How did Somalia gain their independence?
Italian Somaliland gained their independence from Italy on July 1st, 1960. Simultaneously, Italian Somaliland united with British Somaliland, who gained their independence from Britain on June 26th, 1960. This unification of the two Somalilands formed the Somali Republic, known today simply as Somalia. In 1884, the Berlin conference ignited the imperialism of Somali lands by France, Britain and Italy. After the Egyptians retreated from Somalia, it allowed the British to sign treaties with the clans that were living in British Somaliland. British Somaliland was a protectorate at the time. In 1889, much to the resentment of Egypt, Italy colonized the southern portion of Somalia, forming Italian Somaliland. Under the leadership of Mussolini, The Somali Youth League Monument Fascist Italy attempted to colonize present day Ethiopia in 1935. They succeeded in taking the area of Berbera from British control. British troops left their colony in 1940, only to return in 1941. In 1942, British and Somali forces decided that they wanted to free British Somaliland and Ethiopia which was occupied by Italy at the time. The British had the ultimate goal to conquer all of Italian Somaliland. The British soon after claimed all of the Italian territory in Somalia. This action united almost all of British-ruled Somalia. In 1949 the United Nations granted Somalia a protectorate of Italy. A year later, the Italians (under a UN trusteeship) had the goal of bringing Italian Somaliland to independence some time in the next 10 years. After British Somaliland (a protectorate) was declared independence, they immediately united with Italian Somaliland.
Somalia's Struggle with Independence (primary source)
“I am afraid that the government is waiting to see what is going to happen in Somalia in 1960. It is a very great mistake to wait that long ; it is a dangerous thing to do. We should by now know enough about the way that the Somalis have reacted to the freedom given to them by the Italians to make up our minds as to whether or not the Somalis are going to be able to govern themselves at a low level—at a Somali level shall we say. It would have been better certainly, if the United Nations had not given such a short time to prepare Somalia for independence—ten years was certainly not enough.”-The Horn of Africa by Gordon Waterfield
The Somalis were very hesitant when making up their mind whether they should become independent or not. At first they did not like the thought of people taking over them, but they became used to it, and they ended up relying on the colonial powers for help. Italy offered them independence and it was a very tough choice for the Somalis to face, especially because the United Nations wanted to push the independence movement very quickly—ten years. This was a key reason why Somalia ended up as a country in turmoil, the Somalis knew it themselves. To create a reliable government from a colonized, and almost abused country is nearly impossible.
-(The Horn of Africa by Gordon Waterfield).
The Somalis were very hesitant when making up their mind whether they should become independent or not. At first they did not like the thought of people taking over them, but they became used to it, and they ended up relying on the colonial powers for help. Italy offered them independence and it was a very tough choice for the Somalis to face, especially because the United Nations wanted to push the independence movement very quickly—ten years. This was a key reason why Somalia ended up as a country in turmoil, the Somalis knew it themselves. To create a reliable government from a colonized, and almost abused country is nearly impossible.
-(The Horn of Africa by Gordon Waterfield).