Hiiraan Online

Hargeisa (HOL) — Cardiff’s Somaliland-Welsh community gathered in Grangetown this week to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Somaliland’s independence from Britain, spotlighting a rising generation of voices embracing dual identity and calling for change.

Inside a modest community hall, flags of Wales and Somaliland hung side by side, a quiet symbol of dual identity. The event drew around 50 attendees, including elders, visiting lawmakers, and youth. Speeches were delivered in Somali, English, and Welsh, culminating in a cultural feast of traditional dishes that reflected the community’s heritage.

“Today is a historic day for the Somaliland community in Wales,” said Professor Iid Ali Ahmed, 75. “We are commemorating a proud legacy, and reaffirming the enduring bond between Somaliland and Wales.”

The event’s central theme,preserving culture while embracing Welsh identity, was brought to life by 27-year-old Cardiff-born activist Munira Hashi and 17-year-old Zeynab Ahmed. The two women led a panel on diaspora identity and addressed the crowd with heartfelt speeches.

“I’d say I’m Welsh, and I’d say I’m Somali,” said Zeynab, who delivered her speech in both Somali and English before translating into Welsh. “No one should feel like they have to give up one part of themselves to claim the other.”

Hashi emphasized belonging and participation. “It’s important to be proud of your culture and hold firmly to your identity,” she said. “Events like this make you feel connected—to your community and to a purpose.”

Their remarks drew emotional applause from older attendees.

“Their questions, their pledges—even their use of the Welsh language—showed that the legacy of Somaliland is alive and evolving,” said Prof. Ahmed. “It gave me hope. This heritage will endure.”

A former British protectorate, Somaliland gained independence on June 26, 1960. Five days later, it voluntarily joined with Italian-administered Somalia to form the Somali Republic. That union broke down in 1991 following the collapse of Siad Barre’s military regime and years of civil war. Somaliland unilaterally declared independence and established its own government, currency, and institutions.

Despite developing a relatively stable democracy with functioning state structures, Somaliland remains unrecognized internationally. The Federal Government of Somalia continues to regard it as a breakaway region.

“June 26 was a joyful day,” recalled Prof. Ahmed. “But the legacy remains unfinished.”

For many in Cardiff’s Somali community, the event was not only a political statement but also a personal reckoning with identity.

Fatuma Said Ibrahim, a senior adviser to Somaliland’s parliament who grew up in Newport, said Cardiff was her first place of refuge after fleeing the war.

“Young people in Wales are realizing they come from a history that is both extraordinary and deeply rooted,” she said.

Ali Abdi, a longtime community organizer, said the diaspora in the UK has evolved.

“We’ve moved past the days when we were only taxi drivers or security guards, although those roles still exist,” he said. “Now we’re IT professionals, civil servants, entrepreneurs. And I want to see Somaliland recognized in my lifetime.”

After the formalities, the community walked to a nearby Somali-owned restaurant where bowls of soup, plates of rice and meat, beans and salad were shared under the familiar green, red, and white of Somaliland, and the red dragon of Wales.

“This is the best part of the day,” said Abdi. “Spicy food, rice and meat—you can’t go wrong.”

For Hashi, the communal meal captured the spirit of the day.

“It was the perfect way to end,” she said. “Everyone shared good food, and even better, it was our food.”

As the evening closed, she reflected on the future.

• With files from the BBC Somali Service