View source for State of Somaliland

{{Short description|1960 short-lived state in the Horn of Africa}}
{{About|the independent country established on 26 June 1960|the state established in 1991|Somaliland}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Infobox Former Country
| native_name            = {{smaller|{{native name|so|Qaranka Soomaaliland}}<br />{{lower|0.1em|<big>دولة صوماليلاند</big>}} ([[Arabic]]) <br />{{smaller|''{{transliteration|ar|Dawlat Ṣūmālīlānd}}''}}}}
| conventional_long_name = State of Somaliland
| common_name            = Somaliland
| status                 = [[Independent state]]
| event_start            = [[Independence Day (State of Somaliland)|Independence]] from the [[United Kingdom]]
| year_start             = 1960
| date_start             = 26 June
| event_end              = Unification with the [[Trust Territory of Somaliland]] to form the [[Somali Republic]]
| year_end               = 1960
| date_end               = 1 July
| area_land_footnote     = <ref name="KitGhrsM12">{{Cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yNGfBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT5625|title=Political Handbook of the World 2015| last= Lansford|first=Tom|date=2015-03-24| publisher= CQ Press| isbn= 978-1-4833-7155-9| language=en}}</ref>
| p1                     = British Somaliland
| flag_p1                = Flag of British Somaliland (1950–1952).svg
| s1                     = Somali Republic
| flag_s1                = Flag of Somalia.svg
| image_flag             = Flag of State of Somaliland.svg
| image_coat             = 
| flag                   = Flag of Somaliland
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        = [[National anthem of Somaliland (1960)|National anthem of Somaliland]]
| image_map              = State of Somaliland (orthographic projection).svg
| image_map_caption      = Location of Somaliland
| capital                = [[Hargeisa]]
| government_type        = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]]
| leader_title1          = Prime Minister
| leader_name1           = [[Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal]]<ref name="Wssom2"/>
| legislature            = [[Parliament of Somaliland|Legislative Assembly]]
| common_languages       = [[Somali language|Somali]]<br />[[English language|English]]
| religion               = [[Sunni Islam]]
| currency               = [[East African shilling]]
| HDI                    = 
| today                  = [[Somaliland]]
| HDI_year               = 
| demonym                = Somalilander
| GDP_PPP_year           = 
| population_estimate_year = 1960
| GDP_PPP                = 
| area_rank              = 69th
| population_estimate    = 650,000<ref>{{cite journal |title=SOMALILAND: DEMOCRATISATION AND ITS DISCONTENTS 28 July 2003 |journal=International Crisis Group |date=2003 |page=2 |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/28746/066%20somaliland%20democratization_.pdf |access-date=5 March 2022}}</ref>
| area_km2               = 176120<ref name="KitGhrsM12"/>
| life_span              = 26 June 1960-1 July 1960
}}
{{History of Somaliland}}

'''Somaliland''', officially the '''State of Somaliland'''<ref name="somalilandlaw.com">{{Cite web| title=Agreements and Exchanges of Letters | url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/Treaties_between_the_UK_and_the_State_of_Somaliland_1960.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010201943/http://www.somalilandlaw.com/Treaties_between_the_UK_and_the_State_of_Somaliland_1960.pdf | archive-date=2015-10-10}}</ref><ref name="Statutory Instruments">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fI1QAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1279 | title=Statutory Instruments | date=1960 | publisher=H.M. Stationery Office }}</ref> ({{Langx|so| Qaranka Soomaaliland}}), was an independent country in the territory of the present-day unilaterally declared [[Republic of Somaliland]], which regards itself as its legal successor.<ref name="Wssom2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html|title=Somalia|website=www.worldstatesmen.org}}</ref> It existed on the territory of former [[British Somaliland]] for five days between 26 June 1960 and 1 July 1960, when it merged with the formerly Italian administered [[Trust Territory of Somaliland]] to form the [[Somali Republic]].<ref name="Wssom1">[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Somalia.html Somalia]</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica 2002 p.835"/>

==History==
[[File:Independence Day State of Somaliland.png|upright|thumb|Agreements and Exchanges of Letters between the Government of the [[United Kingdom]] and the Government of Somaliland in connexion with the Attainment of Independence by Somaliland<ref>{{Cite web| title=Agreements and Exchanges of Letters | url=http://foto.archivalware.co.uk/data/Library2/pdf/1960-TS0044.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723093038/http://foto.archivalware.co.uk/data/Library2/pdf/1960-TS0044.pdf | archive-date=2020-07-23}}</ref>]]

