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45-700: First Somali resistance group. Took part in a 1982 Ethiopian border offensive against Somalia. The SSDF also propped up and trained the SNM. Both SSDF and SNM leaders met in Ethiopia’s capital in September 1987 to unite and devise a plan to topple Siad Barre’s regime but they failed to agree on a common strategy. The SNF was a political revolutionary movement and armed militia in Somalia . Initially made up of loyalists to former President of Somalia Siad Barre and

90-541: A large scale Ethiopian offensive at Galdogob , inflicting heavy losses. During July and August 1983 the Ethiopian army launched further incursions in central and northern Somalia that were also repulsed. Barre appealed for western military aid to repel the invasion, but received most arms during December 1982. The arms included anti-tank and anti-air weaponry, along with some US Patton tanks . By August 1982, apart from several radios, no American military had appeared on

135-578: A result, regional politics in Awdal is almost synonymous with Gadabuursi internal clan affairs." Roland Marchal (1997) states that numerically, the Gadabuursi are the predominant inhabitants of the Awdal Region: "The Gadabuursi's numerical predominance in Awdal virtually ensures that Gadabuursi interests drive the politics of the region." Marleen Renders and Ulf Terlinden (2010) both state that

180-690: A sovereign nation. Its constituents included Mohamed Aidid's breakaway United Somali Congress faction, the Somali Patriotic Movement , Southern Somali National Movement, and other southern factions. His son, Hussein Aidid, assumed leadership upon his death. The SNA became the core of the SRRC in 2001. Loyalists to Siad Barre and Ahmed Ali, the remnants of his army forces founded the SNF militia after his ouster from office. Their intent and goal

225-562: A stalemate at border towns of Balanbale and Galdogob . This marked the first time since independence that Ethiopian troops successfully held territory over the border. The SSDF denied the presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, an assertion was disputed by foreign diplomats who observed that the SSDF had given only 'token participation' to the operation. The Somali rebels operating with Ethiopian troops primarily operated as reconnaissance. It

270-629: Is also a sizeable minority of the Issa subclan of the Dir who mainly inhabit the Zeila district. Currently, there are 52 primary and secondary schools in Borama. These schools can be divided into three main categories: public primary and secondary schools , private primary and secondary schools and Religious schools . Total number of students in Borama is 15,314. For air transportation, Borama

315-466: Is known as a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen BSh ). The hottest month of the year is June, with an average temperature of 24.1 °C or 75.4 °F, whilst the coolest month is January, whose average temperature is 17.1 °C or 62.8 °F. The difference in rainfall between the driest month and the wettest month is 110 millimetres or 4.3 inches. The average temperatures vary during the year by 7 °C or 12.6 °F. The Awdal Region in which

360-691: The British Museum for preservation shortly after their discovery. In the first half of the 20th century, Borama formed a part of the British Somaliland protectorate . It was later given district status in 1925. In 1933, Sheikh Abdurahman Sheikh Nuur , a Qur'anic teacher and son of Borama's qadi (judge), devised a new orthography for transcribing the Afro-Asiatic Cushitic Somali language . A quite accurate phonetic writing system , this Borama script

405-466: The Conference on National Reconciliation in Somalia saw the presence of no less than 15 separate factions, including the offshoot SNA branches of USC and SPM. It was a plethora of acronyms: SAMO, SDA, SDM, SNA, SNDU, SNF, SNU, SPM, SPM-(SNA), SSDF, SSNM-(SNA), USC-(SNA), USC, USF, USP. Aidid's four SNA-aligned factions comprised a powerful bloc. The progressive tone of the proceedings was undercut by

450-560: The Gadabuursi almost exclusively inhabit the Awdal Region: "Awdal in western Somaliland is situated between Djibouti, Ethiopia, and the Issaq-populated mainland of Somaliland. It is primarily inhabited by the three sub-clans of the Gadabursi clan, whose traditional institutions survived the colonial period, Somali statehood and the war in good shape, remaining functionally intact and highly relevant to public security." There

495-493: The Ogaden War in the late 1970s, Borama was one of several northern cities aerially bombarded by Ethiopian forces. Borama is situated in a mountainous and hilly area. It has green meadows and fields and represents a key focal point for wildlife. The town's unusual fertility and greenery in the largely arid countryside have attracted many faunas, such as gazelles , birds , and camels . The prevailing climate in Borama

