CIA Declassifies 1959 Horn of Africa Map Revealing Cold War Geopolitical Landscape
A declassified 1959 map of the Horn of Africa, created by the CIA, offers a historical perspective on the region's political geography just before the widespread decolonization of Africa. This map highlights the strategic importance of the area as a crossroads between Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean during the late Cold War. Several territories depicted on the map no longer exist in their 1959 form. For instance, French Somaliland later became Djibouti in 1977, and British Somaliland merged with former Italian Somaliland in 1960 to form modern Somalia. The map also shows Ethiopia as significantly larger, as it controlled Eritrea until Eritrea gained independence in 1993. The Aden Protectorate, under British control, later became part of Yemen. The map details transportation networks, including roads, railroads, and ports, which were considered strategically vital at the time. During the Cold War, both the United States and the Soviet Union actively competed for influence in the Horn of Africa...
