With these modernist and progressive aspirations to which the British Military Administration was sympathetic, the Somali Youth Club rapidly gathered adherents, its members' conduct being officially described as 'exemplary'. Initially, it found most ready support amongst the younger educated officials, and soon also in the Somalia Gendarmerie. The Club's popularity in the Gendarmerie was no doubt partly due to the fact that at the time some of the most highly educated Somalis served in this force. Another significant factor was that by its very nature this organization composed of Somalis from every clan division, mixed by deliberate policy in even the smallest units, also sought to inculcate a code of loyalty transcending tribal and clan schisms. In these circumstances, reinforced by the gradual tendency of both organizations to acquire a majority of Darod clansmen in their ranks, there is little doubt that the Gendarmerie must be regarded as having played a significant part in the growth of modern Somali nationalism at this stage.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 335