Trusteeship authorities suppressed the Somali Youth League with violence and inaction

Evidence

A UN officer reported to a British colleague that the “Italians are doing everything they can to suppress or destroy any element which shows signs of being anti-Italian, particularly the Somali Youth League. In Baidoa particularly there is at present every sign of a reign of terror. It seems that the Residente is not taking any steps whatsoever to protect any person who is connected with SYL. In fact he appears to encourage the unruly elements to take direct action against such people.” — Abdi Ismail Samatar, Africa’s First Democrats, 1245