Somalia celebrates National Youth Day

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Somalia celebrates National Youth Day

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Somalia is today marking the 78th anniversary of the Somali Youth League, the movement that led the country against colonization.

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MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) - Somalia is today marking the 78th anniversary of the Somali Youth League, the movement that led the country against colonization.

SYL, founded on May 15, 1943, had spearheaded efforts to fight against the colonial governments in Somalia.

In his statement, Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble congratulated the Somali people on the anniversary of the founding of SYL.

"78 years ago, 13 young Somalis founded SYL, which played a key role in the fight for our country's independence," said the prime minister.

Roble expressed his government's commitment to prioritizing young people in developing and strengthening their participation in all areas of life, especially politics and leadership.

"I ask young Somalis, boys and girls, to play their part, unite and work together in the process of rebuilding the nation," he said.

Founded in 1943, the party had thirteen founding members, with Abdulkhadir Sheikh Sakhawudeen being one of its first leaders. During its early stage, SYL supported Greater Somalia.

British Somaliland remained a protectorate of Britain until June 26, 1960, when it became independent.

The former Italian Somaliland followed him five days later. On July 1, 1960, the two territories merged to form the Republic of Somalia, albeit within the borders set by Italy and Britain.

A government was then formed by the leaders of the movement including Abdullahi Issa Mohamud and Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal. The first president of the Somali Republic was Aden Abdullah Osman and Abdirashid Ali Shermarke became prime minister.

On July 20, 1961, through a popular referendum, the Somalis ratified a new constitution, first drafted in 1960.

In the first national elections after independence on March 30, 1964, SYL won an overwhelming majority of 69 out of 123 parliamentary seats.

The remaining chairs were divided between 11 other political parties.

Five years later, in the general election in March 1969, the ruling SYL, led by Mohammed Ibrahim Egal, returned to power.

However, in the same year, the then President of Somalia, Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, was assassinated.

A military coup quickly followed, with Mohamed Siad Barre taking the lead.

Barre's Supreme Revolutionary Council subsequently renamed the country the Democratic Republic of Somalia, arrested members of the former government, banned political parties, dissolved parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the constitution.