Liberated provinces in Somalia have today taken to the streets to celebrate the country’s 52 Independence from Italian rule.
Abdi Jinow Alasso, the Governor for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia in charge of Middle Shabelle region, joined residents of Balad town, 30 km north of Mogadishu, in unprecedented festivities.
Celebrations at Balad town was unimaginable only a week before as the place was a stronghold of Al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist group that oppose any commemorations of non-religious days.
“I congratulate all of you for being free to celebrate important national days,” Alasso told the residents of Balad district.
In 2010, the fanatical Islamists ordered the residents in areas under their control to refrain from celebrating non-religious landmarks.
The instructions abolished the marking of the Independence Day and other national days as the National Tree Day, the National Teachers Day and the World Food Day.
“Only Idd days (at the end of Ramadan and during Al-Hajj) are allowed,” instructed the Islamist leaders. The Islamists also ordered all broadcasters in areas under their control to stop playing music and other lyrics.
Other areas liberated from Al-Shabaab militants with the help of Ethiopian and Kenyan troops also marked the day.
Regional capitals such as Beledweyne and Baidoa, respectively 335 km and 240 north and southwest of Mogadishu, and Afmadow town in Jubaland joined the celebrations.
Meanwhile, in Afgoye, a town seized in May from Al-Shabaab by pro-government forces and the Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers marked the grand occasion.
“Celebration of the 52nd Anniversary in Afgoye district is a symbol of the stabilisation of security in Somalia,” announced Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Sidee, the TFG Governor in charge of Lower Juba region who spoke to a multitude before the national flag was raised to full mast at mid-night, welcoming 1st of July.
TFG President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and other government officials graced the occasion at Villa Somalia, the state house in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
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