British Somaliland’s legislature moved rapidly from appointive to elected members from 1957 to 1960

Evidence

Contini notes that, “in 1957, as a result of increased demands for self-government, a Legislative Council was established, consisting of eight official and ex-officio (British) and six unofficial (Somali) members; the latter were appointed by the Governor from a panel of candidates prepared by the Advisory Council. In March 1959, for the first time the unofficial members were elected rather than appointed; their number was increased to thirteen and that of the official and ex officio members to seventeen. In November of the same year the elected members were increased to thirty-three and the appointed members were reduced to three. After that, progress towards self-government proceeded even faster and the Somalization of the civil service was greatly accelerated. In February 1960, a new constitution was introduced. While no change was made in the composition of the Legislative Council, an Executive Council was established, consisting of three ex officio members and four unofficial members appointed by the Governor from among the elected members of the Legislative Council. It was provided that the Executive Council members ‘shall be the principal instrument of policy’ and its members ‘shall be styled Ministers.’ Elections for the new Legislative Council were held in February by Universal adult male suffrage.” — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1325