1965

1965 was a year in the twentieth century according to the Gregorian calendar. It began on a Friday. That year was marked by the Cold War, which was the political competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as the final phase of independence movements in Africa and Asia.

1965 is remembered for the escalation of American military involvement in Vietnam, tensions in Southeast Asia, and political changes in African countries. Somalia that year was in the period of civilian rule that followed the union of 1960.

World politics

In 1965, the United States significantly increased the number of ground troops in South Vietnam and launched a sustained bombing campaign. This led to protests against the war in Western countries. That same year, a war broke out between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, ending in a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations and the Soviet Union.

Africa and decolonization

In 1965, Africa was marked by political upheaval. Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, unilaterally declared independence under white minority rule, causing international controversy. Other African countries faced military coups and leadership changes, while the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was still in its early years.

Somalia in 1965

The Somali Republic, formed in 1960 from the union of British Somaliland and Italian Somalia, was in 1965 under a multi-party parliamentary system. Key issues included tense relations with Ethiopia and Kenya over territories inhabited by Somali people, and the unresolved question of which script should be used for written Somali.