Every year on 26 June, the separatist administration commemorates the independence of the former British Somaliland Protectorate in 1960. For supporters of secession, this date represents the foundation of their claim to restored sovereignty. However, others argue that the history surrounding this anniversary has become increasingly selective, overlooking both the Dervish struggle and the continuing political divisions within the territory claimed by the separatist administration.
The struggle against colonial rule in northern Somalia did not begin in 1960. More than sixty years earlier, the Dervish movement, led by Sayyid Mohamed Abdille Hassan, waged one of Africa’s longest anti-colonial wars against British, Italian, and Ethiopian forces. Much of the Dervish resistance was centered in areas that today include Sool, Sanaag, and neighboring regions. From these territories, the Dervishes organized military campaigns that became one of the defining chapters of Somali anti-colonial history.
From this perspective, the Dervish legacy belongs to all Somalis and should not be reduced to the history of any single political movement. Those who emphasize this history argue that the separatist administration’s independence narrative gives insufficient recognition to the central role played by the Dervish movement and the regions where many of its military campaigns were based. They contend that the anti-colonial struggle was led primarily from areas that today include Sool, Sanaag, and neighboring territories, making the Dervish legacy a shared Somali heritage rather than the foundation of a separate national identity.
Supporters of Somali unity also argue that communities in Sool and parts of Sanaag have consistently rejected the separatist administration’s claim to independence and have instead aligned themselves with the Federal Republic of Somalia. They contend that local forces in these regions have continued to resist the separatist administration and currently control a substantial portion of the territory claimed by it. From this perspective, these realities demonstrate that the territory claimed by the separatist administration does not speak with one political voice and that its political status remains disputed both internally and internationally.
According to this viewpoint, any historical narrative that presents the former British Somaliland Protectorate as politically unified overlooks the differing aspirations of communities across the region. They argue that the continued support for Somali unity in parts of Sool and Sanaag reflects a political continuity stretching from the anti-colonial era to the present day.
The union of 1 July 1960 was entered into voluntarily by the former British Somaliland and the former Italian Somaliland to establish the Somali Republic. For those who support Somali unity, that union remains an important expression of the Somali nationalist vision that inspired independence. They contend that political disagreements in later decades do not erase the historical aspiration for a united Somali state.
History deserves to be examined in its full complexity rather than through a single political lens. The Dervish struggle, the events of 26 June, and the union of 1 July all form part of the shared history of the Somali people. From the perspective of those who advocate Somali unity, the sacrifices of the Dervish movement and the continuing political position of many communities in Sool and Sanaag demonstrate that the history and future of the former British Somaliland Protectorate remain subjects of legitimate historical and political debate.