Italian Somalia 518090 225075058 2008-07-11T19:32:16Z Mkpumphrey 3443016 {{Cleanup|date=March 2008}} {{Infobox Former Country |native_name = ''Somalia Italiana'' |conventional_long_name = Italian Somalia |common_name = Somalia |continent = Africa |region = Horn of Africa |anthem = [[National Anthem of the Kingdom of Italy]] |status = Colony |empire = Italy |era = Interwar period |year_start = 1880s |event_end = Conquered |year_end = 1941 |event_post = [[United Kingdom|British control]] |date_post = 1941-49 |p1 = |flag_p1 = |s1 = Italian East Africa |flag_s1 = Flag_of_Italy_%281861-1946%29.svg |image_flag = Flag_of_Italy_%281861-1946%29.svg |flag = Flag of Italy |image_coat = Italia somalia arms.gif|30px |symbol = Coat of arms of Italian Somaliland |image_map = Italian_Somaliland.png |image_map_caption = Italian Somaliland |capital = [[Mogadishu|Mogadiscio]] |official_languages = [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Somali language|Somali]] |religion = [[Islam]], [[Roman Catholicism]] |currency = [[Italian Lira]] }} '''Italian Somalia''' (also known as '''Italian Somaliland''') was a colony of the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]] (''Regno d'Italia'') from the [[1880s]] until [[1942]] in the territory of the modern-day [[Horn of Africa|Northeast African]] nation of [[Somalia]]. The late [[19th century]] had a huge impact on developments occurring in the [[Horn of Africa]]. Though only ever a true colony of Italy for a little over a decade in the early 1900s, both northern and southern Somalia were [[protectorate]]s of the British, Italian and the French from the late 1880's to [[1960]]. The European powers first gained a foothold in Somalia through the signing of various pacts and agreements with the Sultans that then controlled the region. Their interest in this largely arid country mainly centered around the access its ports granted them to the strategically important [[Suez Canal]] and the [[Gulf of Aden]].<ref name=Fitz-33>Fitzgerald, Nina J. ''Somalia'' (New York: Nova Science, 2002), p 33</ref> The last piece of land acquired by Italy in Somalia in order to form their Somali Land was the Chisimayu Region, which was earlier controlled by Britain. <ref name=Fitz-33/> Before its campaign in Somalia, a growing social movement developed within Italy to start expanding its influence, since many other European countries had already been doing so effectively leaving Italy behind. There was also a huge shortage in capital and serious economic problems in Italy. <ref>Tripodi, Paolo. ''The Colonial Legacy in Somalia''. New York: St. Martin's P Inc,, 1999. p 16</ref>Cesare Correnti organized an expedition under the Societa Geografica Italiana in 1876. L’Esploratire was established by Manfredo Camperio- a journal of travel in 1877.(colonial legacy 16). Societa di Esplorazioni Commerciali in Africa was created, with the Italian Industrial Establishment involved as well in 1879. Club Africano was established (three years later became Societa Africana D’Italia) in 1879. It is also argued by some that Italy had a minor interest in the mutton and livestock that were then plentiful in Somalia, though whatever designs Italy may have had on the resource-challenged Somali landscape were undoubtedly subordinate to their interest in the region's ports and the waters and lands they gave access to.<ref>Tripodi, Paolo. ''The Colonial Legacy in Somalia'', p 12-13</ref> Italy gained control of various parts of Somalia in the 1880s, and over the following decades Italian settlement was encouraged. In January 26, 1887 Italian troops from Somalia fought a battle against [[Ras (title)|Ras]] [[Alula Engida]]’s militia in [[Dogali]], [[Eritrea]], where they lost 500 troops. The Prime Minister, [[Agostino Depretis]], resigned which was caused by the defeat in July 1887. Prime Minister [[Francesco Crispi]] replaced him, and had new plans to create new areas for immigration for Italians. On May 2, 1889 [[Menelik II]], the [[Emperor of Ethiopia]] and Italy signed a peace treaty. Around [[1895]] Italy launched the disastrous [[First Italo-Abyssinian War]] against Ethiopia from its territories in [[Eritrea]] and Somalia. In [[1905]], Italy finally accepted the responsibility into creating a colony in Southern Somalia, after several tries that had failed. <ref>Hess, Robert L. ''Italian Colonialism in Somalia'' Chicago: University of Chicago P, 1966. p 101</ref> The administrative regulators were Governor Mercantelli with six subdivisions of [[Brava]], [[Merca]], Lugh, Itala, [[Bardera]], and Jumbo. In April 5, 1908 there was a basic law founded to unite all of the parts of southern Somalia into an area called Somalia Italiana. The power was then divided between the Parliament, Metropolitan government, and the colonial government. Powers of the colonial government was the only power that was changed where the:Civil governor controlled export droits, regulated the rate of exchange, could raise or lower native taxes, and administered all civil services and matters relating to hunting, fishing, and conservation <ref name=Hess-102>Hess, Robert L. ''Italian Colonialism'', p 102</ref>,Governor was in control of the Police force, while nominating local residents and military arrangements <ref name=Hess-102/> In [[1920]] the Societa Agricola Italo-Somala (SAIS) was founded by the Prince [[Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi]], in order to explore the agricultural potentials of Africa. On December 5, 1923 [[Fascism]] came to Somalia through the Governor Cesare Maria De Vecchi di Val Cismon. He brought with him forceful ways of colonial rule and ideas. After the collapse of Muhammad Abdullah Hassan’s movement, rebellion and revolt ocured with disputes between different tribes in Northern Somalia. The current government worked together again with the old tribesmen in order to try and keep peace between the several tribes, while maintaining very well control over the military. <ref>Hess, Robert L. ''Italian Colonialism'', p 146</ref> In [[1925]] the colony in Somalia was extended when [[Jubaland]] was acquired from the British colony of [[Kenya]]. In [[October]] [[1935]], the southern front of the [[Second Italo-Abyssinian War]] was launched into Ethiopia from Italian Somalia. Italian [[General]] [[Rodolfo Graziani]] commanded the invasion forces in the south. In [[June]] [[1936]], after the war ended, Italian Somalia became part of [[Italian East Africa]]. The new colony also included Ethiopia and Eritrea. During the East African Campaign, Italy successfully conquered [[British Somaliland]] in [[1940]] but in the Allied counter offensive it lost control over its East African colonies in [[1942]]. Italian Somalia was under British administration until [[1949]] when it became a [[United Nations Trust Territory]] under Italian administration. Somalia became independent in [[1960]], yet it still continues today with civil wars, trying to finally have a stable government after colonial rule for many years. ==Notes== {{reflist}} == References == *Hess, Robert L. ''Italian Colonialism in Somalia''. Chicago: University of Chicago P, 1966. *Tripodi, Paolo. ''The Colonial Legacy in Somalia''. New York: St. Martin's P Inc,, 1999. *Fitzgerald, Nina J. ''Somalia''. New York: Nova Science, Inc., 2002. [[Category:History of Somalia]] [[bg:Италианска Сомалия]] [[ca:Somàlia Italiana]] [[cs:Italské Somálsko]] [[de:Italienisch-Somaliland]] [[es:Somalía Italiana]] [[eu:Italiar Somalia]] [[fr:Somalie italienne]] [[hr:Talijanska Somalija]] [[it:Somalia Italiana]] [[sw:Somalia ya Kiitalia]] [[nl:Italiaans Somaliland]] [[ja:イタリア領ソマリランド]] [[no:Italiensk Somaliland]] [[pl:Somali Włoskie]] [[pt:Somália Italiana]] [[fi:Italian Somalimaa]] [[sv:Italienska Somaliland]]