Somali popular opinion in 1948 centered on peace, security, and avoiding single-power rule.

Evidence

From the views expressed by elected representatives and those obtained from individuals chosen at random, it is apparent that most of the territory is in favour of Four Power Trusteeship leading to independence in ten years. Those favouring this programme object to rule by any single Power, and especially by Italy. The strongest majority desire is for any Government chosen by the Four Powers which would guarantee peace and security. Areas expressing this view form islands in the larger areas supporting the majority view and tend to follow tribal lines. While most of the persons holding this view would favour or not object to the return of Italy, some voiced objections. In only a few areas was there any significant expression of sentiment with respect to individual powers. In Brava, and to a lesser extent in Itala, the sentiment was strongly pro- Italian. In the Lower Juba area it was strongly pro-British and more strongly anti-Italian. In places where people had been subjected to forced labour the sentiment with few exceptions was anti-Italian. Whenever the question was asked, objection was voiced against Ethiopian rule. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 263

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

Related

• Most Somalis genuinely favored Four Power trusteeship over any single power (similarity 0.89)
• The 1948 four-powers commission sought Somali preference on colonial rule (similarity 0.79)