Italy gradually secured much of the territory in the s through a series of protection treaties. Italian Somalia then came under British military administration until , when it became a United Nations trusteeship , the Trust Territory of Somalia under Italian administration.
The late 19th century had a huge impact in the Horn of Africa. At the end of the 19th century, a growing social-political movement developed within Italy to start expanding its influence, since many other European countries had already been doing so, which was effectively leaving Italy behind. Italy also had serious economic problems.
During the visit a captain of one of the Italian vessels, Lieutenant Maurizio Talmone, was assassinated. His rival Boqor Osman Mahamuud was to sign a similar agreement vis-a-vis his own Majeerteen Sultanate Majeerteenia the following year. Both rulers had entered into the protectorate treaties to advance their own expansionist goals, with Sultan Kenadid looking to use Italy's support in his ongoing power struggle with Boqor Osman over the Majeerteen Sultanate, as well as in a separate conflict with the Hiraab Sultanate over an area to the south of Hobyo.
In signing the agreements, the rulers also hoped to exploit the rival objectives of the European imperial powers so as to more effectively assure the continued independence of their territories.
The terms of each treaty specified that Italy was to steer clear of any interference in the Sultanates' respective administrations. The last piece of land acquired by Italy in Somalia in order to form Italian Somaliland was the Jubaland region.
