Somalia Marks 65th Anniversary of the Unity Day

GOOBJOOG NEWS| MOGADISHU: Somalia is today marking the 65th anniversary of Unity Day, when British and Italian Somaliland came together to found the Somali Republic.

Celebrations are ongoing in various parts of the country as citizens mark the day the founding of the Republic of Somalia in July 1, 1960.

July 1, 1960 is also marked as Independence Day for the southern Italian Somaliland. British Somaliland – Somaliland gained independence from the British in June 26, 1960 when the first flag of Somalia went up in Hargeisa.

Four days later on July 1, 1960, the Italian administration relinquished their authority in the south. Subsequently, the two regions came together to found ther Republic of Somalia following the signing of the Act of the Union.

Aden Abdulle Osman (Aden Adde) became the first president of the Republic, serving from July 1960 until June 10, 1967, when he was succeeded by Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke in a democratic election.

Prior to Independence, the first Somali-led government was established in the South, with Abdullahi Issa Mohamud as Prime Minister. March 24, 1956. The south was by then under the UN Trusteeship, specifically the Italian administration.

In 1949, the UN General Assembly decided that Italian Somaliland would become an independent state after ten years under Italian administration.