Somalia

Somalia
1960 independence from Britain.
1969 coup makes General Mohamed Siad Barre president.
1969–1991 22 years 1975
Country fragments into numerous fiefdoms.
Barre reduces political freedoms, uses military force to redistribute rich farmlands, and uses terror.
1975 Following overthrow of Ethiopian Emperor, Somalia invades Ethiopia.
1977 Soviet supplies Ethiopia with 15,000 Cuban troops to defeat Somalia.
1978–1988 Barre receives military equipment and aid from U.S. and Somali army officers are trained in U.S.
military schools.
During 1980’s “slow genocide.”
1988 In attempt to end civil war, Barre orders Air Force bombing of Hargeisa city, killing 10,000 civilians.
Economic crisis results from cost of anti-insurgency activities.
Siad Barre and his associates loot national treasury.
1989 More than 300,000 Somalis flee homes, seek refuge in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Somali army disintegrates. Barre’s control is reduced to the capital city only.
1990 U.S. decides to stop supporting Barre.
1991 Armed opposition drives Barre out.
Barre dies in exile in 1995 in Nigeria.
1992 Complete collapse of central government results in political chaos and widespread deaths from civil strife and
starvation.
1992 U.S. and UN send task force to help suffering Somalis.
1994 U.S. forces withdraw. Instead, U.S. arms embargo imposed because of international terrorism originating in
Somalia.





			Return to LIST of Countries

		HOME Copyright © 2006 by Edward A. Morris, All Rights Reserved