According to the assembly’s 1949 resolution, Somaliland was to be placed under trusteeship for a period of ten years and was then to become independent. Italy was to serve as the administering authority with the aid of an advisory council set up the United Nations. In 1959 a constituent assembly was elected, and a new constitution was approved in May 1960. Independence was declared on July 1, 1960, and in September Somalia (which also includes the former British Somaliland) became a United Nations member.