Siad Barre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guulwade
Major General Siad Barre
زياد بري |
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Official portrait, 1969
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| General Secretary of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party | |
| In office 26 June 1976 – 26 January 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Post abolished |
| 3rd President of Somalia | |
| In office 21 October 1969 – 26 January 1991 |
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| First Vice President |
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| Preceded by | Mukhtar Mohamed Hussein (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Ali Mahdi Muhammad |
| 2nd Commander in Chief of the Somali Armed Forces | |
| In office 1967–1969 |
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| Preceded by | Daud Abdulle Hirsi |
| Succeeded by | Mohammad Ali Samatar |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Mohamed Siad Barre
c. 1910 Garbahare, Italian Somaliland Now Somalia |
| Died | 2 January 1995 (aged 84-85) Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria |
| Resting place | Garbaharey, Somalia |
| Political party | Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party |
| Spouses |
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| Relations | Abdirahman Jama Barre (half-brother and cousin) Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan (son-in-law) |
| Children | 29, including Maslah Mohammed Siad Barre |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch/service | Somali National Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank |  Major General |
| Battles/wars |
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Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre; Arabic: محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali leader and army general. He served as the third president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. People called him Barre as a child, which means someone who is outgoing.
Barre was a major general in the police force. He became president after a military takeover in 1969. This happened after President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was assassinated. The military group, called the Supreme Revolutionary Council, made Somalia a one-party country. They renamed it the Somali Democratic Republic and adopted a system called scientific socialism, with help from the Soviet Union.
At first, Barre tried to make many changes. He worked on modernizing the country and took control of banks and industries for the government. He also encouraged cooperative farms and created a new writing system for the Somali language. He tried to reduce tribalism, which is when people favor their own tribe too much.
In 1976, the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party became the main political party. Barre then started the Ogaden War against Ethiopia. He wanted to unite all Somali-speaking people under one country. Barre was very popular between 1977 and 1978 when Somalia took over most of the Somali region. However, his popularity dropped after Somalia lost the Ogaden War. This led to the Somali Rebellion and Somalia stopped being allies with the Soviet Union. Somalia then became friends with Western countries, especially the United States, for the rest of the Cold War.
In the 1980s, more people opposed Barre because he became more dictatorial. Tribal politics grew, and the National Security Service was accused of abuses. Somalia's economy also got much worse. In 1991, Barre’s government fell apart when the Somali Rebellion forced him out of power. This led to the Somali Civil War and a big power struggle. Barre went into exile and died in Nigeria in 1995 after a heart attack.
Barre could speak Somali, English, and Italian very well.
Contents
Early Life
Mohamed Siad Barre was born around 1910. At that time, birth records were not common in Somalia. He was born to parents who raised livestock. His official birthplace is recorded as Garbahare, a city in the Gedo region of Somalia. Mohamed belonged to the Marehan subclan, which is part of the larger Darod clan.
When he was ten years old, Barre’s father and brother died. Some historians believe this event greatly affected him. As a child, he went to elementary school in Lugh (Luuq). He also learned about Islam at a Qur'anic school.
In 1941, when he was around twenty, Mohamed joined the police force. This force was then controlled by the British military. His police career took him to the capital city, Mogadishu, where he continued his education. By 1950, he had reached the highest rank possible for a local officer: chief police inspector.
In 1952, he and some friends went to a military academy in Italy. There, he studied politics and how to run a government. He also spent a lot of time learning languages between 1950 and 1960. He became fluent in Italian, English, and Swahili. After his training, he became a second lieutenant. In 1955, he was made police chief in Mogadishu. By 1958, he was a major and led the security forces. When Somalia became independent in 1960, he became the Vice Commander of the Somali Army.
In the early 1960s, Barre trained with officers from the Soviet Union. He became interested in their ideas of Marxist-Leninist government, which focused on a socialist system and strong Somali nationalism.
Taking Power
In the late 1960s, many people saw the armed forces as the only government group free from corruption and favoritism. The police force was the first to be led by Somali officers before independence. Both the police and the military, especially the army, worked on projects to help themselves and the public. They also had good public relations, which made people trust them. This made the Somali army different from many other African armies.
The short border war against Ethiopia in 1964 showed that the army was not ready. The government became more and more corrupt, which made people angry. This led to a desire for a new political direction in Somalia.
