Democratic Republic of Somali is formed

Date: 1 Jul 1960
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

On 1 July 1960, the independent Somali Democratic Republic, commonly known as Somalia, was formed out of former British and Italian territories, with Mogadishu as capital and Aden Abdullah Osman Daar as its first president. Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland, situated on the eastern coast of Africa and bordered by the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, were occupied by the two colonial powers since the early 19th century. In 1956, in accordance with a decision by the United Nations, Italy granted its territory internal autonomy which evolved into independence in 1960. The same development took place in British Somaliland when Britain ended its protectorate in June 1960.

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How we know this

01Independent Diplomat, The Republic of Somaliland, from Independent Diplomat [online] Available at www.independ
02BBC News,Somalia profile: A chronology of key events,(2013), from BBC News, 19 December,[online],Available at www.bbc.com [Accessed: 24 June 2014]
03BBC News ,(2010),How Britain said farewell to its Empire ,23 July,[online],Available at www.bbc.co.uk [Accessed: 3 June 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Democratic Republic of Somali is formed. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011903

South African History Online (2011) 'Democratic Republic of Somali is formed', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011903 (Accessed: 15 August 2026).

South African History Online, Democratic Republic of Somali is formed [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011903, (accessed 15 August 2026).

"Democratic Republic of Somali is formed." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011903. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Democratic Republic of Somali is formed." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011903.