On that date, former Italian Somaliland was made a Trust Territory, as stipulated by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 289 of 21 November 1949.

The Ethiopian Empire claimed Banaadir, which encompasses Mogadishu, as well as the adjacent Indian Ocean coastline, rightfully belonged to it based on 'historical grounds'.

[11] The decision to put Somalia back under the control of its former colonial ruler was highly controversial as Somalis widely felt that the Trust Territory was being established for Italian interests.

[4][12][13] Before the Italians returned to Somalia, the Somali Youth League held a major summit in order to formulate a common policy and unified attitude toward the Trusteeship government.

[14] Italy did not possess the financial resources to administer the territory effectively as the Italian economy had largely collapsed in the wake of WWII.

[6] Most of the Italian officials selected to run the administration were members of the old Ministry of Colonial Affairs, arousing resentment and alarm in Somalia and neighbouring Ethiopia.

Lewis maintained that to Somalis, the large Italian army presence deployed at the start of the mandate, "...gave the handover much the character of a military occupation.

"[20] According to Italian journalist and historian Angelo Del Boca in report for Corriere della Sera, almost all officials Italy had chosen to govern AFIS were from "colonial-fascist" backgrounds.

[21] Giacomo Bona, the local secretary of the Christian Democrats in Mogadishu, warned party headquarters in Rome that there had been large resurgence in fascism in Somalia following the creation of the Trust Territory.

[22] The Somali Youth League (SYL) publicly decried the Trusteeship government as being "infested with fascists" and further charged that AFIS was providing those fleeing post-war persecution with a veneer of legitimacy.

These attempts to marginalize the league would lead to demonstrations across the country which were strongly repressed by the government, who had at the time come to decision not cooperate or concede to the SYL's plans.

[20][21] Abdirazak Haji Hussein, future prime minister of the Somali Republic, would be severely beaten and arrested by Italian authorities in 1950.

[25] Somali Youth League member Abdulahi Issa, future prime minister of the territory, would argue that the presence of Somalia's former colonial ruler was one of the main obstacle to democratic and peaceful development.

[6] According to Italian politician and journalist Ernesto Rossi, the salaries and privileges afforded to fascist employees of the Trusteeship administration were exorbitantly high and consequently strongly effected the annual budget.

[6] A 1953 report commissioned by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would warn the AFIS was creating a precarious situation in Somalia by making the economy entirely reliant on Banana exports.

Egypt considered Somalia as more rightfully in its sphere of influence compared to the Italians due to historical, cultural and geographic ties, a stance that would remain unchanged during the dramatic transition from the rule of King Farouk to the 1952 Egyptian Revolution.

[26] The Egyptian member of the council, Muhammad Kamal Addin Salah, was widely popular with Somalis for sharply criticizing AFIS policies.

[6] Florentine Enrico Anzilotti, an Italian diplomat with AFIS, has been credited with helping patch the divide between the SYL and the authorities during this period in order to prepare for independence.

Though Anzilotti achieved much success during this period, he was constantly opposed by other Italian officials, particularly with the General Secretary of AFIS, Piero Franca.

This was the first time the Somali nationalist movement was being offered a peaceful transfer of power, and consequently, Anzilotti's new approach would start a fierce debate within the league over how to deal with AFIS.

The moderates believed that with only five years remaining until independence, it would make more sense for the SYL to take the opportunity to work with the Trust administration to build the foundations of the state.

[27] Though Anzilotti was later forced to leave Somalia in 1958, his efforts have been credited by Somalis for creating the conditions necessary peaceful and democratic transfer of power.

Consequently, he became the only Italian dignitary to receive the Somali Star (the nations highest award) following independence in 1960 and had a neighbourhood in Mogadishu named Quartiere Anzilotti in his honour.

[38] It was believed that the trusteeship would give the population of the former Italian Somaliland the opportunity to gain more experience in political education and self-government in comparison to other African colonies.

He claimed that the population nearly doubled, illiteracy was reduced by 60%, malnutrition in the rural areas disappeared, the economy soared to the same level of the most developed African countries and there was complete integration in religious and social-political matters between all Somalia inhabitants.

[45] Ernesto Rossi, an Italian politician and journalist would criticize the government of the defunct Trusteeship in a 1963 article writing, "The cadres of AFIS were filled with officials and employees who represented the cream of the fascists administration.