British Somaliland
British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate (Somali: Maxmiyadda Dhulka Soomaalida), was a crown colony and protectorate of the United Kingdom in modern Somaliland.[2] During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Somalia, French Somali Coast and Abyssinia (temporarily Italian Ethiopia). From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa.
Not to be confused with Italian Somaliland or the de facto state of Somaliland.
Somaliland ProtectorateMaxmiyadda Dhulka Soomaalida (Somali)
Self-ruling sultanates under British Protection
(administered by the Government of India 1984-1898) and then
British colonial government (1 October 1898 onward)
Frederick Mercer Hunter
1884
1886
20 July 1887
1900–1920
3 August 1940
8 April 1941
26 June 1960
137,270 km2 (53,000 sq mi)
153,018
Rupee
(1884–1941)
East African shilling
(1941–1962)
On 26 June 1960, British Somaliland was formally granted independence by the United Kingdom as the State of Somaliland. Five days later, on 1 July 1960, the State of Somaliland voluntarily united with the Trust Territory of Somalia (the former Italian Somalia) to form the Somali Republic.[3][4] The government of Somaliland, an unrecognised independent state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia,[5][6] regards itself as the successor state to British Somaliland.[7][8]
Somaliland[edit]
In 1991, after a bloody civil war for independence in the northern part of the Somali Democratic Republic, the area which formerly encompassed British Somaliland declared independence. In May 1991, the formation of the "Republic of Somaliland" was proclaimed, with the local government regarding it as the successor to the former British Somaliland as well as to the State of Somaliland. However, Somaliland’s independence remains unrecognised by any United Nations member state.[39]