In 1966, General Siad Barre, who was then head of the armed forces, spoke to an Italian newspaper. He said he was unhappy with the government and wanted a deep change in Somalia. He said the army was there to serve the people, not just to defend borders, but to help with political, economic, and social progress. He added that anyone who wanted to keep people poor and uneducated was their enemy. This showed that the Somali Armed Forces believed they could step in to make necessary changes.
On October 15, 1969, President Abdirashid Shermarke was killed by a policeman. This happened while he was visiting an area in northern Somalia affected by drought. The Prime Minister, Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, was in the United States at the time. When he returned, there was a lot of chaos as politicians tried to choose a new president. Some members of parliament even sold their votes.
In the early hours of October 21, 1969, military troops and armored cars took control of key places in major Somali cities. Before dawn, all members of parliament and many politicians were arrested by the police. General Jama Ali Korshel led the police in supporting this takeover.
Many Western observers were surprised because they thought Somalia was a stable and "democratic country." However, the military stepped in because the government was becoming very ineffective and corrupt. This made both the army and most of the Somali people unhappy.
On October 24, General Siad Barre explained why the military took over. He said that having many parties and a parliament that served only colonial purposes did not help Somalia develop true democracy.
After the Takeover
After the takeover, poets wrote poems to celebrate the revolution. A famous poetess, Halimo Ali Kurtin, said that Somalia was lost and in danger, but then a "lightning" (the revolution) came. She praised Siad for leading the army, and said women were sending greetings.
Another poet, Ali Elmi Afyare, wrote a poem expressing hope for the country's future. He compared liberty to a beloved she-camel, which is a very valuable animal in Somalia.
Presidency
Barre became the President of Somalia. He was called the "Victorious Leader" (Guulwade). He encouraged a strong public image of himself, with his pictures often seen alongside those of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Barre promoted a type of scientific socialism that mixed ideas from the Qur'an and Marxism-Leninism, with a strong focus on Somali nationalism.
Supreme Revolutionary Council
The Supreme Revolutionary Council started big public works projects. They also successfully taught many people in cities and rural areas how to read and write, which greatly increased the number of people who could read. Barre began to take control of industries and land for the government.
His new government focused on Somalia's ties with the Arab world. Somalia joined the Arab League in 1974. In the same year, Barre also served as chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is now called the African Union (AU).
In July 1976, Barre’s Supreme Revolutionary Council ended itself. In its place, they created the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP). This was a one-party government based on scientific socialism and Islamic principles. The SRSP tried to combine the government's ideas with the country's main religion. They focused on Muslim ideas of social progress, equality, and justice. They also emphasized self-sufficiency and public involvement. While the SRSP allowed some private business, the government's main goal was to be Communist.
A new constitution was made in 1979. Elections were held for a People's Assembly. However, Barre and the main leaders of his party still held the real power. In October 1980, the SRSP was ended, and the Supreme Revolutionary Council was brought back.
Slogans
Barre's government used several slogans to encourage people:
- “Bar ama Baro”: Teach or Learn. This was for a campaign to teach people to read.
- "Wax Barta aan Barwaaqo Gaarnee, Far Qoraalku Waa Furaha Nolosha:" Learn so we can reach a good life; writing is the key to life.
- "Tabca Cun": Sow and Eat. This encouraged farming.
- "Xisaab Xil Ma Leh": Accounting without shame. This became popular in the fight against corruption.
- "Jaale": This word means "friend." Barre encouraged people to use it instead of traditional greetings like "ina adeer" (cousin) to reduce focus on family groups.
- "Iskaa-Wax-U-Qobso": Self-help programs.
- "Hanti Wadaag" or "Hanti Wadaag Cilmi Ku Dhisan": Socialism or Scientific Socialism.
- "Kacaan": Revolution.
Nationalism and Greater Somalia
Barre supported the idea of a Greater Somalia (Soomaaliweyn). This idea meant uniting all regions where ethnic Somalis live and have historically been the main population. These regions include Somalia, Djibouti, the Ogaden in Ethiopia, and parts of Kenya.
In July 1977, the Ogaden War started. Barre’s government wanted to bring the Somali-inhabited areas of the region into a Greater Somalia, starting with the Ogaden. The Somali national army invaded Ethiopia, which was then under a communist government supported by the Soviet Union. At first, Somalia was successful and captured most of the Ogaden territory.
However, the war ended suddenly when the Soviet Union switched its support to Ethiopia. Almost all communist countries sided against Somalia. The Soviets stopped sending supplies to Barre’s government and instead sent more aid, weapons, and training to Ethiopia. They also sent about 15,000 Cuban troops to help Ethiopia. In 1978, Somali troops were forced out of the Ogaden.
