Somalia Independence Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Somalia

Somalia’s Independence Day is annually celebrated on June 26. During the 19th century, the United Kingdom established a protectorate over a sizable portion of Somalia, which came to be known as British Somaliland. In the 1920s, Italy seized the country’s north-eastern sultanates, creating Italian Somaliland. British Somaliland obtained independence and became the State of Somaliland on June 26, 1960. On the 1st of July, five days later, the State of Somaliland amalgamated with the Trust Territory of Somaliland to form the Somali Republic.

The background of Somalia Independence Day

The Berlin Conference was held in 1884 as European powers initiated the “Scramble for Africa.” Following the conference, the United Kingdom established the British Somaliland protectorate over a significant portion of Somalia. In the 1920s, at the advent of fascism, Italy conquered the north-eastern sultanates of the country and incorporated them into La Grande Somalia, also known as Italian Somaliland. Except for the territory of Benadir, Italy only exercised power through successive protection treaties and not through direct rule.

Italian troops and Somali colonial divisions invaded British Somaliland on 3 August 1940 and captured Berbera a few days later. British troops launched a campaign in January 1941 to recapture British Somaliland, conquer Italian Somaliland, and liberate Ethiopia from Italian occupation. Following World War II, Britain possessed protectorates over both British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland. During the 1945 Potsdam Conference, the United Nations (UN) allowed Italy to establish a trusteeship of Italian Somaliland as the Trust Territory of Somaliland.

British Somaliland obtained independence and became the State of Somaliland on June 26, 1960. It merged with the Trust Territory of Somaliland five days later to form the Somali Republic. Thus, June 26 is celebrated annually as Somalia’s Independence Day, while July 1 is Republic Day.

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5 KEY FACTS ABOUT SOMALIA

Geography

Somalia is situated in the Horn of Africa and shares borders with Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

Diversity

Somalia is considered the most culturally homogeneous nation in Africa.

Ethnicity

Approximately 85% of Somalis are ethnic Somalis who have historically resided in the country’s north.

Government

Somalia’s government is a federal parliamentary republic.

Size

Somalia encompasses a landmass of approximately 640,870 square kilometres.

SOMALIA INDEPENDENCE DAY DATES