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540-679: The Republic of Somaliland . Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess, General Aden Abdullahi Nur ('Gabyow'), General Mohammed Said Hersi "Morgan" Begun by a group of disaffected Ogadeni officers. A key accomplishment was the seizure of Balli-Dogle air base in the days prior to Barre's flight from Mogadishu. Pro-Barre faction. Fought against other liberation movements during Barre's reign. Gen, ciise maqadeye Ali Mohamed Osoble (Ali Wardhiigley) And Dr. Ismael Jimaale) (Mogadishu section founder, 1989); General Mohamed Farrah Aidid , Ali Mahdi Mohamed , Mohamed Qanyare Afrah (November 1991) On January 26, 1991,

585-449: The 18th centuries. Most, however, are from the 15th and 16th centuries, a time of great commercial activity in the region that is associated with the medieval Adal Sultanate . Excavations in the late 1800s and early 1900s at over fourteen sites in the vicinity of Borama unearthed, among other things, coins identified as having been derived from Kait Bey , the eighteenth Burji Mamluk Sultan of Egypt . Most of these finds were sent to

630-708: The Ogaden region to the Somali borders. Somalia, despite losing the 1977–78 war , never recognized the international border that places the Ogaden region, with its ethnic Somali population, in Ethiopia. Following the Soviet Union's change of allegiance from Somalia to Ethiopia in 1978, the United States became allies with Somalia. The U.S. originally was aligned with Ethiopia, but stopped supplying and equipping

675-619: The Somali army only had 1,800 troops in the region where the invasion occurred, but were soon reinforced. Despite heavy ground and air attacks, the Somali army garrison stationed nearby at the town of Beledweyne inflicted heavy losses on the invading forces and repulsed the Ethiopians. Soon after a stalemate ensued. Over the following month armed conflicts were reported in almost all border regions, including Gedo , Bakool , Hiiraan , Mudug and Toghdeer . The SSDF claimed responsibility for all these attacks, an assertion deemed implausible given

720-694: The USC stormed the Presidential palace in Mogadishu , taking control of the capital and forcing Siad Barre into exile. In November 1991, factionalism between Gen. Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mahammad caused a split in the USC. Mohamed Qanyare Afrah was chosen to be the Chairman of USC . Dir The Isaaq and Dhulbahante -dominated northern region of Somalia declared its independence in 1991, but has not been recognized by any country or international organization as

765-690: The actual lack of progress in the regions and on the streets of Mogadishu. In time, new factions emerged as the Somali Civil War entered a new phase: disintegration into independent and autonomous states. 1982 Ethiopian%E2%80%93Somali Border War Somali victory The Ethiopian–Somali Border War occurred from June 1982 to August 1983 when Ethiopia, sending a 10,000-man invasion force backed by warplanes and armoured units, supported by thousands of Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) rebels, invaded central Somalia . The Ethiopians and SSDF guerillas failed in their objective of advancing on

810-617: The attention of the Reagan administration , the US response was delayed as the conflict was overshadowed by the 1982 Israeli Invasion of Lebanon and the Iran–Iraq War . On the day Barre had informed Washington about the invasion (July 16), Iran had launched a major counteroffensive against Iraq. China delivered fighter jets at the end of 1982 to cover heavy losses taken during the Ogaden War . No foreign troops were known to be directly engaged in

855-506: The border battle. The commander of the Somali forces defending the border regions was General Yusuf Ahmed Salhan, and his subordinate, Brigadier General Mohammed Farah Aidid , who commanded the central sector military zone. Western diplomatic sources estimated the SNA's overall total strength to be around 50,000 at the outset of the campaign. The SNA was severely under-equipped and ill-prepared for conflict following serious losses in early 1978 at

900-528: The cities of Galkayo and Beledweyne , as the initial invasion was largely repulsed. A military stalemate ensued at the border towns of Galdogob and Balanbale . In 1977, Somalia attempted to regain control of the Ogaden region with the support of the Soviet Union. In 1978, backed by Soviet weaponry and Cuban reinforcements, Ethiopia regained control of Ogaden. This resulted in the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Somali men and women immigrating from

945-527: The city is situated is mainly inhabited by the Gadabuursi subclan of the Dir who are especially well represented and considered the predominant clan of the region. Federico Battera (2005) states about the Awdal Region: "Awdal is mainly inhabited by the Gadabuursi confederation of clans." A UN report published by Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (1999), states concerning Awdal : "The Gadabuursi clan dominates Awdal region. As

