History · Colonial English

Brief(est) History of Somalia's Italian Colonial Administration

Mohamed Ibrahim May 2025 3 min read

📚 Alphonso A. Castagno's 1959 Study

Alphonso A. Castagno's extensive 1959 study in International Conciliation provides a foundational account of Somalia's transformation from an Italian trust territory under UN supervision to an independent republic. Set against the backdrop of Cold War decolonization, Castagno critically examines the efforts of the Italian Trusteeship Administration (AFIS), the United Nations, and Somali nationalists to craft political institutions, economic systems, and social infrastructure in a society deeply rooted in nomadic traditions, clan divisions, and Islamic values. Despite Somalia's geographical unity and linguistic homogeneity, Castagno emphasizes the challenges posed by nomadic social structures, limited economic resources, and low levels of literacy in the transition to statehood.

MI
Mohamed Ibrahim
Melbourne, Australia
Researcher on Somali colonial history, the Italian Trusteeship period (AFIS), and post-independence state-building challenges.
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Full analysis of Castagno's 1959 study and primary sources on Italian colonial rule in Somalia.
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Topics
Italian Colonialism Italian Trusteeship (AFIS) Castagno Study UN Trusteeship Somali Youth League Independence 1960