SIAD BARRE’S CONNECTION WITH
SOUTH AFRICA
Siad Barre has made an unfamiliar and strange move in 1984. He
caught the world by surprise when he turned to the South Africa for
help. His political and diplomatic isolation coupled with this
opportunistic and unpredictable character forced him to turn to the
Racist South Africa for help. Most likely he has figured out that
the only country engaged in a Barre-like oppression was South
Africa. The contacts were initiated by a well-connected Barre aide
who flew several secret mission so South Africa. Those were later
followed by a two days secret but official visit of the Somali
Minister of Defense to Johannesburg in 1984.
Arrangements were made for economic and military pact between the
Siad’s regime and the South African government. The foreign Minister
of South Africa, Pik Botha, later paid an official visit to
Mogadhishu without the knowledge of the Somali people. During the
visit the arrangements were finalized and an agreement was signed.
In the agreement the South Afircan Airlines was granted an over
flight and landing rights on Somali Airports. Similar privileges
were given to the South African armed forces to use the ports at
Kismayo and Mogdishu. In return Siad Barre received 20 million
dollars in economic aid and a huge chunk of military equipments that
the South African forces captured from the Angolan troops. Two
dozens of MERCENARIES were also brought to Baidowa to train Barri’s
troops.
The Barre-South Africa alliances did not stop SNM. As a matter of
fact the SNM forces made a full-scale infiltration into Somalia in
October 1984. They literally shook Siad Barre’s regime, particularly
in the Northern regions. During that period the 26th Sector of the
Barre army and their reinforcement units reported 983 casualties and
many injuries.
The results of that infiltration were phenomenal for the following
reasons:
a) The SNM successfully tested its fighting capability.
b) Barr’s regime encountered an unpleasant surprise and bitterly
accepted the reality of the SNM.
c) SNM secured the attention of the diplomatic community in Somalia
and, therefore, a great publicity of both national and international
significance.
d) Hundreds of Barr’s troops took advantage of the situation and
deserted.
In a retaliatory move Siad Barre accelerated his reprisal attacks
against innocent civilians and nomads. The following dated report
will shed some light as to how indiscriminately Siad Barre’s regime
Killed and executed innocent civilians without any charges or trial.
On October 16, 1984 six civilians were executed in Arabsiyo
including an 80 and 60 years old men. On November 19, 1984 37
civilians were executed in an around Hargeisa. Four others were
executed in Go’a, between Hargeisa and Burao, on November 20, 1984.
On December 21, 1984 47 civilians were executed in Burao. Between
October and December of the same year 76 more civilians were
executed an more than 1350 were imprisoned in and around Hargeisa,
Sheikh, and Burao. On October 2, 1984 the so-called National
Security Court sentenced 7 high school student to death in Hargiea.
21 others were given life sentences. The ages of those students
ranged from 16-18 years. “ We are concerned that they did not get a
fair trail”, said Helen Scoville, an area coordinator for Amnesty
International in an article published by the Washington Post on
October 24, 1984.
THE APPEASEMENT POLICY
Having recognized the military might of the SNM and having suffered
a great deal in its operations inside the country, Siad Barre
started a different kind of tribal politics. As this stage he has
realized that the South African connection did more harm then good.
He has, therefore, engaged himself in what could be termed as the
policy of appeasement. He organized cohorts of people who were
grouped along tribal lines whose purposes were to bring about
concilitiatory efforts between his regime and the supporters of the
SNM. Tribal delegations laden with material goods and empty promises
were dispatched to all areas where the movement’s activities and
influences were prevalent. At times those delegations spent more
then three months in towns like Hargiesa, Burao, and Berbera and
villages on the border like ballidhiig, Durukhsay, salahlay,
balligubadle, Aidaroosh and Balli Abane. They were instructed to
persuade their fellow clansmen to stop supporting the SNM by
offering them cash and by making promises for reform. Those
delegations found themselves between a hard place and a rock. Their
conciliatory efforts ended in vain for the damage that Siad Barre
has already done was irreparable.
The appeasement Policy that was worked out only to undermine the SNM
did not work for several reasons. First the movement engaged itself
in a counter campaign educating the villagers and the nomads about
the intentions of Siad Barre and his collaborators. Secondly, it
fulfilled several successful military operations during the period
tat the appeasement policy was in effect. Having suffered a great
deal of damage, Siad Barre made a crackdown on the people that he
was attempting to persuade. There were instances that members of
these delegations were detained for failing to bring about results
in their missions. Thirdly, people got used to his temporary
conciliatory efforts, which have proven to be a series of fruitless
mission that he used to send every now and then. Not even a single
person was persuaded to come back to Siad Barre’s apparatus.
