Italian Somaliland | History, Map, Significance, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of Italian Somaliland? ›

Italy obtained control of it in 1889, and it was incorporated as a state in Italian East Africa in 1936. Britain invaded in 1941 and retained control until it became a UN trust territory under Italian administration in 1950. In 1960 it was united with British Somaliland to form the independent Republic of Somalia.

Somaliland broke ties with Somalia's government in Mogadishu after declaring independence in 1991, and has sought international recognition as an independent state since then. No foreign government recognizes its sovereignty, but many effectively acknowledge the region as separate from Somalia.

The State of Somaliland merged with Italian Somaliland to form the Republic of Somalia on July 1, 1960. Crisis Phase (April 6, 1981-January 1, 1982): The Somali National Movement (SNM) was established by Hassan Adan Wadadi and other members of the Isaaq clan in London on April 6, 1981.

As with most African countries, the British Somaliland Protectorate was established in 1884 after France colonised the land to the west naming it “La Cote Francaise Des Somalis.” Italy colonised another portion to the east calling it “La Somalia Italiana” and Ethiopia retained a portion to the south known as “The ...

a former Italian colony and trust territory in E Africa: now part of the Democratic Somali Republic.

What's the history of Somaliland? Somaliland has been a distinct region from Somalia since the late 1800s. It was a British protectorate until 1960 (meaning a dependent territory, over which the British government exercised limited jurisdiction). It then became independent for just five days.

It is bordered by Djibouti to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and the Puntland region of Somalia to the east. Somaliland has a 740 kilometres (460 mi) coastline with the majority lying along the Gulf of Aden. The region is slightly larger than England, with an area of 137,600 km2 (53,100 sq mi).

Somalia has untapped reserves of numerous natural resources, including uranium, iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt and natural gas. Australian and Chinese oil companies have been granted licenses for finding petroleum and other natural resources in the country.

The Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared state since 1991, has been internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia. It is located in northwestern Somalia; its official languages are Somali, Arabic and English.

Italian Somalia then came under British military administration until 1950, when it became a United Nations trusteeship, the Trust Territory of Somalia under Italian administration. On 1 July 1960, the Trust Territory of Somalia united with the former British Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.

What is the capital of Italian Somaliland? ›

Subsequently the capital of Italian Somaliland and of the Somalia trust territory, Mogadishu became the capital of independent Somalia in 1960.

English is widely taught in schools and the language of instruction at many Somali universities; it is also a working language of many Somali NGOs. Italian, previously an official language, is now spoken chiefly by older people and government officials.

Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa, recognised internationally as de jure part of Somalia. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Ethiopia to the south and west, and Somalia to the east.

According to Ambroso, in Somaliland itself, the main clan is the Isaaq [Isaq/Issak], which dominates most regions of Somaliland, with the Gadabursi clan located in Awdal, the Darood sub-clan Warsangeli [Warsengeli] dominant in Sool [Sol] and the Darood sub-clan Dulbahante [Dhulbahante] dominant in Sool and Sanaag [ ...

The constitution in Somaliland makes Islam the official religion there, prohibits Muslims from converting, prohibits the propagation of any religion other than Islam, and stipulates all laws must comply with the general principles of sharia.

On 1 July 1960, the Trust Territory of Somaliland (the former Italian Somaliland) and the former British Somaliland united to form the Somali Republic, with Mogadishu as the nation's capital. This day is celebrated as Somalia's Independence Day.

August 3, 1940

Italian invasion of British Somaliland / Start date

Only in August did they begin a serious offensive and only then against the easiest possible target - British Somaliland, on the African shore of the Gulf of Aden. The operation was intended to prevent any possible use by the British of the port of Djibouti, in French Somaliland, to gain access to Ethiopia.

As an example one could mention the De Vecchi's governorship (1923-1928), when thousands of indigenous people were subjected to forced labor. In the same period, the Italian governor undertook a campaign of aggressive military expansion marked by a violent repression against the civilian population.