20th century
Horn of Africa
The United Nations decision of 1950 restored the administration of Somalia to Italy as a trusteeship, conditional on preparation for independence within ten years. It introduced a fixed timetable for a colonial power to prepare one of its African territories for independence.
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The Story
Somalia represented a special case in the post-war reorganization of colonial authority. Italy, whose administration of the colony was restored as a United Nations trusteeship, received responsibility under an international framework rather than through an unrestricted return to the former colonial order.
In 1950 the United Nations agreed that Italy should continue to administer Somalia, but attached a decisive condition: the territory had to be prepared for independence within ten years. This requirement gave the trusteeship a defined political horizon and placed the colonial administration under an obligation to work toward a stated objective rather than indefinitely postpone constitutional change.
The arrangement was significant because it made a colonial power work toward a fixed date for the independence of one of its colonies. United Nations trusteeships more generally subjected colonial administrations to inspection, criticism, and international accountability, although the excerpt distinguishes Somalia from other trusts because its timetable was expressly specified.
20th century
Horn of Africa
The United Nations decision of 1950 restored the administration of Somalia to Italy as a trusteeship, conditional on preparation for independence within ten years. It introduced a fixed timetable for a colonial power to prepare one of its African territories for independence.
Continue exploring
The Story
Somalia represented a special case in the post-war reorganization of colonial authority. Italy, whose administration of the colony was restored as a United Nations trusteeship, received responsibility under an international framework rather than through an unrestricted return to the former colonial order.
In 1950 the United Nations agreed that Italy should continue to administer Somalia, but attached a decisive condition: the territory had to be prepared for independence within ten years. This requirement gave the trusteeship a defined political horizon and placed the colonial administration under an obligation to work toward a stated objective rather than indefinitely postpone constitutional change.
The arrangement was significant because it made a colonial power work toward a fixed date for the independence of one of its colonies. United Nations trusteeships more generally subjected colonial administrations to inspection, criticism, and international accountability, although the excerpt distinguishes Somalia from other trusts because its timetable was expressly specified.