 | Independence | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOGRAPHY | HISTORY | ||
| Cultural Regions | Economic Data | 1. Origins | 2. Colonial Period |
| Physical Geography | Maps | 3. Independence | 4. Somalia Today |
In 1960, Italy and Britain granted independence to their colonies, allowing the two territories to unite and form the Republic of Somalia on July 1, 1960.
In 1963, Somalia severed diplomatic ties with Britain when the English granted the area at the northern border of Kenya, inhabited by Somalis, to the Republic of Kenya.
The first president of the Republic of Somalia was Aden Abdulle Osman, who made history as the first African president to relinquish power after a free and democratic election. The country was governed by successive civilian governments from 1960 to 1969.
On October 15, 1969, President Dr. Abdirashid A. Shermarke was assassinated. On October 21, 1969, General Mohamed Siyad Barre seized power in a military coup. The military regime dissolved the parliament, suspended the constitution, and banned all political parties. After a year, the regime, backed by the USSR, declared scientific socialism and nationalized all major economic activities.
In 1974, after the overthrow of Haile Selassie, Somali rebel movements undertook a secession campaign in the Ogaden with Ethiopia, aided by the Somali government. In 1977, a large-scale war broke out between Somalia and Ethiopia. The Soviet Union, previously an ally of Somalia, supported Ethiopia in the war. Somalia severed ties with the Soviet Union, and the United States became their new ally.
After an 8-month war against Ethiopia, during which it lost the majority of its 32,000-strong army, as well as tanks and aircraft, Somalia acknowledged defeat.
In 1978, there was an attempted coup. The organizers of this coup escaped to Ethiopia to form the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), the first rebel movement against Siyad Barre. Later, other rebel movements were formed along clan lines and exerted pressure on Barre's regime. Siyad Barre desperately tried to manipulate the clan system by distributing modern weapons. Finally, on January 27, 1991, Siyad Barre was ousted from power and forced to flee the country.
Document 1: Flag of Somalia
Somalia's flag
Description of the flag: It is a plain light blue color, in homage to the flag of the United Nations, which controlled Italian Somalia until independence. In the middle, a white five-pointed star, symbolizing the dream of "Greater Somalia," formed by the reunification of its five territories: Italian Somalia, British Somalia, the French Territory of Afars and Issas (now Djibouti), the Ogaden province in Ethiopia, and the northern part of Kenya. (The defeat in the war against Ethiopia in 1977 and the secession of Somaliland in 1991 were to mark the end of this aspiration.)
Document 2: KAANA SIIB KANNA SAAR
"Descend one, climb the other" Poem recited by Cabdillaahi Suldaan "Timacade" on the day of the independence of British Somalia when the new flag of the Republic of Somalia was hoisted in place of the British flag.
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Anigoo sebi uun ahoo Saaca maanta aan joogno Amaba laygu saluugo Sabbaxooyin ku sheegayow Subciyay oo ka dukeeyaye Samada kii u ekaaye Subcisaa Jimcayaashiyo |
Saatir noogu yaboohayow Sarreeyow ma-nusqaamow Sarreeyow ma-nusqaamow Kii sadqeeyey qabaa'ile In sidayda tihiin iyo Sarina mayso naftayda e |
Document 3: Somali Patriotic Song, serving as the national anthem under President Siyad Barre's regime
| SOOMAALIYEEY TOOSOO TOOSOO ISKU TIIRSADA HADBA KIINNA TAAG DARAN TAAGEERA WELIGIIN WAXA AAN LA OOYAAYO ILAMDU IIGA QUBANAYSO IKHTIYAAR NIN LOO DIIDOO LA ADDOONSADAAN AHAY |
Somalis rise up Rise up and join together The weakest among you Support forever I cry, And tears flow from me, I am a person denied my rights And reduced to slavery |
Document 4: Somali National Anthem, without lyrics, music by Giuseppe Blanc, in use from 1960 to 2000
| To record this anthem, click on the flag. (mid file) |
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Document 5: Somali 5 Shillings Banknote
