Member State of the Arab League A constitutional referendum was held in Somalia on 20 June 1961 to vote on the new constitution for the country created the previous year by the union of the State of Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland.

[1] In the territory of former State of Somaliland, the Somali National League (SNL) party encouraged a boycott of the referendum, and 60% of the approximately 100,000 votes from the area opposed the constitution.

[2] More votes were cast in Wanlaweyn, a small town in southern Somalia, than in the entirety of Somaliland.

This created a climate of distrust and a new term for southerners – Wanla Weyn.

[3] The Greater Somalia League, Somali National League and United Somali Party petitioned the High Court against the outcome.