Carried the banner: every generation since 1895
Since 1895, when the Sayyid began, every generation of Somalis has carried the banner of one free and prosperous Somalia.
Taariikh
History
The Somali story from the coast cities and Adal in the 1300s to the Federal Republic in 2026. Every era, and every group that carried the banner since 1895, with the sources we opened.
Carried the banner since 1895
Every generation moved the work forward. We honour each one.
What held us back: seven forces that repeat across 130 years
The same seven forces appear again and again in the Somali record since 1895, and they held back every generation that carried the banner.
Timelines
Timeline: the 1300s to independence in 1960
From Mogadishu's trading towns and the Adal Sultanate to the Somali Youth League and the union of 1 July 1960, these are the dated events that shaped Somali…
Timeline: the Federal Republic, 2012 to November 2026
Newest first: the dated events in Somali politics from the end of the transition in August 2012 to November 2026, each with its source.
Eras, in order
Medieval and early modern polities, 1300s–1700s (Mogadishu, Ifat/Adal, Ajuran)
Between the 1300s and the 1700s, Somalis lived in rich coastal city-states such as Mogadishu and in large Muslim states such as Adal and Ajuran.
Sultanates, the coast and customary law, 1700s–1880s (Geledi, Isaaq, Majeerteen, Hobyo, Bardera, xeer)
From the 1700s to the 1880s, Somalis ran their own sultanates, such as Geledi, Majeerteen, Hobyo and the Isaaq Sultanate, and settled disputes through xeer…
Partition, 1884–1926
Between 1884 and 1926 the Somali lands were divided into five parts: British Somaliland, French Somaliland (Djibouti), Italian Somaliland, the…
Resistance, 1890s–1945 (Banaadir, Dervishes, Hassan Barsane, Sheikh Bashir)
From the 1890s to 1945, Somalis resisted colonial rule in every part of their land: the Banaadir towns and the Marka hinterland in the south, the Dervish movement of…
Fascist rule and the war, 1923–1941
From 1923 to 1941 Fascist Italy ruled southern Somalia by force, ended the last northern sultanates in 1926, and during the Second World War briefly held…
Nationalist era, 1943–1960 (SYL, SNL, NUF, HDM)
Between 1943 and 1960 Somalis built the modern movement for unity and independence.
Independence and union, 26 June – 1 July 1960
On 26 June 1960 British Somaliland became independent, and on 1 July 1960 the former Italian trust territory became independent and the two united as the…
Civilian era, 1960–1969
From union on 1 July 1960 to the coup of October 1969, Somalia was a civilian democracy that held elections and changed governments peacefully.
Siad Barre era, 1969–1991
From the coup of 21 October 1969 to his fall in January 1991, Siad Barre's military government wrote Somali down, taught millions to read and built roads, th…
Collapse, 1991–2000
After Siad Barre fell in January 1991, no one agreed on who would govern. The fronts that removed him split, Mogadishu was divided, famine killed hundreds of…
Islamist movements and transitional governments, 2000–2012
From 2000 to 2012 Somalis worked to rebuild a national government through a series of transitional governments, while Islamic courts, armed groups and…
1991–1999: Collapse, local peacemaking, UN era and faction talks
After the state collapsed in 1991, Somalis rebuilt from the ground up. Elders made peace in the north, business people funded courts and phone and money netw…
2000–2006: Transitional governments and the rise of the courts
How Somalis rebuilt without a central state, 2000–2006: the local peacemaking, the talks and the governments of the period.
2007–2012: Insurgency, Djibouti process, and the end of transition
From 2007 to 2012 Somalis and their partners rebuilt a national government step by step.
Toosoo!
Since 1895, every generation has worked for one united, prosperous Somalia. Now it is our generation.
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