| Independence Dayعيد استقلال أرض الصومال | |
|---|---|
 Somali women at independence day celebrations with the flag of Somaliland | |
| Observed by | Somaliland |
| Type | National Day |
| Significance | Mark the Republic of Somaliland'sRestoration of sovereignty and end of the unity with Somali Democratic Republic in 1991. |
| Celebrations | Flag hoisting,parades, award ceremonies, singing patriotic songs and thenational anthem, speeches by thePresident andVice President, entertainment and cultural programs. |
| Date | 18 May |
| Next time | 18 May 2026 (2026-05-18) |
| Frequency | annual |
Independence Day in Somaliland (Arabic:عيد استقلال أرض الصومال) is an annual celebration held on 18 May inSomaliland to mark the polity's declaration of independence from theSomali Democratic Republic,[1] a unilateral proclamation which remains unrecognized the world over.[2] Although internationally seen only as anautonomous area of Somalia,[3] the territory's self-declared independence has endured, and the twentieth anniversary was celebrated in 2011 at the National Palace inHargeisa, Somaliland's capital, with shops closing down for the day.[4]
