Somalia became an independent state in 1960 through the union of two former colonies. British Somaliland, in the north, became independent on 26 June, and the Italian-administered Trust Territory of Somalia, in the south, followed on 1 July, when the two joined to form the Somali Republic. Aden Abdullah Osman Daar was chosen as the first president. The new country had a parliamentary system, but it struggled to merge two different colonial administrations and legal traditions. In 1969 a military coup brought Siad Barre to power, and his rule ended in 1991 as the state collapsed into civil war. Since 2012 the country has been rebuilding a federal government, while Somaliland in the north has declared itself independent without wide international recognition.
Before and after
- 21 October 1959Construction of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- 23 October 1959Birth of "Weird Al" Yankovic
- 26 October 1959Birth of Evo Morales
- 1 December 1959Antarctic Treaty System
- 1960Founding of Somalia
- c. 1960sRise of Fluxus
- from 1960 to 1996Guatemalan Civil War
- from 1960 to 1970The Beatles
- 1960Founding of Islamabad
More in Society, economy & sport
- 5 October 1948Founding of International Union for Conservation of Nature
- 5 May 1949Founding of Council of Europe
- 1952Founding of European Parliament
- 1 October 1963Founding of Nigeria
- 1985Introduction of new shekel
- 1990Rise of K-pop
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.