Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops

The Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops (Regio corpo truppe coloniali della Somalia italiana) was the colonial body of the Royal Italian Army based in Italian Somaliland, in present-day northeastern and southern Somalia.

History
In the late 19th century, Mogadishu was under the joint control of the Somali Geledi Sultanate (which, also holding sway over the Shebelle region in the interior, was at the height of its power) and the Omani Sultan of Zanzibar. Sultan Ali bin Said leased the city in 1892 to Italy, with the Italians purchasing control in 1905. Mogadishu was thereafter made the capital of the newly established Italian Somaliland colony.

The Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops was later established on 5 April 1908, after the Italians had captured the southern Benadir region from the Sultan of Zanzibar. The troops were originally referred to as "Guard Corps of Benadir" (Corpo della Guardia di Benadir in Italian). However, after the territory was renamed from Benadir Coast Italian Protectorate to Italian Somaliland, the troops officially became known as the Royal Corps of Somali Colonial Troops.

Somaliland Campaign
From 1900 through 1920, the Somali Colonial Troops served alongside the Italians, the British, and the Ethiopians in a series of offensives in British Somaliland called the Somaliland Campaign, which were waged against the Dervish State. The Dervishes were led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, nicknamed the "Mad Mullah" by the British.

Second Italo-Ethiopian War
During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, the Somali Colonial Troops served alongside soldiers from Italy and Eritrea in a second attempt by Italian troops to defeat the Ethiopian forces.

Italian East Africa
On 5 May 1936, Italian troops captured Addis Ababa after defeating Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. Benito Mussolini then proclaimed the establishment of Italian East Africa, which unified Italian Eritrea and Italian Somaliland with defeated Ethiopia. Addis Ababa was later made the capital city of Italian East Africa. The Somali Colonial Troops would then be merged with other royal troops, creating the Italian African Police.

Honors
One Gold Medal of Military Valor:

''With the courage of their race - fueled by love for the flag and the belief in the higher destinies of Italy in Africa, gave during the war, many proofs of the most brilliant heroism. With great generosity, and similar faithfulness, gave their blood for the consecration of the Italian Empire. Italo-Ethiopian War, October 3, 1935 - May 5, 1936.'' - November 19, 1936.