THIS STUDY COVERS THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN 1941 and 1969 - almost three decades which undoubtedly represent a crucial time in Somalia's history. The period is divided into three distinct phases in which the country came under the rule of three different administrations: British military administration, UN Trusteeship and, finally, an independent Somali civilian administration, each of which left its imprint not only on the country but also on the lives of its people. The aim of this study is to shed light on misconceptions held by a large segment of Somalis, and assist them as they become acquainted with major political developments which characterized this period but have been largely ignored, except at the peripheral level. The existing literature on this important historical period is scanty, shallow and incomplete by nature; it is the work of foreign writers, and consequently does not provide a comprehensive or clear picture of major events. Owing to lack of investment in writing and teaching history, generations of young Somalis are growing up ignorant of their heritage or exposed to distorted presentations of it. This study does not purport to be a comprehensive history of the events which took place during the period it covers. It does, however, focus on major political and social transformations. It examines the difficult economic conditions Somalis endured under British military occupation and the political liberalization introduced by British colonial authorities, which paved the way for the formation of the first social and political movements.