Initially the [[British government]] planned to delay the [[protectorate]] of [[British Somaliland]] independence in favour of a gradual transfer of power. The arrangement would allow local politicians to gain more political experience in running the protectorate before official independence. However, strong pan-Somali nationalism and a landslide victory in the earlier elections encouraged them to demand independence and unification with the [[Trust Territory of Somaliland]] under Italian Administration.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Intelligence Bulletin 26th Feb 1960 |url=https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79T00975A004900470001-6.pdf |website=CIA |access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

The British stated that it would be prepared to grant independence to the then [[protectorate]] of [[British Somaliland]], with the intention that the territory would unite with the Trust Territory of Somaliland. The Legislative Council of British Somaliland passed a resolution in April 1960 requesting independence and union with the Trust Territory of Somaliland, which was scheduled to gain independence on 1 July that year. The legislative councils of both territories agreed to this proposal following a joint conference in [[Mogadishu]].<ref name="wardheernews.com">{{Cite web |url=http://wardheernews.com/Articles_09/June/Roobdoon_Forum/29_Independence_week_series.html |title=Somali Independence Week |access-date=2011-01-24 |archive-date=2011-09-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928052641/http://wardheernews.com/Articles_09/June/Roobdoon_Forum/29_Independence_week_series.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Somaliland Flying for the first time The White and Blue Somali Flag at the Independence Celebrations on 26 June 1960.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Somaliland flying the [[Somali Flag]] at the [[Independence Day (State of Somaliland)|Independence]] ceremony on 26 June 1960. The then Prime Minister of the State of Somaliland [[Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal]] salutes the flag.]]

[[File:The Somaliland Protectorate Constitutional Conference, London.png|upright=0.8|thumb|The Somaliland Protectorate Constitutional Conference, [[London]], May 1960 in which it was decide that 26 June be the day of Independence, and so signed on 12 May 1960. Somaliland Delegation: Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal, Ahmed Haji Dualeh, Ali Garad Jama& Haji Ibrahim Nur. From the Colonial Office: [[Ian Macleod]], [[Sir Douglas Hall, 14th Baronet|D. B. Hall]], H. C. F. Wilks (Secretary)]]

[[Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal]], who had previously served as an unofficial member of the former British Somaliland protectorate's Executive Council and the leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council, became the prime minister of Somaliland.<ref name="Contini">Paolo Contini, ''The Somali Republic: an experiment in legal integration'', (Routledge, 1969), p.6.</ref>

On 26 June 1960, the former British Somaliland protectorate obtained independence as Somaliland.<ref name="Wssom2"/><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica 2002 p.835">Encyclopædia Britannica, ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica'', (Encyclopædia Britannica: 2002), p.835</ref> The following day, on 27 June 1960, the newly convened Somaliland Legislative Assembly passed a bill that would formally allow for the union of Somaliland with the Trust Territory of Somaliland, which was set for independence on 1 July 1960.<ref name="wardheernews.com"/>

There were also fears of clashes with populations in Ethiopia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Somaliland Marks Independence After 73 Years of British Rule |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00A10FB395A1A7A93C4AB178DD85F448685F9 |format=fee required |work=The New York Times |page=6 |date=1960-06-26 |access-date=2008-06-20}}</ref>

Following unification on 1 July 1960, a government was formed by [[Abdullahi Issa]], with [[Abdulcadir Muhammed Aden]] as President of the Somali National Assembly, [[Aden Abdullah Osman Daar]] as [[List of Presidents of Somalia|President]] and [[Abdirashid Ali Shermarke]] as [[Prime Minister of Somalia|Prime Minister]], later to become President (from 1967 to 1969). On 20 July 1961, and through a popular [[referendum]], the Somali people ratified a new [[constitution]], which was first drafted in 1960.<ref>Greystone Press Staff, ''The Illustrated Library of The World and Its Peoples: Africa, North and East'', (Greystone Press: 1967), p.338</ref> The constitution was widely regarded as unfair in the former Somaliland, however, and over 60% of the northern voters were against it in the referendum. Regardless, it was signed into law. Widespread dissatisfaction spread among the north's population,{{sfnp|Richards|2014|p=84}} and British-trained officers attempted a [[1961 revolt in Somalia|revolt to end the union in December 1961]]. Their uprising failed, and Somaliland continued to be marginalized by the south during the next decades.{{sfnp|Richards|2014|p=85}}

==Diplomatic recognition==
During its existence, Somaliland received international recognition from 35 countries,<ref name="csis.org">{{Cite web |title=Somaliland: The Little Country that Could |url=http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/anotes_0211.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214047/http://csis.org/files/media/csis/pubs/anotes_0211.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref> that included [[China]], [[Egypt]], [[Ethiopia]], [[France]], [[Ghana]], [[Israel]], [[Libya]] and the [[Soviet Union]].