Although the movement did achieve its major goal, the overthrow of
the Siad’s fascist regime and it has inflicted a considerable damage
to Barre’s regime politically, economically, morally,and militarily.
It waged successive and frequent attacks against Barre’s troops
inside the country and at the border. Many of the combat and
transport vehicles as well as the logistical supplies that the SNM
uses are captures from Barr’s troops in the battle fields. It is a
fact, however that the Somali public and the international
communities are not fully aware of the victories achieved by the SNM
within the short period of its existence.
Politically, SNM succeeded in pulling the carpet under Siad Barre’s
feet by convincing hundreds of Barre’s armed forces and government
personnel that they were in the wrong corner of the court. In 1985
only, 471 soldiers deserted Siad Barr and joined the SNM. Still many
others defected and mingled with their nomadic communities both
inside Somalia and Ethiopia. SNM also gained new grounds by opening
new bases and gaining the support of previously unreached
communities. It also organized the sympathetic masses and prepared
them for actual participation in the liberation struggle. Finally,
the SNM reached out for the Somali communities abroad. Consequently,
SNM now has a total of 27 Branches functioning in foreign countries.
Militarily, the SNM has scored successive victories against Barre
and his troops. As an Illustration of the victories of the SNM
forces, let us briefly recent the operations that were fulfilled the
past year. From June 13, 1985 to June 18, 1986 the SNM fulfilled 53
operations comprising of ambushes, minor and major operations, an
average of one operation per week. In those operations Barr’s troops
suffered 908 casualties and 444 wounded. Among the dead were 15
officers, the Lasanod District Commissioner, Col. Adan Abdirahman,
Luq District Commissioner, Adan Waranle, and his assistant, Hassan
Dini. SNM captured 16 combat vehicles, a large number of small arms,
ammunition and communication equipment. 49 more combat vehicles were
destroyed by the SNM forces. During those operations SNM freed 17
political prisoners from the Lasanood Jail. The prisoners were
safely transferred to the SNM bases. The Somali National Movement
lost a total of 62 Mujaahid in those operations including Mohamoud
Haji Hassan ( Hurre) and Ibrahim Adan Saeed. Two SNM trucks were
also destroyed. The operations clearly indicated the tactical
superiority of the SNM forces and their dedication to the liberation
struggle.
Initiation of Conciliatory Talks with Ethiopia
When Siad Barre has filed in all his attempts to dislodge and
discredit the SNM, he “ Afweyne” has finally opted for initiation of
conciliatory efforts and conflict resolution procedures with
Ethiopia. History clearly indicates that Siad Barre has never had
any real intentions to sit down with the Ethiopian government in an
attempt to bring about lasting peace in the Horn. Over 16 years Siad
has labeled the Ethiopian government as imperialistic. He has
reiterated that nation many times with racial tones by calling
Ethiopia the black colonialist. He has campaigned against his
neighbor for so long do discredit it in the eyes of the
international community. On the other hand Siad Barre has time and
again condemned SNM for being traitorous simply by establishing
themselves on Ethiopian soil. As a matter of fact, while Siad Barre
was busy building rhetoric and sowing enmity between the two
neighboring peoples. The SNM in cooperation with the Ethiopian local
authorities succeeded in bringing about understanding between the
two people.
Why, then the peace initiative now? We think that there is no better
way to answer this question than to quote the statement issued by
the SNM Chairman, Mujaahid Ahmed Mohamd Silaanyo, on the Barre
-Ethiopian talks in Jibouti in January 1986. The Statement read “ It
is clear that the successes of the Somali opposition and the
intensity of the struggle of the people spearheaded by the SNM have
driven Siad Barre to what amount, on his part, to an act of
desperation. For him this is purely a tactical move with the sole
aim of weakening the SNM and the denial of vital support among the
Somali people and their friends for the armed struggle against his
corrupt and dictatorial regime. That is why he does not admit that
he (Afweyne ) has come around to the position of the opposition on
the issue of peace between Somalia and Ethiopia.”
SNM welcomes any genuine initiatives between Somalia and Ethiopia
leading to lasting peace between the two countries and their
peoples. It is important that we understand that SNM is not a
product of the Somali-Ethiopian conflict. It is a instituted against
the Somali people by Siad Barre and his collaborators.
ANIIS ABDILLAHI ESSA
WASHINGTON DC USA
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