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990-412: The civil war. As with several nearby towns such as Amud , numerous archaeological finds have been discovered in the Borama area that point to an eventful past. The latter include ancient remains of tombs , houses and mosques , in addition to sherds of Oriental wares, particularly Chinese porcelain . The artefacts and structures date from various historical periods, ranging from the 12th through to

1035-497: The country with support and aid. The U.S. originally thought that in the long term Ethiopia would be a more valuable ally due to its geographical position, its size and influence. Somalia and Ethiopia being in close proximity to western oil routes, peaked the interests of both the U.S. and the Soviet Union. During the Ogaden War , Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf had served as a commander in the Somali National Army . After

1080-576: The end of the Ogaden War. The Somali army suffered significant ammunition and communications equipment shortages, all while lacking both anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry. In late June 1982, 15,000 Ethiopian army troops and thousands of SSDF rebels invaded across the border in the Hiran and Mudug region. The offensives initially aimed for Galkayo in the north-east, and Beledweyne in central Somalia. According to Gérard Prunier , "The plan

1125-504: The fighting during 1982, though the Ethiopians saw Cuban and South Yemeni military assistance confined at the division level. On several occasions, Somali army technicians and intelligence officers intercepted Spanish and Russian radio traffic during Ethiopian military operations. Following the border war, President Siad Barre received some verbal support at the Arab League summit in 1982. But ultimately year after year Somalia

1170-463: The first half of the 20th century. According to a 2023 estimate the city had a population of 300,000, with the broader district having a population of 398,609 according to a UN 2014 population estimate. making it one of the largest cities inside Somaliland. It has been a leading example in community organizing, having been the first area in Somaliland to adopt a self-help scheme in the wake of

1215-408: The front. Only in the aftermath of the conflict was US military aid to Somalia significantly increased. The United States sped up the delivery of light arms which had been previously offered in 1980. US military assistance to Somalia rose from US$ 20 million in 1981 to US$ 51 million in 1983. From 1979 to 1983, Somalia had imported US$ 30 million worth of American arms. While the conflict had attracted

1260-611: The government following an amnesty and payment offer. By 1983 the bulk of the SSDF had rejoined the regime. Irritated by this development, the Ethiopian government put the head of the SSDF Abdullahi Yusuf in jail, where he remained until the Fall of the Derg regime in 1991. During SSDF internal fighting during 1983 and 1984, Ethiopian security forces entered their camps and arrested the rebels central committee members. After

1305-405: The group attacked Mandera Prison to free political prisoners while simultaneously raiding Cadaadle armory. Between 1985 and 1987, the SNM conducted many attacks on government facilities and troops based out of camps in Ethiopia. By 1988, the SNM moved out of their camps in Ethiopia and began operating in northern Somali republic, the area now known as Somaliland . They even temporarily occupied

1350-510: The group's limited military capacity and its primarily localized operations near Galkayo in the Mudug region. The next incursion occurred further north at Balanbale . On 10 July 1982, the Ethiopians launched an offensive on the town, surprising and overrunning the defenders. An Ethiopian armored column of 30 to 45 T-55 tanks backed by two artillery battalions overran the town and advanced 11 km into Somalia. The Somali army commander at

1395-531: The invasion led to a large increase in volunteers joining the army. The Ethiopian/SSDF attack had played out to Barres advantage, as his declining regime found a significant upsurge in support. Limited confrontations took place at several other points further north, while the Ethiopian Air Force bombed and strafed Galkayo airport . The Ethiopian and SSDF forces never reached their objectives of Galkayo and Beledweyne , but were instead halted to

Factions in the Somali Civil War - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-406: The occupied towns. Disputes began between the SSDF and Ethiopian forces, who consequently began eliminating SSDF officials. During September 1982 there was further heavy fighting near Balanbale, which continued into October. Over the following months sporadic skirmishes continued. By the end of 1982, some Ethiopian forces entrenched 32 km over the border. In mid-June 1983 the Somali army repelled

1485-482: The provincial capitals of Burao and Hargeysa. They captured government Toyota Land Cruisers turned them into technicals by mounting 12.7 mm and 14.5 mm machineguns , 106 mm recoilless rifles , and BM-21 rocket launchers. They also operated various antiaircraft guns, such as the ZU-23-2 . By 1991, they had taken control of Hargeysa , Berbera , Burao , and Erigavo . On May 18, 1991, they declared

1530-562: The raising of eighteen villages and the destruction of water reservoirs. Borama Borama ( Somali : Boorama , Arabic : بورما ) is the largest city of the northwestern Awdal region of Somaliland . The commercial seat of the province, it is situated near the border with Ethiopia . During the Middle Ages, Borama was ruled by the Adal Sultanate . It later formed a part of the British Somaliland protectorate in

