Ethiopia’s 1959 Soviet loan pressured Britain to clarify its Somali policy.
Evidence
With vivid memories of Mr Bevin’s attempts, however unsuccessful, to promote Somali unification, Britain’s willingness to facilitate the union of her Protectorate with Somalia had, predictably, seriously disturbed Ethiopia. Since Britain’s first guarded indication in 1956 of her intentions in respect of British Somaliland and Somalia, the Ethiopian government had launched a spirited campaign against Pan-Somalism. The strategy adopted was to accuse the British government of seeking to establish a pro-British Greater Somalia and to press for an elucidation of Britain’s policy. The Emperor’s visit to Moscow in 1959 and his acceptance of a $100 million Russian loan indicated the possible repercussions of disregarding Ethiopian interests. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 461
Categorization
- XREF: Cold War superpower competition recurs thematically from earlier Somali history chapters. — connects to: Britain’s 1954 surrender of the Haud to Ethiopia triggered Somali nationalist revolt; Britain’s 1954 cession of the Haud to Ethiopia triggered Somali nationalism.
Related
- The 1954 Haud transfer to Ethiopia reignited Somali nationalist sentiment (similarity 0.81)
- Britain’s 1954 cession of the Haud to Ethiopia triggered Somali nationalism. (similarity 0.80)
- Italian reoccupation and Ethiopian claims broke nationalist momentum in the 1950s (similarity 0.79)
- Ethiopia sought trusteeship over Somalia while publicly refusing to aid the SYL (similarity 0.79)
- Britain sacrificed Somali ties to preserve its Ethiopian and Kenyan relations (similarity 0.78)
- Ethiopian rule suppressed Somali nationalist expression in the Haud and Ogaden. (similarity 0.78)
- Western support for Ethiopia’s Eritrea absorption emboldened Haile Selassie against Somalia. (similarity 0.78)