[Mogadishu] (Dawan Africa) – While July 1st is widely celebrated in Mogadishu as the Day of Unity, it is marked with silence or even resentment in Hargeisa. For many in Somaliland, it represents the day elders from the north joined the south in what they consider an uncalculated union.
Somaliland currently operates with its own government, territory, institutions, security apparatus, currency, and flag. Although it seeks international recognition as an independent state, one question that has long undermined its case is the continued participation of Somaliland-born officials in Somalia’s Federal Government—a reality that has often symbolized northern disunity over secession.
This year, however, marks a significant shift in that narrative.
Key federal officials originally from Somaliland—including Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama, Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh, and Agriculture Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayir Maareeye—have all refused to acknowledge or participate in July 1st celebrations. Instead, some of them limited their public congratulations to June 26, the date marking the British Somaliland independence from colonial rule.
An analysis by Dawan TV, which closely monitored the social media accounts (Facebook and X) of these officials and others from Somaliland’s central clans, reveals an orchestrated ideological shift. The boycott was evident not only on personal accounts but also on official institutional platforms under their leadership, including the Central Bank and the Upper House of Parliament.
The following is a summary of public posts by key figures:
This apparent coordinated move raises significant political questions about what has caused the shift—and what actions President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud might take in response. Whether this signals growing support for Somaliland’s independence agenda or internal dissatisfaction with the federal arrangement remains to be seen.