Queen [[Elizabeth II]] sent the following message to the people of Somaliland to mark independence day:
{{Blockquote| "I, my Government and my people in the United Kingdom, wish you well on this day of independence. The connection between our people goes back some 130 years and British administration of the Protectorate for 60 years. I look forward to a continuing and enduring friendship between our two countries."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biyokulule.com/view_content.php?articleid=1987|title=Biyokulule Online|website=www.biyokulule.com}}</ref>}}

The [[United States Secretary of State]] [[Christian Herter]] sent a congratulatory message,<ref name="csis.org" /><ref name="ebooksread.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/united-states-dept-of-state-office-of-public-co/department-of-state-bulletin-volume-v-43-jul--sep1960-tin/page-25-department-of-state-bulletin-volume-v-43-jul--sep1960-tin.shtml|title=Read the eBook Department of State bulletin (Volume v. 43, Jul- Sep1960) by United States. Dept. of State. Office of Public Co online for free (page 25 of 100)|website=www.ebooksread.com|access-date=2020-12-30|archive-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030015511/https://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/united-states-dept-of-state-office-of-public-co/department-of-state-bulletin-volume-v-43-jul--sep1960-tin/page-25-department-of-state-bulletin-volume-v-43-jul--sep1960-tin.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1958-60v14/d62|title=Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Africa, Volume XIV - Office of the Historian|website=history.state.gov}}</ref> and the [[United Kingdom]] signed several bilateral agreements with Somaliland in Hargeisa on June 26, 1960.<ref name="csis.org"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/Files/Brenthurst_Commisioned_Reports/BD-1105_Consequences-of-Somalilands-International-Recognition.pdf|title=THE BRENTHURST FOUNDATION Strengthening Africa's economic performance AFRICAN GAme ChANGeR? The Consequences of Somaliland's International (Non) Recognition <blockquote>This list includes China (Republic of ), Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Ghana, Israel, Libya, Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, and the United States.</blockquote>|access-date=2015-03-15|archive-date=2013-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005084350/http://www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org/Files/Brenthurst_Commisioned_Reports/BD-1105_Consequences-of-Somalilands-International-Recognition.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="somalilandlaw.com"/>

[[United States Secretary of State]] [[Christian Herter]] sent the following letter: 
{{Blockquote|
::June 26, 1960
::Their Excellencies,

:::Council of Ministers of Somaliland, Hargeisa.
::::Your Excellencies: I extend my best wishes and congratulations on the achievement of your independence. This is a noteworthy milestone in your history, and it is with pleasure that I send
::::::my warmest regards on this happy occasion.
:::::::Christian a. Herter
::::::::Secretary of State, United States of America.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wGr93ezMNdUC&dq=Secretary+of+State+Herter+sent+a+congratulatory+message+dated+June+26+to+the+Somaliland+Council+of+Ministers&pg=PA87 | title=The Department of State Bulletin | date=1960 }}</ref>

==Governance==
The system of governance for Somaliland was established by the Constitution of Somaliland which was enacted by the Somaliland Order in Council 1960 (SI 1960/1060) made by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on 23 June 1960.<ref name="Statutory Instruments"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.academia.edu/2916544 | title=Brief history about somaliland constitutions | last1=Hagoog | first1=Adnan }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fI1QAQAAIAAJ | title=Statutory Instruments | date=1960 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title=Report of the Somaliland Protectorate Constitutional Conference | url=https://saxafimedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Somaliland_constitutional_conference_may1960.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625211953/https://saxafimedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Somaliland_constitutional_conference_may1960.pdf | archive-date=2021-06-25}}</ref>

The Order in Council explicitly stated that "Somaliland shall become an independent country on the 26 day of June, 1960" and that British protection over Somaliland would lapse on the same date. The introduction to the constitution defined Somaliland's territory as being all the territory of the British Somaliland Protectorate.<ref name="Statutory Instruments"/>

The constitution established three branches of government following the [[Westminster system]]:<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.somalilandlaw.com/somaliland_constitution_1960.HTM | title=Somaliland Constitution 1960 }}</ref>

*The Council of Ministers which was led by the Prime Minister and included four other ministers.
*The Legislative Assembly which had 34 members and was presided over by a Speaker. 
*The High Court which was made up of a number of Judges determined by the Council of Ministers.

