After the independence and unification of British Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland on July 1, 1960, one of the major goals of the Somali Republic was the unification of Greater Somalia, which included the Ogaden region in Ethiopia. The Somali government supported the Bale revolt led by Waqo Gutu that began in 1962.[2] On 16 June 1963, after the Ethiopian government attempted to collect taxes, Somali guerrillas started a minor insurgency at Hodayo, a watering place north of Werder. The guerrillas were greatly supported by the Somali government and operated in lowland Hararghe and Bale provinces.