20th century – 20th century
Horn of Africa
Somalia was administered by Britain from 1941 to 1950 before being returned to Italian administration as a United Nations Trust Territory. Italy’s trusteeship carried a specific obligation to prepare Somalia for independence within a decade, linking post-war administration to an internationally supervised transition.
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The Story
Somalia was administered by Britain from 1941 to 1950, following the wartime defeat of Italy in East Africa. The extract presents this period as part of the post-war redistribution of authority over former Italian territories. British control was temporary and later gave way to a different form of internationalised administration.
In 1950 Somalia was given back to the Italians, but not as a simple restoration of the earlier colonial order. It became a United Nations Trust Territory, placing Italian administration within an international framework and attaching a defined political purpose to the arrangement.
The trusteeship included a specific obligation to prepare Somalia for independence within a decade. This timetable distinguished Somalia’s post-war status from ordinary colonial administration and made preparation for sovereignty an explicit responsibility of the administering power.
20th century – 20th century
Horn of Africa
Somalia was administered by Britain from 1941 to 1950 before being returned to Italian administration as a United Nations Trust Territory. Italy’s trusteeship carried a specific obligation to prepare Somalia for independence within a decade, linking post-war administration to an internationally supervised transition.
Continue exploring
The Story
Somalia was administered by Britain from 1941 to 1950, following the wartime defeat of Italy in East Africa. The extract presents this period as part of the post-war redistribution of authority over former Italian territories. British control was temporary and later gave way to a different form of internationalised administration.
In 1950 Somalia was given back to the Italians, but not as a simple restoration of the earlier colonial order. It became a United Nations Trust Territory, placing Italian administration within an international framework and attaching a defined political purpose to the arrangement.
The trusteeship included a specific obligation to prepare Somalia for independence within a decade. This timetable distinguished Somalia’s post-war status from ordinary colonial administration and made preparation for sovereignty an explicit responsibility of the administering power.