===Prime Minister of Somaliland===
[[Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal]] was the first and only holder of the office.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://somalilandstandard.com/somalilands-26th-june-1960-86-years-of-protectorate-comes-to-end/ | title=Somaliland's 26th June 1960, 86 years of protectorate comes to end | date=26 June 2019 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" width="180" |Name<br />{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
! rowspan="2" |Election
! colspan="3" |Term of office
|-
!Took office
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
! | 1
| [[File:Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal 1968.jpg|80px]]
| [[Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal]]<br />{{small|(1928 – 2002)}}
| [[1960 British Somaliland parliamentary election|1960]]
| 26 June 1960
| 1 July 1960
| {{ayd|1960|06|26|1960|07|01}}
|}

===Somaliland Council of Ministers===
The Council of Ministers had five members:<ref>{{cite web | url=https://somalilandstandard.com/somalilands-26th-june-1960-86-years-of-protectorate-comes-to-end/ | title=Somaliland's 26th June 1960, 86 years of protectorate comes to end | date=26 June 2019 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name !! Designation
|-
|[[Mohamed Ibrahim Egal]] || Prime Minister
|-
|Garad Ali Garad Jama || Minister
|-
|Ahmed Hajji Duale || Minister
|-
|Hajji Yusuf Iman || Minister 
|-
|Hajji Ibrahim Nur || Minister
|}

===Somaliland Legislative Assembly===
[[File:The First Parliament of Somaliland 1960.jpg|upright|thumb|300px|right|Members of the Legislative Assembly elected in February 1960]]
The Somaliland Legislative Assembly had 33 members (MLAs), including an ex-officio Speaker. Members of the legislative assembly were elected in [[1960 British Somaliland parliamentary election|February 1960]] from 33 single-member constituencies.<ref name=S>[[Dolf Sternberger]], [[Bernhard Vogel (politician)|Bernhard Vogel]], Dieter Nohlen & Klaus Landfried (1978) ''Die Wahl der Parlamente: Band II: Afrika, Zweiter Halbband'', p1926</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://somalilandstandard.com/somalilands-26th-june-1960-86-years-of-protectorate-comes-to-end/ | title=Somaliland's 26th June 1960, 86 years of protectorate comes to end | date=26 June 2019 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Party !! MLAs
|-
|Somali National League || 20
|-
|National United Front|| 1
|-
|United Somali Party || 12
|-
|Speaker || 1
|-
|'''Total''' || '''34'''
|}

==Use as a legal precedent for the Republic of Somaliland==
Today's re-established [[Republic of Somaliland]] functions as a [[de facto]] independent state and regards itself as the legal successor to the State of Somaliland.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Somaliland Marks Independence After 73 Years of British Rule |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00A10FB395A1A7A93C4AB178DD85F448685F9 |format=fee required |work=The New York Times |page=6 |date=1960-06-26 |access-date=2008-06-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10740852 | work=BBC News | title=How Britain said farewell to its Empire | date=2010-07-23}}</ref> However, unlike the former State of Somaliland, it has not gained widespread [[diplomatic recognition]] as a country, instead being treated as an [[States and regions of Somalia|autonomous region]] within Somalia.<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news  | title = The Signs Say Somaliland, but the World Says Somalia  | work = New York Times  | date = 2006-06-05  | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/africa/05somaliland.html  | access-date = 2010-02-02  | first=Marc  | last=Lacey}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web  | title = The Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic  | publisher = [[University of Pretoria]]  | date = 2004-02-01  | url = http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/countries/docs/charterfeb04.pdf  | access-date = 2010-02-02  | archive-date = 2010-02-15  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100215171406/http://www.chr.up.ac.za/hr_docs/countries/docs/charterfeb04.pdf  | url-status = dead  }} "The Somali Republic shall have the following boundaries. (a) North; Gulf of Aden. (b) North West; Djibouti. (c) West; Ethiopia. (d) South south-west; Kenya. (e) East; Indian Ocean."</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

===Works cited===
*{{Cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BFd7BAAAQBAJ
|title=Understanding Statebuilding: Traditional Governance and the Modern State in Somaliland
|last=Richards
|first=Rebecca 
|year=2014
|publisher=Ashgate
|location=Surrey
|isbn=9781472425898
|language=en
}}

==External links==
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=fI1QAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA1279 Somaliland Order in Council (S.I. No. 1060 of 1960)]
*[http://www.somalilandlaw.com/somaliland_constitution_1960.HTM 1960 Constitution of Somaliland]
*[http://www.somalilandlaw.com/Treaties_between_the_UK_and_the_State_of_Somaliland_1960.pdf Agreements made between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Government of Somaliland on 26 June 1960]
*[https://archive.org/details/somalirepublicex0000cont/page/n12 <!-- pg=1 --> The Somali Republic: an experiment in legal integration] by Paolo Contini—leader of the UN Consultative Commission for Integration, which oversaw the union of the former State of Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland.

{{Somaliland topics}}

[[Category:1960 in Somaliland|*]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1960]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1960]]
[[Category:Political history of Somaliland]]