British Invasion of 1884
Somalia was a country colonized first by Britain. When Egyptian forces retreated from Somalia in 1884 to fight in Sudan, Britain used this opportunity to use what would be later named British Somaliland, for a passageway for trade. They then set up protectorates, or small communities in British Somaliland which caused separation of native tribes. This divided the people in the communities.
Anglo-French Agreement
Because of British penetration, Somalia also was forced to sign several agreements. One agreement was the Anglo–French agreement in 1888 when a portion of Somalia was French-Somaliland (being a territory of France). This agreement was forced to be signed and it drew the alignment boundary of present-day Djibouti and Somalia.
The Italo-Ethiopian War/ Italian-British conflict/ Somalia in War World II
In 1935, Italy attacked Ethiopia under the control of Benito Mussolini. A border dispute between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland was the reason for the attack. Italy’s advanced military easily defeated Ethiopia’s weak army. Mussolini declared Italy’s king Victor Emmanuel III the emperor of Ethiopia. After the defeat of Ethiopia, the Italian forces seized British Somaliland in 1940. During this occupation, all the Somali clans had been united for the first time in 40 years, due to the Italians consolidating the Ogaden with southern and northern Somalilands. Thousands of Italian emigrants came to Somalia. At the start of World War II, southern Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea were Italian holdings in East Africa. The Italians then invaded British Somaliland, throwing out the British from the Horn of Africa. Unfortunately for the Italians, their victory did not last long due to the British returning from their ejection. Fortunately for the British, their counterattack on the Italians succeeded, allowing them to reoccupy their territory.
Current conflicts in Somalia
Since there was no legitimate government since 1991 in Somalia, this gave birth to more conflicts such as famines. Over 2,000,000 Somalis desire assist from organizations that give food in order to survive, because of the government's absence. Another developed conflict is the creation of "Al-Shabab", an Al-Qaeda like terrorist organization. Al-Shabab started out as a voluntary army who served for the Union of Ismalic Courts also known as a militia. Ethiopia, a neighboring country, also came into Somalia and created conflicts. Many deaths came when Ethiopia fought with Al-Shabab, who at the time connected with Al-Qaeda. Even recently in 2012 the Somalis have been fighting with nations such as Kenya. A very huge problem today is the Somali pirates, they supposedly formed an "unholy high seas alliance" in November 2012, and did nothing but reel in more violence to the Horn of Africa. Armed violence occurs between Somalia and Puntland as well. Smaller and non government related armed groups attack Somalia’s security, this sets Somalia even further from becoming developed, thus another conflict they face.
-(from "Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project").
Britain vs. Somalia (primary source)
“The Somalis of the Protectorate argue that neither agreement is valid. They state that they were not consulted when the 1897 treaty was signed, and this treaty was contrary to the earlier treaties signed by the British between 1884 and 1886 with the principal Somali tribes ; according to these treaties the British agreed to protect them, and in return the British had certain assurances about the port of Berbera, etc. Yet, argue the Somalis, the British handed over territory which belonged to the Somalis to their traditional enemies, the Ethiopians ; the British had, in fact, done the reverse of protecting them. That is the Somali argument."
- (The Horn of Africa by Gordon Waterfield).
Britain signed many treaties that involved Somalia. These treaties included granting protection to Somalia in exchange for certain rights for specific areas such as the port of Berbera. However, Britain did not keep their promise because as the Somali people claim, Britain did the opposite of protection by giving away the Somali territory to foreign nations such as the Ethiopians.
- (The Horn of Africa by Gordon Waterfield).
Britain signed many treaties that involved Somalia. These treaties included granting protection to Somalia in exchange for certain rights for specific areas such as the port of Berbera. However, Britain did not keep their promise because as the Somali people claim, Britain did the opposite of protection by giving away the Somali territory to foreign nations such as the Ethiopians.