1575-574: The rebels had no longer become useful to Mengistu , he had members of the organization killed, imprisoned or dispersed. The SSDF did not recover as an organization until relations with Ethiopia normalized during the tenure of Meles Zenawi . The SSDF was primarily composed of the Majerteen clan, and following the invasion the Somali army carried out reprisals against civilians from the clan in Mudug , Nugaal and Bari regions. The reprisals included

1620-499: The remnants of the Somali National Army forces after his ouster from office, the SNF's intent and goal was to recapture Mogadishu and reinstate Barre's regime. Isaaq tribe members had founded the movement in 1981 as emigres to London with the express purpose of overthrowing the Barre regime. They eventually moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and gained the support of the Ethiopian government. On January 2, 1982, operating near Berbera ,

1665-485: The town of El Dhere organized a counter-attack and pushed the offensive back to 3 km outside Balanbale. The Ethiopians held and fortified the town. To the surprise of many observers, the invasion was vigorously repulsed by the Somali National Army . In spite of losses taken four years earlier during 1978 from the Ethiopian-Cuban counter offensive during the Ogaden War , the Somali army had regrouped and

1710-628: The tribes living the jubba and shabelle river banks A political party that was active in the 1960s but was forced into dissolution during the Barre regime. It revived after his downfall. The "new" USP had no affiliation to the original group founded in the 1950s. The new group that bore their name were generally pro-Siad, but key participants in the Reconciliation Conference of the Elders at Borama in early 1993. The 1993 Informal Preparatory Meeting on National Reconciliation and

1755-493: The war he deserted the army, and led the failed 1978 coup attempt following which he had immediately fled to Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, Yusuf set up base for a new rebel organization called the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) which he led and soon after began fighting with Ethiopian forces against the Somali army. The SSDF possessed little autonomy over Ethiopian security forces, as it

1800-617: Was 'created, organized, trained and financed by Ethiopia'. The guerrillas were trained by Ethiopian officers and during the 1982 invasion, SSDF forces were directly integrated into much larger Ethiopian army units. In 1982, approximately 10,000 to 15,000 Ethiopian troops, equipped with Soviet-supplied MIG fighters and T-55 tanks, launched an invasion. They were accompanied by 2,000 to 5,000 Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) rebels, who were similarly armed with tanks and received support from Ethiopian artillery and air forces. The Somali National Army (SNA) committed only 2,500 troops to

1845-629: Was challenged by war and economic trouble. Newly formed regional clan and guerrilla groups revolted and challenged the Siad Barre government. Because of the invasion, Barres shaky hold on power during 1982 was temporarily strengthened. As a result of the 1982 invasion, the Somali Army adopted the US FIM-43 Redeye surface-to-air missile. During 1982, the Barre regime successfully split the SSDF and most its members surrendered to

Factions in the Somali Civil War - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-474: Was persistently rumored the Barre had allowed the occupation of the two towns in order to drum up a case for further foreign military aid deliveries. After the seizure of Balanbale and Galdogob, Siad Barre and his government declared a state of emergency. In front of SSDF personnel, including the groups chairman Abdullahi Yusuf , the Ethiopian army commander ordered his troops to raise the Ethiopian flag over

1935-407: Was principally used by Nuur, his circle of associates in the city and some of the merchants in control of trade in Zeila and Borama. Students of Sheikh Nuur were also trained in the use of this script. . The alphabet is also generally known as the Gadabuursi script . In the post- independence period, Borama was administered as part of the official Awdal administrative region of Somalia. During

1980-443: Was to cut Somalia into two by driving the troops all the way to the ocean, but the plan backfired." The Ethiopian army intended to us the SSDF to overthrow Barre and install a friendly regime. The invasion was launched on the night on 30 June 1982. The first offensive came at the border town of Ferfer near Beledweyne , in an attempt to capture the high ground overlooking a vital roadway connecting north and south Somalia. Initially

2025-668: Was to recapture Mogadishu and reinstate the regime of Siad Barre, and to establish regional state in Middle Jubba , Gedo , Lower Jubba Regions. The original USF joined with the SNM in the creation of the Republic of Somaliland. The Issa clan is a Somali clan that spreads across northwest Somaliland and the nation of Djibouti. The "new" USF especially sought to represent the interests of the Djibouti-based Iise. (also called Somali Asal Muki Organization ) Some of

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