ARCHITECT OF MISERY

[Goljano Lion]

Mohammed Siad Barre
By Patrick Gilkes


PRESIDENT Mohammed Siad Barre's dictatorial and tyrannical regime in Somalia came to a predictable end in January 1991, when he was forced to flee from his capital, Mogadishu, after months of fighting. It was typical, however, that he refused to accept the inevitable and retreated to his own home area in the west of the country, from where he made several efforts to fight his way back.

He was only forced out in April 1992, first into Kenya, and then to Nigeria after Kenyan MPs forced President Daniel Arap Moi to give up the idea of providing a refuge for such a discredited figure.

Siad Barre, who has died aged 74, came to power in rather different circumstances. Originally he was a policeman for the Italians before the second world war, then for the British, and again under the Italian mandate over Somalia. After independence in 1960, he became chief of police and was appointed vice -commander of the Somalian army and commander-in-chief in 1965. At the time of the constitutional crisis of 1969, following the assassination of President Abdel-Rashid Ali Shermarke he seemed a natural choice as figure-head for the army officers who had seized power.

The coup was bloodless, and popular in a country tired of the anarchic pluralist politics of the Somali clans. But its leaders underrated Siad Barre. Never highly regarded and referred to, somewhat disparagingly, as a "man of average intelligence and no formal schooling", he proved far more adept at political manipulation. It was not long before he had seized full control of the supreme revolutionary council.

His regime originally claimed it had come to remove tribalism, or its Somali equivalent, clanism, but it soon became apparent that little had changed. Siad Barre's regime, particularly when opposition appeared, was swift to reactivate clan links, and the alliance of his own Marehan, his uncle's Ogaden clan, and the Dolbuhunta clan of his son-in-law, formed the basis of his power.

In the first years he introduced an element of efficiency into Somali bureaucracy, coupled with his moves towards "scientific socialism", though he was never a convert. Socialism, as his alliance with the Soviet Union, was valued as a way to achieve control. He never managed to produce an acceptable blend of Marxism and Islam to satisfy the highly individualistic and Muslim Somalis.


He did, however, preside over the important introduction of a written Somali language, forcing acceptance of a Latin script. Literacy campaigns were a considerable success, but they were coupled with a huge personality cult. Siad's gaunt features loured over all offices and buildings and enormous hand-painted posters became a familiar sight in the streets.

Like others in the Horn of Africa he also managed to play off the great powers during the Cold War, having a close alliance with the Soviet Union until 1977, when Somalia went to war with Ethiopia over the Ogaden desert and the Soviets changed sides. Siad Barre then looked to the United States for support and, to a limited extent, obtained it. His attack on Ethopia had been popular and, surprisingly for a military dictatorship, he survived Somalia's defeat. But opposition increased as his regime became ever more ruthless in suppressing criticism and opposition. The US was not impressed by his human rights record and his support crumbled.

When Siad Barre came to power he found a capital city that was rundown and shabby; when he fled, 21 years later, he left a city still as shabby and rundown, but with the additional serious damage brought about by the artillery fire of his own troops. He had achieved little except to exacerbate Somalia's intractable clan differences. He had tried to project himself as a wise, avuncular leader, but his secretive, repressive and extensive security forces, gave the lie to the image.

He lived in constant fear of assassination, and his personal guard, drawn from his own clan were almost as paranoid. Although substantial funds found their way abroad during his regime, it was largely at the hands of his family. He himself lived frugally in Villa Somalia, the presidential palace. An insomniac and chain -smoker, he delighted in calling people for interviews in the middle of the night. It was an off-putting tactic that underlined the security and police background from which he never escaped.

Siad Barre's overwhelming desire was to have, and to hold on to, power at all costs. It was this that brought him down, and ultimately lies behind the disastrous events, and the on-going civil war in Somalia since he fell.

Mohammed Siad Barre, born 1919; died January 2, 1995

[Shift]

Gol,

Maad naga deysid,waa saq dhexe dambiga intaa ha ku ekaado

[Goljano Lion]

Gol,

Maad naga deysid,waa saq dhexe dambiga intaa ha ku ekaado

if you say so

[Goljano Lion]

Union
" When Siad Barre came to power he found a capital city that was rundown and shabby; when he fled, 21 years later, he left a city still as shabby and rundown, but with the additional serious damage brought about by the artillery fire of his own troops. He had achieved little except to exacerbate Somalia's intractable clan differences. He had tried to project himself as a wise, avuncular leader, but his secretive, repressive and extensive security forces, gave the lie to the image"

[Goljano Lion]

Union
" Although treated well by the Nigerian authorities, the fallen dictator was paid scant respect by the average Nigerian, and his home was robbed more than once. Unable to the end to accept responsibility for the famine and anarchy which has accompanied the succession struggle in Somalia, Siad died a frustrated and embittered man"

[quark]

subxanallah, let it go man. siyaad barre aun is gone dude, move on

[Goljano Lion]

subxanallah, let it go man. siyaad barre aun is gone dude, move on

this is a part of Somali history discussion and i am not badmouthing him nor making false statements

[Goljano Lion]

"He lived in constant fear of assassination, and his personal guard, drawn from his own clan were almost as paranoid. Although substantial funds found their way abroad during his regime, it was largely at the hands of his family. He himself lived frugally in Villa Somalia, the presidential palace. An insomniac and chain -smoker, he delighted in calling people for interviews in the middle of the night. It was an off-putting tactic that underlined the security and police background from which he never escaped.

Siad Barre's overwhelming desire was to have, and to hold on to, power at all costs. It was this that brought him down, and ultimately lies behind the disastrous events, and the on-going civil war in Somalia since he fell"

[quark]

what a sambac

[Goljano Lion]

what a sambac

whether you like or not Afweyn is and will be part of Somali history

[quark]

what a sambac

whether you like or not Afweyn is and will be part of Somali history

we all know the history of somalia and siyaad barre aun. we dont need your cuqdaad ass telling us.