Italian Somaliland, together with Eritrea and Ethiopia, became Italian East Africa (see below) 1 June 1936 to 1941. Occupied by British imperial forces in 1941, the territory was separately administered by the British until it was placed under United Nations trusteeship on 21 November 1949 with Italy as trustee nation for ten years. It became an independent republic in 1960, joining with ex-British Somali-land (see Somaliland Protectorate). After an army coup in 1969, it adopted a communist regime and the title Somali Democratic Republic.

Postal History
Unstamped Italian mail from the southern ports was handled in 1885-97 by an Italian consulate in Zanzibar, and in 1897-1903 by the P0 at Kismayu where British East African stamps were applied.

Later stamps are overprinted or inscribed SOMALIA ITALIANA.

Stamps in use in 1936 were valid throughout Italian East Africa and can be found used in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. Also used stamps of Italian East Africa in 1938-41.

From 1 July 1926 used stamps of Italian Somaliland.

British Occupation of Italian Somaliland
Civilian mail was handled at Mogadishu by a military office (EA APO 74), using stamps of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, until Occupied Enemy Territory Administration (OETA) was operative.
Under OETA used stamps of Britain overprinted M.E.F. from 13 April 1942.
Used stamps of Britain overprinted E.A.F. from 15 January 1943.
Used stamps of Britain overprinted B.M.A. Somalia from 27 May 1848.
Used stamps of Britain overprinted B.A. SOMALIA from 2 January 1950.

(Owing to lateness of availability, each of these issued overlapped into the following period of administration.)

Siad Barre was overthrown in January 1993 which started a civil war between clan-based movements. The United Somali Congress (USC) seized control in Mogadishu and an interim administration was formed under Ali Mahdi Muhammed.

In the north, the Somali National Movement formed a rival administration under the leadership of Ahmed Ali. Fighting between the USC and supporters of the Somali National Alliance (SNA) of General Aideed devastated Mogadishu and large parts of South Somalia which increased the problems already caused by famine conditions.

The UN operation proved in effectual in securing aid distribution routes and was replaced by a further US led, UN force, UNITAF. On 4 May 1993, UNITAF handed over to a 28,000 strong UN force (UNOSOM). Clashes between the UN force which was trying to establish some form of settlement in the country and the resulting civil war left 90 Un troops and 2.00 Somalis dead between June and November 1993.

The Western part of the UN alliance withdrew from the operation in March 1994. This left troops from India, Pakistan and Egypt that were easily overrun by the Somali factions.

The UN withdrew all troops in March 1995 which allowed General Aideeds's militia to take control of the city's port and airport. On 12 June 1995, Aideed was ousted as leader by a joint USC/SNA Congress that nominated Osman Ali as its leader. However, Aideed responded by declaring himself President on 15 June 1995, but he was killed by gunshot a year later and was succeeded by his son, Hussein. Fighting between the factions continued through out 1996 and 1997.

On 22 December 1997, 26 out of 28 factions signed the Cairo Declaration which aimed at the establishment of a thirteen member Presidential Council and a Council of Deputies in preparation for full elections to be held no later than 2003. Despite this declaration, fighting has continued and, following the capture of Baidoa by militamen loyal to the Aideeds on 2 May 1999, Ethiopian forces assisted in the recapture of the town a month later.

Not surprisingly, the postal services throughout the country have been totally disrupted and although some stamps have been issued, their provenance and usefulness is doubtful.

The Somali Embassy in London was closed in January 1992 and has not reopened.

Egyptian stamps used at Berbera and Zaila in 1881-4 (see Egypt).

Stamps withdrawn from sale 25 June 1960.

Used stamps of Somalia Trust Territory 25-30 June 1960, and thereafter stamps of Somalia.

Wituland
A sultanate inland of Lamu under German protection 27 May 1885-30 June 1890. The local stamps 'issued' here with inscriptions in Swahili or Arabic have never had universal official recognition.

Obock issues were used in Djibouti until supplies were exhausted.

In 1902, stamps of Djibouti were replaced by issues bearing the title of the protectorate.

Stamps continued to be issued until 1967 but sometimes contained the title 'Djibouti' as well as the protectorate's full name - notably in the case of the Free French issue of 1943.

The French maintained a link through their territory to Ethiopia by rail, thus giving Ethiopia its only direct link to the coast. The Free French kept alive their civil air rights by running an airmail service between Djibouti and Madagascar in 1943-4.

Horn of Africa 1908
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