hargeisa's Shap neighbourhood on May 18, 2026. [AFP]
Somaliland today celebrated its first Independence Day since being recognised as a country by Israel.
Although not everyone in the breakaway region of Somalia has welcomed the new ally, thousands gathered in the capital Hargeisa for a military parade, traditional dances, and political speeches, with added excitement this year following Israel's move in December to recognise Somaliland's independence, the first country to do so since it declared its separation from Somalia in 1991.
Yet the hope that others might quickly follow suit, including the United States, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia, has not come true.
