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