Thread by @afrikanNet, The Horn of Africa showed no mercy to the white man and [...]

The Horn of Africa showed no mercy to the white man and his colonial ways. Let's look at the case of Somalis and Ethiopians.

When the British came to Somali shores in 1884 they were forced to sign several treaties (continues) 1/6

1) No such thing as "Colonialism" rather a "Protectorate". Not only was this a legal victory but it showed Somalis would not bow.

2) No British can build anything nor claim an inch of land, or own it. 2/6

3) No British or white is to be born on Somali soil and if they do, Somalis would kill them or take them.

4) All buildings must be approved by Somalis.

The treaty was written on an animal hide/skin to preserve it. 3/6

When the British tried to impose taxes on the Somalis, they quickly rebelled against them. The British struggled to contain and defeat them. They would use aerial bombardment against them first such in Africa. Even still they failed. 4/6

The Somali freedom fighters were known as the Dervishes (Darwiish). They built several forts including these ones. The British bombing damaged them. 5/6

The British themselves knew it. 6/6

The British, Italians and the French were not the first Europeans whom the Somalis came into contact. In the 15th century they defeated the Portuguese who tried to Annex the Somali coastline.

Years later, when asked if the Somalis had any regrets, the only thing some mentioned was rejecting a technical college proposed by the British. The institution was instead constructed in Uganda in 1922 and would become Makerere University.

Three decades later, the Americans came to Somalia expecting a hero's welcome. Somalia just descended into a deadly civil war. Warlords are blockading food essentials while local silos were long looted. It was Washington's perfect opportunity to play captain save the day...

Instead, they were met with unwelcoming attitude before bullets rained on them. The year is 1993 and the event would be told through the Black Hawk Down film. Somalis believe only God can provide and it's better to starve than be below another man.

The Somali Dervishes numbered 20,000 at their height and were mounted on horses. Somalia has several horse breeds. Their leader was Mohamed Abdulle Hassan. Here is one of his forts. The builders came from Yemen.
https://twitter.com/gurnaa2010/status/1204768552525451264?s=19

https://twitter.com/gurnaa2010/status/1204768552525451264?s=19

This particular architecture is called Hadramout. The descendants of this fort builders still live in Somalia.

The Somalis chosed what they deemed acceptable in accordance with their Islamic values, political and economic interests and rejected the others. Thus, they demanded that they go anywhere in the British Empire and often cost was covered by the British themselves.

In 1900, they came to Nairobi & Naivasha in Kenya with the British. They discovered that there was a segregation policy. Unheard of in their world. The British explained to them that it was tax-based policy. Whites, Asians & Arabs (2nd class) were taxpayers while locals were not

The problem Somalis saw was that the whites received all the Gov services while indigenous areas were ignored. So the Somalis went to the British office & told them they too would become taxpayers. The shocked British tried to deny and reject their proposals.

Eventually, the British accepted their position and they were allowed to settle in Eastleigh, Nairobi, which was an Asian neighbourhood. Today, the area is almost entirely Somali having bought out the Asians.

In total six treaties and three supplementary agreements were signed between the Somalis and the British. Most of the negotiations were conducted on ships off the coast, the British not being allowed to land until agreements were signed and validated.

In the end, the British left behind neither influence, legacy, culture or anything worth mentioning. Nor was his language or religion, names or laws adopted. None. The Italians were no more successful either. No street name or a town. And the Queen is the greatest of all insults.

Even beyond Somali Peninsula, they find it hard to swallow that African lands carry the names of colonials especially the Queen. Most of them struggle to say "Victoria Falls". Dear brothers, the Stone Hedge are not called Shaka Zulu stones. Restore their dignities.