Unlike previous events, preparations for the 25th Anniversary of regaining Somaliland Independence 18 May 2016 has been extensively going since January in the most host countries of Somaliland Diaspora communities abroad, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and Africa as well.
Somaliland Diaspora Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation has encouraged all Diaspora communities to commemorate 18 May more strongly and differently than ever before and submitted action plan to the Somaliland Diaspora communities committees as guideline in regards to the preparations of the Diaspora communities for 18 May. The government emphasized the performances of powerful rallies and highly organized receptions, more media exposure and more engaging of the host governments and Somaliland friends in the events. There have been noteworthy efforts of the Diaspora communities committees, scholars, umbrella associations and appointed preparatory committees in preparations for 18 May 2016 to strengthen unity, cooperation and collective action of the communities in commemoration of 18 May, 2016 mainly countries in Europe. What is also worthy of mention that the most of the preparatory committees have been well reporting to SLDA and MOFA upon updates of their works including the Students Associations.
The key activities include remarkable and historic rallies planned to take place in different countries including UK http://somaliland-rally-uk.tumblr.com/likes, Sweden, Canada, USA and Australia plus more participation of Somaliland friends and bigwigs from host governments in key receptions. The most Somaliland Diaspora communities celebrating 18 May also submitted petitions and the legal case of Somaliland Recognition to their host governments.
The celebrations for 18 May abroad which have already taken place in some countries started on 13th May for the first and will continue in the last week of May and first week of June to the last in some places.
Somaliland Diaspora Agency estimates that 18 May this year will be celebrated in nearly 70 capitals and major cities and towns in about 40 countries abroad by Somaliland Diaspora population.
EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA & AUSTRALIA: UK, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Turkey, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
AFRICA: include Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, Sudan, Egypt, South Africa, and South Sudan.
ASIA: include UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Philippines, China and other countries.
Somaliland Diaspora Agency sends congratulations to all Somaliland Diaspora communities abroad including the active students associations, who are as well celebrating for 18 May in many countries on how patriotically they are all commemorating for the 25th Anniversary of Somaliland, 18 May, 2016. SLDA also appreciates role of the most Somaliland Ambassadors in the 18 May Events preparations and their cooperation with the Somalilanders in their receiving countries.
Finally, we are calling all Somaliland Diaspora communities to greaten celebrations for the national day 18 May 2016 and particularly the upcoming planned rallies in support of the sovereignty and the quest for recognition of the Republic of Somaliland.
SCHEDULE OF 18 MAY EVENTS ABROAD AND ROLE OF SOMALILAND DIASPORA
| No | Country (Wadanka) | City/province
(Where Receptions and demonstrations are taking place) |
Date/time for the celebration (Receptions and demonstrations) |
| 1 | UK | London
A big demonstration will be held at Richmond Terrace opposite 10 Downing Street in the day time on 18 May and the Reception will be held in the night time |
Date: 18th May
Demonstration time: 1pm–4:30pm
|
| Commemoration event for Somaliland friends in Islington Town Hall in London | Date 18th of May
18:00 – 21:00pm |
||
| Manchester
|
Date: 21st May
Starting time: 4:30pm |
||
| Birmingham | |||
| Sheffield | |||
| Cardiff | |||
| Bristol | Date: 18th May | ||
| 2 | SWEDEN | Stockholm
A big demonstration will be held opposite the Parliament House in the day time |
Demonstration at Stockholm on 18th May
|
| Malmö | Date: 14th May | ||
| Tröllhattan | Date: 21st May | ||
| Stockholm | Date: 27th May | ||
| Jönköping | 28th May | ||
| Göteborg | 28th May | ||
| Motala | 21st May | ||
| Karlstad | Date: 14th May | ||
| 3 | GERMANY | Munich | Date: 13th May |
| Frankfurt | Date: 14th May | ||
| Kassel
A big demonstration will be held |
Date: 15th May | ||
| 4 | FRANCE | Angers 12th May | Date: 12th May |
| Lyon 14th May | Date: 14th May | ||
| Toulouse 04th June | Date: 4th June | ||
| 5 | HOLLAND | Utrecht | Date: 21st May
Time: 18:00pm – 3:00pm |
| 6 | DENMARK | Copenhagen
Jagtvej 107 2200 Copenhagen |
14 May
Starting time: 13: pm |
| Arhus
Axel klersvej 24 8270 Hojberg |
Date: 20th May
Time: 7:00pm – 3:00am |
||
| 7 | NORWAY | Oslo
Yougstorget |
Date: 18th May
Time: 15:00pm – 21:00am |
| 8 | FINLAND | ||
| 9 | BELGIUM | Brussels
Rue Du cinema 1A, 1080 Molenbeek |
Date: 14th May
Time: 18:00pm – 3:00am |
| 10 | SWITZERLAND | Zurich | Date: 13th May
Starting time: 12:00am |
| 11 | AUSTRALIA | Sydney | |
| Melbourne | |||
| Perth | |||
| 12 | AUSTRIA | ||
| 13 | ITALY | ||
| 14 | NEW ZEALAND | ||
| 15 | TURKEY | Istanbul | Date: 20th May
Night time |
| 16 | CANADA | Ottawa | Date: 14th May
Time: 8pm – 4pm |
| Edmonton | Date: 14th May
Time: 8pm – 4pm |
||
| Toronto | Date: 21st May
Time: 8pm – 4pm |
||
| 17 | USA | Washington DC – May 20-21 | Date: 20-21 May |
| Columbus, OH
Wilson Blvd and W. broad ST |
Date: 21st May | ||
| Connecticut | Date: 21st May | ||
| Seattle, WA. | Date: 21st May | ||
| Minnesota | Date: 21st May | ||
| San Diego, CA | Date: 21st May | ||
| 18 | ETHIOPIA | Addis Ababa | 18th May
Night time |
| 19 | DJIBOUTI | Djibouti, Sheraton Hotel | Date: 18th May
Time: 7:00pm |
| 20 | SUDAN | Khartoum
International Garden |
Date: 18th May
Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm |
| 21 | UGANDA | Kampala | Date: 18th May
Time: 7:00pm – 1:00am |
| 22 | KENYA | Nairobi | Date: 18th May |
| 23 | TANZANIA | Dar Es Salaam
A demonstration will be held |
Date: 18th May
Time: 6:30am – 12:00pm |
| 24 | EGYPT | Cairo,
Qaacatul Malikia Hotel |
Date: 20th May
Night time |
| 25 | SOUTH AFRICA | Johannesburg | Date: 18th May
Night time |
| 26 | SOUTH SUDAN | Juba | Date: 18th May |
| 27 | UAE | Abu Dubai | Date: 14th May
Time: |
| 28 | S/ARABIA | Jeddah | Date: 18th May
Night time |
| 29 | KUWAIT | ||
| 30 | QATAR | Doha | |
| 31 | MALAYSIA | Kuala Lumpur
Golden Chersonese Media Hall |
Date: 28th May
Time: 7:00pm – 11:30pm |
| 32 | INDIA | Hyderabad | Date: 18th May |
| 33 | BANGLADESH | Dhaka | Date: 19th May
Night time |
| 34 | CHINA | ||
| 35 | PHILIPINES | Date: 18th May
Night time |
|
| 36 | OMAN | ||
| 37 | BAHRAIN | ||
| 38 | PAKISTAN | Islamabad | |
| 40 | UKRAINE |
Source: Somaliland Diaspora Agency
HQ: Hargeisa, Republic of Somaliland
Email: sldiasporaagency@gmail.com