Fascist rule and the war, 1923–1941

What happened

• 1923. Cesare De Vecchi became the first Fascist governor of Italian Somaliland (Britannica).
• 1924. Sheikh Hassan Barsane refused De Vecchi's order to disarm, citing Islamic law, and was captured in April 1924 (Sheikh Hassan Barsane).
• 1926. After a military campaign, Italy took over the Majeerteen and Hobyo sultanates (Britannica). The same year Trans-Juba, with Kismayo, was merged into Italian Somaliland (Oltre Giuba).
• From 1906. Italian governors built a plantation economy between the Shabelle and Juba rivers, laying the base for later differences between north and south (Library of Congress).
• 1920s to 1930s. Somalis created their own scripts: Osmanya by Cismaan Yuusuf Keenadiid (1920 to 1922) and the Borama script by Abdurahman Sheikh Nuur (about 1933) (Somali writing systems).
• 1934. A clash at Welwel in the disputed Ogaden became Italy's pretext for invading Ethiopia (Britannica).
• 1935 to 1936. Italy conquered Ethiopia. 1940: it took British Somaliland. For a short time the Ogaden, the north and the south were run together, with a common currency and taxes (Library of Congress).
• 1939. Protests over education at Burao, led by figures including Sheikh Bashir (1945 Sheikh Bashir rebellion).
• March 1941. Britain retook the north and placed the south and the Ogaden under its military administration (Library of Congress).

What this era moved forward

Although it was imposed by an occupier, the period from 1936 to 1941 gave most Somalis their first experience of one administration across the Ogaden, the north and the south. The Library of Congress notes that this made unification look achievable (Library of Congress). Somali scripts invented in these years showed Somalis writing their own language in their own way.

What the historians record

This was colonial rule imposed by force. The northern sultanates were ended by military campaign. The plantation economy was built for Italy, not for Somalis.

Why it matters

Even under occupation, Somalis kept their faith, their law and their language, and saw that their lands could be one. In May 1943, while the war was still going on, thirteen young Somalis in Mogadishu founded the movement that led to independence.