The May 1959 SYL congress decided on a coalition government and constitution update.

Evidence

The congress convened on May 17, and the SYL’s president was elected to chair the meeting. He was given the authority to select the committee that would coordinate the conference agenda. Osman appointed Abdirashid Ali Sharmarkee, Mohamed Sheikh Gabiou, Haji Salah Jama (Karshi), Sheikh Mohamed Isaaq Salaad, and the secretaries of Jilib and Bur Hakaba. Another committee was charged to prepare a list of candidates for the various positions and CC membership. Participants made two more decisions: the new government that the SYL would form would be a coalition government, and a technical committee would be set up to update the SYL constitution. — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 386