President Mohamud says committed to dialogue with Somaliland as country marks Flag Day

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reiterated his resolve to resolve differences with the break-away Somaliland noting much progress has been made in making Somalia a stable and progressive country.

Speaking Sunday night to usher in the Flag Day celebrations which is marked every year on June 26, President Mohamud said he will continue dialogue with Somaliland noting ‘still much more to achieve in the unity and governance of Somalis.’

The President urged Somalis to commit to making the country a better place in years to come. “The Somali people should think about one hundred years after independence, what kind of Somalia will we celebrate?’ the president posited. “A beautiful and stable Somalia that will be appreciated by those who will celebrate it is what we want to implement.”

June 26 is marked in Somalia as the day the flag of the country was hoisted in Hargeisa Somaliland ahead of independence day on July 1. However, there has been confusion in the past which saw both Somalia and Somaliland mark June 26 and July 1 as independence days.

Somaliland, then a protectorate of the British and Somalia under the Italian administration came together through the Act of the Union on July 1 to form the Republic of Somalia. This day is therefore celebrated as Independence Day.