Referendum or popular consultation
1967 French Somaliland independence referendum
A referendum held on 19 March 1967, ordered by President Charles de Gaulle after 1966 rioting during his visit, saw 60.60% vote to remain French; France had deported roughly 6,000 ethnic Somalis before the vote.
What happened
Following rioting during a visit by President Charles de Gaulle in 1966, France ordered a referendum on the territory's political future, held on 19 March 1967; 60.60% of votes favoured remaining French and 39.40% favoured independence.[1] Ahead of the vote, French authorities deported roughly 6,000 ethnic Somalis to Somalia between August 1966 and March 1967, a measure contemporary reporting and later reference sources link to the outcome, since it removed a portion of the population thought to favour independence.[2]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: A referendum on the political future of French Somaliland was held on 19 March 1967; 60.60% of votes favoured remaining a French territory and 39.40% favoured independence.
- 1967 French Somaliland independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Results section. Source record
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2.
Claim: Ahead of the 19 March 1967 referendum, French authorities deported roughly 6,000 ethnic Somalis from the territory to Somalia between August 1966 and March 1967; contemporary and later reference accounts link this measure to the referendum's outcome, since it removed part of the population thought to favour independence.
- 1967 French Somaliland independence referendum (Wikipedia) link, Background section. Source record
- French Somaliland: Victory for Trouble (Time, 1967) link, article text. Source record