On the African continent itself, Egypt was also involved; and later Abyssinia, expanding and consolidating her realm in this period. By 1897 the partition of Somaliland was virtually complete; and though subsequent adjustments occurred, the frontiers of the new Somali territories had been defined, at least theoretically. Such gaps as remained in the division were later adjusted in subsequent colonial consolidation. Only the frontiers remained to be demarcated, a practical step which turned out to be infinitely more difficult than could have been envisaged in 1897 (Lewis, 1988, p. 40)." Britain's interest in Somalia was because of Aden, and its link as a route to India (p. 40). Britain took the area by force for that reason in 1839. The second phase occurred between 1900 and 1920, when Somali attempted to free itself from Imperial French and British control (Lewis, 1988, p. 63). The next phase was 1940-1950, when the British and Italians restored colonialism, and subsequently came entirely under the British flag until 1950-1960, when it was under "trust" to Italy, until its independence in 1969(Lewis, 1988, p. 139-226).

Summing up, in brief, the pros and cons of colonialism, Anna Simmons (1995) writes:

Key to the vicious cycle was this: Nationalism was unable to keep state resources from being abused so long as state institutions were incapable of delivering...

Although from the start, state institutions may have been disabled by policies well beyond Somali control, it still remains unclear which should have shored up the other. All that is evident now is that functioning state and functional nation were never coexistent for long enough (despite moments of political optimism and promise in the preIndependence 1950s, democratic early 1960s, and benevolently ruled early 1970s). As a consequence, it is perhaps we who study people who should now also regroup and ask more pointed questions (Simmons, 1995, p. 189)."
Works Cited

http://www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85630810

Lewis, I.M. A Modern History of Somalia: Nation and State in the Horn of Africa. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1988. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=85630812.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108063166

Peterson, Scott. Me against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda: a Journalist Reports from the Battlefields of Africa. New York: Routledge, 2000. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=108063184.

A www.questiaschool.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8936017

Simons, Anna. Networks of Dissolution: Somalia Undone. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1995. Questia. 10 Feb. 2008 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=8936017.