Colonial Legacy in Somalia

This an investigation into the relationship between Rome and Mogadishu, from the period of colonial administration to the recent dramatic events of Operation Restore Hope. It defines the first Italian incursions in the Horn of Africa, the history of the expansionist plans of an imperial late comer, such as Italy, and explores the decade of the Trusteeship Administration from 1950 to 1960 when Italy tried to introduce a new state system in Mogadishu. It analyzes the events of the 1970s and 1980s when Siad Barre's regime, in spite of his repressive and violent attitude, enjoyed strong support from the former colonial power. The book demonstrates a love hate relationship between Rome and Mogadishu in the colonial and post colonial period and examines the consequences of this interaction.