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Somalia celebrates independence day amid calls for unity

Xinhua, July 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

Somalia on Friday marked its 56th Independence Day when the northern and southern regions merged to form the first government in 1960.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud led the nation during the celebrations where he called for unity among Somalis and also vowed to stabilize the Horn of Africa nation.

"It is a great historic day today, it is our freedom day, it is when the southern and northern regions of Somalia united and built a State after decades of colonization and under UN administration rule," Mohamud said.

He called on Somalis to work with security institutions in order to ensure peace and stability for the region while praising the role of the Army and AU forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

"We will never rest until we eliminate the enemy who reject life for Somali community. Government's first priority is the safety of our people. Those who are against us are our enemies," he added.

The president warned Al-Shabaab against terrorizing innocent civilians, children and making them orphans, and called on the militants to work with the government which he said will offer them amnesty to ensure peace prevails in the Horn of Africa nation.

"Al-Shabaab took a war campaign against Somali people, but success will be with Somali people," he said.

The Somali president added that his government did its best to serve its people, noting that the Horn of Africa nation would soon hold elections later this year.

The independence celebrations were held amid security challenges, especially threats from the Al-Qaida allied terror group which has been fighting to topple the government. Endit