53rd anniversary of the Somali National Army (SNA)

12 April 2013 marked the 53rd anniversary of the Somali National Army (SNA) and was celebrated by a military parade at the newly refurbished Ministry of Defence in the Somali capital Mogadishu attended by Presdient Hassan Sheik Mohamud and commanders of the Somali military and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The country is rebuilding it's army, along with many state institutions and facilities after being racked by years of internal conflict and division and is enjoying it's longest period of relative peace since major operations by the SNA supported by forces of the African Union Mission in Somalia forced the Al-Qaeda-affiliated extremist group Al Shabaab out of the Somali capital in August 2011.

All Photos: AU-UN IST PHOTO / STUART PRICE.