Mohamed Affey

On the occasion of the National Independence and Unification, it is important to understand what the historical record reveals about the unification of the Somali territories. The historical evidence demonstrates that both the British and Italian administrations supported and facilitated the process of unification, working with Somali leaders to ensure the peaceful establishment of a single Somali Republic. Before unification, the two territories, in the spirit of nationalism, reached agreement on the following fundamental principles: 1. The adoption of a single provisional constitution, approved by both legislatures. This provisional draft constitution was developed in the south, but submitted to the northern parliament which made few changes and approved. 2. The adoption of one national flag, which was first raised at Khairiya Square in Hargeisa on 26 June 1960 during Somaliland's independence celebrations, in the presence of a delegation from southern Somalia led by the Speaker of Parliament, Aden Abdulle Osman, symbolizing the shared commitment of both territories to unite only five days later. 3. The merger of the two legislatures into a single national parliament, consisting of 33 representatives from Somaliland and 90 representatives from southern Somalia. 4. The designation of Mogadishu as the capital of the new Somali Republic. 5. The establishment of a parliamentary, multi-party system of government. Following independence and unification on 1 July 1960, the process of building a unified state began. This included harmonizing the legal systems, integrating state institutions, unifying the taxation system, merging the civil service and security forces, and consolidating other administrative structures into a single national government. These measures reflected the shared commitment of both territories to establish one sovereign and unified Somali Republic.