THT-Special guests for the night include Loula Isman, representative of Somaliland to Canada, and Ahmed Hersi, the secretary of finance for Somaliland’s Wadani Party.
Somalilanders in Edmonton celebrated the 31st anniversary of their nation’s independence last night, Saturday.
Independence Day is an opportunity to celebrate the self-declared state and this year, a party is taking place at St. John’s Cultural Centre, located at 10611 110 Ave., from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Special guests for the night include Loula Isman, representative of Somaliland to Canada, and Ahmed Hersi, the secretary of finance for Somaliland’s Wadani Party who is visiting from the region.
There will also be entertainment from Sir Mohamud Omar, a singer, and Abdullahi Mohamed who goes by the stage name “Captain Abdul,” the organizer of the event who will also DJ and emcee.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia on May 18, 1991. While not received any recognition from the international community, border by Ethiopia and Djibouti, and has its own money, elections and judiciary.
Somaliland was previously colonized by the United Kingdom while the rest of Somalia was colonized by Italy.
A general election is set to take place this year on Nov. 13.