Why did Italy and the British colonize Somalia?

Somalia was a very strategic post once the Suez c opened up due to it's proximity. European powers carved up Africa towards the end of the 19th century. Only Liberia and Ethiopia did not come under European rule with the latter even being under Fascist Italy's possession during WWII for a very short period of time. Mussolini set out to recreate a "new Roman Empire" and Somalia was one of his ventures.