The Warsangali Sultanate, was a Somali imperial ruling house centered in northeastern and in some parts of southeastern Somalia. In 1884, the United Kingdom established the protectorate of British Somaliland through various treaties with the northern Somali sultanates. The Warsangali clan constituted 20,000 of British Somaliland's total population of 640,000 (3.1%).

British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate, was a protectorate of the United Kingdom in modern Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Somalia, French Somali Coast and Abyssinia. From 1940 to 1941, it was occupied by the Italians and was part of Italian East Africa.