There was still an undertow of antagonism which the severe devastation caused by a plague of locusts in 1944–45 brought to a head. Anti-locust measures employing locust bait, which was regarded with suspicion, were interpreted by some elements in the population as a deliberate attempt by the government to kill Somali camels and stock; and in 1945 this issue provoked a serious riot at Burao and similar troubles at Erigavo. Order was restored without much difficulty, but the situation pointed to the need for a marked improvement in public relations and a tightening up in administrative control. In point of fact, at the time, the administrative establishment was quite inadequate, there being only five District Commissioners available to run six Districts, and only one of these officials could speak Somali.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 362