Britain creates a Greater Somalia after the end of WWII

SpaceCowboy

Banned
What if Britain would have created a Greater Somalia from all the Somali-majority areas in East Africa after the end of WWII?

Basically, I'm thinking of a Greater Somalia consisting of all of these red areas:

Somali_map.jpg


Would Somalia be much more successful over the last 70 years in this TL?

Also, would a British-led unification of Somalia have encouraged ethno-nationalism in other parts of Africa? If so, which ones?
 
This would piss off the Ethiopians HARD.

For the most part, yes. One could argue that they're already gaining by having Eritrea here. Maybe they could get part of Sudan's coast as well to sweeten things, but any loss of Dire Dawa and Aysha would be an issue.


A lesser Greater Somalia (what a mouthful) might work however. Britain contemplated exchanging the Somaliland port city of Zeila (a bit east of Dibouti) for the Haud region of Ethiopia (the Haud being due south of British Somaliland) were many British Somaliland Pastoralists would take their flocks but the US put a nix to that IIRC. Between that sort of exchange and the old Somali-Ethiopian border dispute being settled in Somalia's favor, you've got half of the Ogaden in this Greater Somaliland.
 

SpaceCowboy

Banned
For the most part, yes. One could argue that they're already gaining by having Eritrea here. Maybe they could get part of Sudan's coast as well to sweeten things, but any loss of Dire Dawa and Aysha would be an issue.

Why are Dire Dawa and Aysha so important?

Also, I'm thinking of having Eritrea--with the exception of the port city of Assab--become independent here. Independence is what the Eritreans wanted and Ethiopia would still have sea access by getting Assab.

A lesser Greater Somalia (what a mouthful) might work however. Britain contemplated exchanging the Somaliland port city of Zeila (a bit east of Dibouti) for the Haud region of Ethiopia (the Haud being due south of British Somaliland) were many British Somaliland Pastoralists would take their flocks but the US put a nix to that IIRC. Between that sort of exchange and the old Somali-Ethiopian border dispute being settled in Somalia's favor, you've got half of the Ogaden in this Greater Somaliland.

Is your idea going to be accompanied by a population exchange?

Also, it's absolutely essential for eastern Kenya to become a part of Greater Somalia in this TL.
 
Why are Dire Dawa and Aysha so important?

Also, I'm thinking of having Eritrea--with the exception of the port city of Assab--become independent here. Independence is what the Eritreans wanted and Ethiopia would still have sea access by getting Assab.

Because the railroad linking the port of Djibouti to much of the country runs through Dire Dawa and Aysha.

Is your idea going to be accompanied by a population exchange?

Also, it's absolutely essential for eastern Kenya to become a part of Greater Somalia in this TL.

Ideally there wouldn't be a population exchange and there could just be a Somali minority in Ethiopia.

As for Eastern Kenya, I see no reason why the British TTL can't just make it part of Somalia. It'd be an internal UK decision rather than something that has to be negotiated with Ethiopia.
 

SpaceCowboy

Banned
Because the railroad linking the port of Djibouti to much of the country runs through Dire Dawa and Aysha.

OK.

Ideally there wouldn't be a population exchange and there could just be a Somali minority in Ethiopia.

As for Eastern Kenya, I see no reason why the British TTL can't just make it part of Somalia. It'd be an internal UK decision rather than something that has to be negotiated with Ethiopia.

OK; makes sense.

Also, what about eastern Djibouti? Should it also become a part of Greater Somalia in this TL?
 
A Greater Somalia would've solved many of their problems because Somali nationalism was demanding that the government protect the mistreated Somali minorities in Ethiopia and Kenya. The Ogaden region also gives them access to more rivers which would make battling drought easier. Greater Somalia would be easier on the government since they wouldn't need to divide their attention on two antagonistic neighbours and internal agitation pushing for the government to do something about the hostile neighbours abusing Somalis. Somalia was throwing its weight around in the diplomatic arena in Africa and their economy was doing iirc pretty well. A unification from the get go would involve all the leaders from each protectorate and colony getting together to decide on the shape of the country so it'l lhelp in uncovering many hidden underlying problems. However Somali nationalism was very strong during those days and Somaliweyn or Greater Somalia was born out of that strong nationalistic sentiment so yeah I can see them being much better off with being unifed as a single entity.

Fun fact: Dire Dawa means the land Dir conquered, they are one of the main Somali clans so they should be a part of Greater Somalia. If you want peace then none of Somalia's neighbours should hold any significant Somali minorities.
 
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