The UK is host to one of the largest and longest established Somali communities in Europe. In the late 19th Century, Somalis from the British Protectorate of Somaliland were employed in the seafaring trade, generally undertaking arduous tasks, notably firing the boilers in ship engine rooms.
The passing of an Act in 1894 restricting the employment of Somalis to the seafaring industry saw Somalis establishing communities in UK port cities, such as London, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff. The economic upturn of the 1950s brought about a change in settlement patterns, as Somalis settled in the Midlands and the North, taking advantage of employment opportunities in heavy industry.
On independence in 1960, a number of Somalis long since settled in the UK returned to Somalia in support of the new Republic. However, increasing instability in the mid-1980s saw many return to the UK. At the same time large numbers of asylum seekers fled the mounting unrest and many sought asylum in the UK. Following the collapse of Barre’s regime, Somalia remained without a central government until 2000, when clan elders appointed an interim administration.
Established Somali communities are found in London, Liverpool, Cardiff and Bristol, and newer ones have formed in Manchester, Sheffield and Leicester.[8][9] Cardiff has the highest number of people of Somali heritage anywhere in the UK.[9] It is estimated that there are around 10,000 Somalis living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The community is believed to be the oldest African community in London. One of the main barriers to integration facing Somalis is language, which has an effect on housing and health conditions.[10] Despite this, the new mayor of Tower Hamlets is originally from Somalia, the first to be appointed to office in London and the country.[11][12][13] Somali enterprise has also begun replacing previously Indian-dominated business premises. Southall, for example, now features several Somali-orientated restaurants and cafes.[14]
I find it hilerious when REFUGEES FROM THE SOUTH try to put Somalilanders in the same boat as them selfs. Somalilanders have been in the UK for over a 150 years, we have had settled communities in the Middle east for even longer. The Somali community in East London is the oldest African community in London hence why Mudane Axmed Sangoore was the first ethnic african to become a mayor in any London borough.
Cardiff, Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester all have Somali communities over a hundred years old and they all happen to be Somaliland communities.
While most Southners only ventured outside of Somalia in the 1990's, Somalilanders have been doing this for centuries. In London the police used to say " tell me a Somali beat you up but i will never accept that a Somali stole from you". My point is Somali's had a good reputation every where in the world that Somalilanders where based but ever since southners started the refugee invasion the respect for the Somali populations has plummeted.
I laugh at some silly people on this forum who say stupid sh*t like " If you love Somaliland so much, why are you still a refugee, why dont you go back to Somaliland". Majority of travel to the Somali inhabited lands is expatriate Somalilanders going back to their "peaceful" and "flourishing" lands for HOLIDAYS and we've been doing that since the 1800's.
Somalia has become synonymous with BAD NEWS death, disease, terrorism, murder, kidnapping's, piracy, lack of governance and WAR and the only GOOD NEWS that ever comes out of the Somali inhabited lands is associated with SOMALILAND peace, democracy, development governance. Somaliland is SINGLE HANDIDLY holding up and preserving the HONOUR of the Somali's. ALOW DHOWR
"It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter lies in the depth, where few are willing to search for it." (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe)
WHY WOULD THE MOD'S MOVE THIS TOPIC TO THE CLAN SECTION, WHERE DOES IT MENTION ANY CLAN
