In the late 19th century, European powers, including Great Britain, Italy, and France, competed for control of the Somali Peninsula, a development that influenced Somalia’s later history. The European powers maneuvered to acquire coaling stations and establish protectorates, part of the Scramble for Africa, during which those powers attempted to claim territory across the entire continent. Great Britain established a protectorate over the northern coast, while Italy acquired territories in the northeast and southern Somalia. France expanded its holdings to present-day Djibouti. From 1936 until 1941, Italian Somaliland, along with the Italian holdings of Ethiopia and Eritrea, formed Italian East Africa. British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland gained independence and united in 1960 to form the independent Republic of Somalia. However, the borders drawn by European powers have contributed to ongoing disputes.
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