GAROWE, Puntland (August 11, 2012) – People across Puntland gathered on August 1st to celebrate the 14^th anniversary of the establishment of the semi-autonomous state in northeast Somalia. In Garowe, Puntland’s capital city, thousands of residents lining the main street waited early Wednesday morning in excited anticipation of the grand parade. The festivities began around 6 o’clock due to the ongoing Ramadan holiday, but the early hour did not deter the large crowd from congregating in town for the day’s celebrations.

Citizens representing different neighborhoods, sports teams, local schools and universities, other civil society groups and Puntland’s security forces proudly marched down the street, often carrying their organization’s banner and the Puntland and Somalia flag. Internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth groups and women’s groups also participated in the parade.

The parade flowed through town, ending just past a podium where Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole sat with ministers, members of Parliament and other government officials. The president addressed the crowd after the parade concluded, praising the progress Puntland has accomplished in 14 short years and calling for Puntlanders to continue to push in the right direction toward peace and prosperity.

Puntland is the northeastern region of Somalia that was declared a semi-autonomous state on August 1, 1998. After the Somalia government collapsed amid civil war in the early 1990s, Garowe hosted a three-month long constitutional conference in 1998 that convened local elites, political leaders, traditional elders and members of civil society. The conference formally established Puntland State with its own government that would deliver basic services, provide security, facilitate commerce and work with the federal government as well as the international community.

Puntland ratified a new constitution in April and is transitioning away from clan-based politics to a more democratic political system. The Puntland Parliament passed a political party law in June that instituted a multi-party system, and earlier this week passed a district council electoral law as well. This new electoral law provides the procedural basis for Puntland’s first-ever elections in 2013 and 2014. There is much optimism that multi-party elections will provide a peaceful and constructive outlet for resolving inter-clan and regional tensions and represent an important step toward continued democratic progress in the region.

The day’s celebrations continued after sundown when Puntlanders broke their fast. President Farole hosted a celebration that featured performances from some of Puntland’s best musical artists including Sado Ali Warsame, who called for an end to clan politics in Puntland. The evening also featured speeches from various government officials and civil society leaders and culminated in the president’s address at the end of the night.

Somali Family Services is a non-governmental organization dedicated to fostering a peaceful and democratic Somalia through the support of civil society, women, youth and other marginalized groups.

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