State of Somaliland
1960 short-lived state in the Horn of Africa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Somaliland, officially the State of Somaliland[4][5] (Somali: Qaranka Soomaaliland), was a sovereign and independent country that existed for five days in 1960. [1] It gained independence from the United Kingdom on 26 June 1960 and on 1 July 1960, together with the Trust Territory of Somaliland which gained independence from Italy and ended its UN trusteeship under Italian administration on the same day, they formed the Somali Republic. [6][7]
State of Somaliland | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | |||||||||
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| Anthem: National anthem of Somaliland | |||||||||
.svg) Location of Somaliland | |||||||||
| Status | sovereign Independent state | ||||||||
| Capital | Hargeisa | ||||||||
| Common languages | Somali English | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
| Demonym | Somali | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic | ||||||||
• Prime Minister | Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal[1] | ||||||||
| Legislature | Legislative Assembly | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 26 June 1960 | |||||||||
| 1 July 1960 | |||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 176,120[2] km2 (68,000 sq mi) (69th) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1960 estimate | 650,000[3] | ||||||||
| Currency | East African shilling | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Somalia Somaliland | ||||||||
History
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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[11]
On 26 June 1960, the former British Somaliland protectorate obtained independence as Somaliland.[1][7] 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.[10]
There were also fears of clashes with populations in Ethiopia.[12]
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 President and Abdirashid Ali Shermarke as 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.[13] 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,[14] and British-trained officers attempted a revolt to end the union in December 1961. Their uprising failed, and Somaliland continued to be marginalized by the south during the next decades.[15]
Diplomatic recognition
During its existence, Somaliland received international recognition from 33 countries,[16] [17] that included the United Kingdom[18], the United States[19], 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:
"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."[20]
The United States Secretary of State Christian Herter sent a congratulatory message,[17][21][22] and the United Kingdom signed several bilateral agreements with Somaliland in Hargeisa on June 26, 1960.[17][23][4]
United States Secretary of State Christian Herter sent the following letter:
- 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.
Governance
Constitution of Somaliland
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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.[5][25][26][27]
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.[5]
The constitution established three branches of government following the Westminster system:[28]
- 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.[29]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Election | Term of office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
| 1 |  |
Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928 – 2002) |
1960 | 26 June 1960 | 1 July 1960 | 5 days |
Somaliland Council of Ministers
The Council of Ministers had five members:[30]
| Name | Designation |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Ibrahim Egal | Prime Minister |
| Garad Ali Garad Jama | Minister |
| Ahmed Haji Dualeh | Minister |
| Hajji Yusuf Iman | Minister |
| Hajji Ibrahim Nur | Minister |
Somaliland Legislative Assembly
The Somaliland Legislative Assembly had 33 members (MLAs), including an ex-officio Speaker. Members of the legislative assembly were elected in February 1960 from 33 single-member constituencies.[31][32]
| 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.[33][34] However, unlike the former State of Somaliland, it has not gained widespread diplomatic recognition as a country, instead being treated as an autonomous region within Somalia.[35][36] As of 26 December 2025, Israel is the only United Nations member state that recognises the Republic of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state.[37]