Who Colonized Somalia First? A Story of Empires and Resistance

The first foreign footprints in Somali territory

Let’s get straight to the point: the first to colonize parts of what is now Somalia were the Italians — but that’s not the full story. If we look a little deeper (and we should), we see that Britain, Italy, and even France all had stakes in the Somali territories. And if we go way back, we can't forget the Ottoman Empire and Portuguese explorers who also poked around the Somali coast in earlier centuries.

But as for formal colonization? Italy takes the title — at least in the south.

Italian Somaliland: the official “first colonizer” in the south

In the late 19th century, during the infamous “Scramble for Africa,” Italy moved in and took control of southern Somalia. They signed various “protection” treaties with local sultans (yeah, protection… more like takeover), and by the 1880s, they began calling the shots.

Italian Somaliland was formalized by 1889. Infrastructure, taxes, military presence — the works. They weren’t just visiting.

British Somaliland: colonization in the north

Just a little earlier than Italy’s full move, Britain had already claimed the northern Somali coast — what became British Somaliland. This happened around 1884–1887, through treaties with northern Somali clans, especially the Isaaq.

Wait a minute — doesn’t that mean Britain came first? Technically yes, in the north. But Italy's control in the south became more centralized and formal earlier. So… depends on how you define “colonize.” See the confusion?

Why Britain wanted the north

Simple: access to the Red Sea, trade routes, and to secure Aden (modern-day Yemen), which was already under British control. Somalia’s coast was strategic, and the British weren’t going to let it slip through.

What about the French?

Yup, France had a piece too. Djibouti — right next to Somalia — was under French rule. While they didn’t go deep into Somalia itself, their presence near the border influenced Somali clan politics and cross-border interactions. So yeah, France was a player… just not the main one.

The resistance: Somalis didn’t just sit and take it

The Dervish movement

One name you have to know: Sayyid Mohammed Abdullah Hassan. The Brits called him the “Mad Mullah” (yeah, real classy…), but he was actually a highly strategic leader who fought a 20-year resistance against the British from 1899 to 1920.

He wasn’t messing around — the Dervish movement he led created its own administration, military, and alliances. This wasn’t just rebellion. It was an attempt at a Somali-led state. Didn’t work out in the end, but man, it came close.

Somalia after colonization: division and unification

After WWII, things got even weirder.

• British Somaliland remained under British control until 1960.

• Italian Somaliland was made a UN Trust Territory (still under Italy!) after WWII — again, from 1950 to 1960.

Finally, in 1960, the two regions unified into the independent Somali Republic. Brief honeymoon period… then came coups, civil war, and chaos — but that’s a different article.

Conclusion: So who colonized Somalia first?

If you're thinking strictly about modern colonial powers, Britain got there first in the north. But Italy established formal colonial rule faster in the south.

So, who colonized Somalia first? It depends on how you slice the map.

But one thing’s for sure: Somalia was never truly passive. From treaty trickery to full-blown rebellion, the Somali people constantly challenged foreign control. And that — more than any empire — is the heart of the story.

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