Somaliland marked its independence day on Monday with renewed appeals for international recognition, five months after Israel became the first nation to formally recognise the breakaway region.
Thousands of residents gathered in the capital, Hargeisa, where military parades and public celebrations were held to commemorate the occasion.
President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi used the event to reiterate Somaliland’s claim that it has met the requirements of a stable, democratic and peaceful state.
“The Republic of Somaliland has fulfilled all the requirements of a responsible, peaceful, law-abiding, and democratic nation,” he said.
He further called on the international community to reconsider its long-standing position on Somaliland’s status.
“The question Somaliland asks the world is no longer whether we deserve recognition, but rather: when will the rest of the world recognise the Republic of Somaliland?”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but it has yet to receive widespread international recognition.
While Israel’s recognition was welcomed by many residents, it has also generated debate and concern over possible regional diplomatic tensions.
Some local observers warned that opposition in parts of eastern territories could complicate internal stability despite the celebrations in Hargeisa.
No additional country has followed Israel’s recognition, leaving Somaliland’s broader diplomatic ambitions unchanged.
The independence day celebrations nevertheless underscored continued domestic support for statehood and international legitimacy.
