Somalia National Army marks 57th anniversary

MOGADISHU, Somalia- The Somali National Army (SNA) has marked the 57th anniversary of its establishment in the capital Mogadishu and parts of the country on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre wearing military uniform and high-ranking army chiefs attended the celebrations to mark the event at the Defense Ministry complex in Mogadishu.

The President and his Prime Minister have inspected a guard of honor mounted by the national army forces who lined up in readiness to commemorate the day under a heightened security.

President Farmajo the commander in chief for the Somalia's armed forces attended the ceremony, vowing his government would strive to prioritize the welfare of the national army.

Large parts of the Somali capital was in lockdown, with hundreds of military and Police soldiers, along with AU troops were deployed in the main streets for security measurements to secure the celebrations.

SNA was founded in 12th April in 1960 after Somalia got its independence from the Italian and British colonials.

However, the army had been scattered after the collapse of the central government of Somalia in early 1990s, but later re-established by the former transitional governments in the past 17 years.

GAROWEONLINE