protectorate · Horn and East Africa

British Somaliland

1884 CE – 1960 CE · capital Berbera; later Hargeisa

A British protectorate on the Gulf of Aden coast of Somalia, which fought a 20-year war with the Dervishes and became independent as Somaliland in 1960.

Origins

Britain's interest in the northern Somali coast came from Aden, which depended on Somali livestock. Between 1884 and 1886 British officers signed treaties with the Isaaq, Gadabuursi, Warsangali and other clans, and after Egypt withdrew from Zeila and Berbera the protectorate was established, run at first from British India.

Rule and society

British rule was thin and cheap, aimed at keeping the coast secure and the meat trade flowing. From 1899 the Dervish State of Mohammed Abdullah Hassan fought a long war against the British, ended in 1920 by a campaign that used aircraft. Pastoral clans kept their customary institutions under appointed elders and Islamic courts. Italy occupied the territory briefly in 1940 to 1941.

Decline and legacy

On 26 June 1960 British Somaliland became independent as the State of Somaliland, which five days later united with the former Trust Territory of Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. Its borders were revived by the Republic of Somaliland in 1991.

Lineage

Isaaq Sultanate 1750 CE – 1884 CEBritish SomalilandState of Somaliland 1960 CE – 1960 CE

Connections (5)

Habr Yunis Sultanate was a protectorate of British Somaliland1884 CE – 1907 CE
British Somaliland was a protectorate of British Empire1884 CE – 1960 CE
Warsangali Sultanate was a protectorate of British Somaliland1886 CE – 1960 CE
Dervish State was conquered by British Somaliland1920 CE
British Somaliland was conquered by Italian East Africa1940 CE – 1941 CE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). British Somaliland. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-somaliland
MLA: “British Somaliland.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-somaliland. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “British Somaliland.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-somaliland.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘British Somaliland’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/british-somaliland (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