Somalia was formed by a merger of two
former colonial territories: British Somaliland, in the north,
and its larger and more populous neighbour, Italian Somaliland.
The United Kingdom established a protectorate in British
Somaliland in 1886, following the withdrawal of Egyptian
garrisons from the area. Italian Somaliland originated in 1889,
when Italy concluded agreements with two local rulers, who placed
their territories under Italian protection. |
Italy´s occupation of the region was
extended along the coast and inland, and Italian control was
completed in 1927. Accordingly, the union of former British and
Italian Somaliland took effect on 1 July 1960, when the independent
Somali Republic was proclaimed.
On the same day representatives of the two component territories
elected Dr Aden Abdullah Osman, hitherto President of the Somalia
Legislative Assembly (the legislature of the southern territory), to
be the first President of the new Republic.
During 1991 Somalia was riven by battles for territory between armed
groups, mostly divided along clan lines.
By contrast, Somaliland enjoyed several months of relative peace and
stability following its declaration of independence, and work began,
with the assistance of non-governmental aid organizations, on
rebuilding the territory´s infrastructure.
"Somaliland", however, was not recognized as an independent state by
the international community, and consequently did not receive the
substantial financial aid that its economy required. Sub-clan
rivalries within the Isaaq clan, to which the majority of the
population in "'Somaliland" belong, emerged in December, when an
armed group opposing the SNM took control of the port of Berbera.
Forces of the SNM recaptured the port, but in January 1992 fighting
between rival factions within the army was reported in Burao. In
March serious fighting resumed in Berbera. President immed Ali ´Tur´
dispatched forces of his own sub-clan, the Habr Yunis, to wrest
control of the port from the Issa Musa sub-clan.
Six months of hostilities ensued in Berbera and the town of Burao. In
October peace talks were initiated by elders of the sub-clans
concerned, which resulted in a cessation of the conflict. The SNM
Government was also threatened by non-Isaaq ethnic groups within the
borders of "Somaliland" who opposed the secession of the territory.
Islamic fundamentalist groups, which were funded by Sudan and Iran,
also presented a threat to security.
In January 1992 the UN imposed an embargo on the sale of (armaments
to Somalia. In the following month the UN, OAU, the the Arab League
and the OIC issued a joint appeal for a cease-fire, stating that it
was a prerequisite for the granting of humanitarian aid to Somalia.
Representatives from the rival factions in Mogadishu subsequently
joined the conference, and agreed to the terms of a cease-fire accord
devised by the international organizations.
In March, in discussions with a joint mission of the UN, the OAU, the
OIC and the Arab League in Mogadishu, Gen. Aidid agreed to some form
of monitoring of the cease-fire by a foreign observer mission: The
terms of the cease-fire accord signed by both Gen.
Aidid and Ali Mahdi provided for a visit, in late March, by a UN
technical team, to survey the situation in Mogadishu, in advance of
an unarmed observer mission which was to be dispatched to monitor
violations of the accord.
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