Hiiraan Online
Friday, August 12, 2016
Minneapolis (HOL) – A signing ceremony will take place this morning to make Bosaso, a Somali port city with links to Minnesota, officially the 12th sister city of Minneapolis.
A sister city relationship is a cooperative relationship between two cities in different countries usually for the purpose of cultural exchange.
The ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. at Minneapolis City Hall. The program will feature performances of the national anthems of the United States and Somalia, a presentation of the flags, and the formal signing of the document produced in both English and Somali.
The Mayor of Bosaso, Yasin Mire Mohamud will be on hand to sign the memorandum of understanding that would formalize the Sister City relationship between the two cities.
Somali leaders in Minneapolis originally asked the city council to endorse the move in October 2014. The proposal was spearheaded by Somali business and community groups who filled the City Council chambers to hear the vote.
Bosaso adds to a large list of sister cities which include places such as Santiago, Chile; Harbin, China; Ibaraki City, Japan; and Eldoret, Kenya
Minneapolis is the first city in America to forge a sister city relationship with a city in Somalia.