1961: The union between Somaliland and Somalia came on the brink of collapse

[Deeq A.]

Somaliland received its independence from the United Kingdom on June 26, 1960. It was perhaps the shortest independence in modern history, in terms of duration, as they joined the trust Territory of Somalia four days later to form the Somali Republic. The hastily arranged union between the former British Somali land and the trust Territory of Somalia had generated immediate discontent in the Northern regions over perceived economic decline there and the growing political influence of Mogadiscio. Troubling trends began to emerge as Northerners, or rather the ethnic Issak, who represent the majority of the inhabitants of the northern regions, realized how wrong they had been to hasten the process leading to the merger with the more bigger and populous former Italian Somalia.

Source: Hiiraan Online