Foreign Relations
Both the Soviet Union and the United States were interested in controlling Somalia. This was because of Somalia's important location at the entrance to the Red Sea. After the Soviets stopped supporting Somalia in the late 1970s, Barre sent all Soviet advisers away. He ended his friendship treaty with the Soviet Union and became an ally of the West. He announced this in a TV speech in English. Somalia also broke ties with most Eastern Bloc countries, except China and Romania.
The United States then became a strong supporter of Barre's government. Until 1989, the US provided about US$100 million per year in aid. In 1982, Barre met with US President Ronald Reagan to announce their new relationship.
In September 1972, rebels supported by Tanzania attacked Uganda. Ugandan President Idi Amin asked Barre for help. Barre helped create a peace agreement between Tanzania and Uganda. Because of his actions, a road in Kampala was named after Barre.
In October 1977, a group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked Lufthansa Flight 181 to Mogadishu. They held 86 hostages. The West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and Barre worked together. They allowed a German anti-terrorist unit, GSG 9, to enter Mogadishu to free the hostages.
In January 1986, Barre met with the Ethiopian leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in Djibouti. They wanted to improve relations between their countries. An agreement was signed in 1988. Barre then ended his secret anti-Ethiopian group, the Western Somali Liberation Front. In return, Barre hoped that Mengistu would disarm Somali rebels active near the border. However, this did not happen, as the rebels moved to northern Somalia.
Domestic Programs
During his first five years, Barre’s government set up many cooperative farms and factories. These included mills, sugar cane processing plants in Jowhar and Afgooye, and a meat processing plant in Kismayo.
Another big project was stopping sand dunes in Shalanbood. From 1971 onwards, Barre’s government started a huge tree-planting campaign across the country. The goal was to stop thousands of acres of wind-blown sand dunes from covering towns, roads, and farms. By 1988, much progress had been made.
Between 1974 and 1975, a severe drought called Abaartii Dabadheer ("The Lingering Drought") hit northern Somalia. The Soviet Union helped by airlifting about 90,000 people from the affected areas. New villages were created in the Jubbada Hoose (Lower Juba) and Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Juba) regions. These new settlements were called Danwadaagaha, or "Collective Settlements." The families who moved there learned farming and fishing, which was a change from their traditional life of herding livestock. Other similar programs were also started to try and reduce the importance of clan groups by moving people away from clan-controlled land.
Economic Policies
As part of Barre’s socialist policies, major industries and farms were taken over by the government. This included banks, insurance companies, and oil distribution companies. By the mid-to-late 1970s, people were becoming more unhappy with Barre's government. This was mainly because of corruption among officials and poor economic performance. The Ogaden War also greatly weakened the Somali army, and military spending hurt the economy.
Somalia's foreign debt grew faster than its earnings from exports. By the end of the 1970s, Somalia's debt was huge. By 1978, the country exported almost no manufactured goods. After losing Soviet support, Barre's government signed agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the early 1980s. These agreements aimed to improve the economy. However, the Somali army refused to accept a big cut in military spending. New agreements were made later, but they failed to improve the economy. The economy got much worse in 1989 and 1990, leading to shortages of goods across the country.
Car Accident
In May 1986, President Barre was seriously injured in a car accident near Mogadishu. His car crashed into a bus during a heavy rainstorm. He was treated in a hospital in Saudi Arabia for head injuries and broken ribs. He stayed there for about a month. Lieutenant General Mohammad Ali Samatar, who was the Vice President, took over as acting head of state for several months.
Barre recovered enough to run for president again in December 1986. However, his poor health and age led to questions about who would take over after him. Possible successors included his son-in-law, General Ahmed Suleiman Abdille, who was the Minister of the Interior, and Vice President Lt. Gen. Samatar.
Human Rights Concerns
Part of Barre’s time in power was marked by strict rule. This included the persecution and jailing of people who spoke out against the government. In January 1990, the Africa Watch Committee, part of Human Rights Watch, released a detailed report. It described widespread violations of basic human rights in northern Somalia.
In September 1970, the government introduced a law that gave the National Security Service (NSS) the power to arrest and hold people indefinitely. This applied to anyone who criticized the government, and they could be held without trial. The NSS could also arrest people without a warrant if they were suspected of crimes against "national security." This law made it mandatory to give the death penalty to anyone found guilty of such acts.
From the late 1970s, Barre became less popular, and more people resisted his rule. In response, Barre’s special unit, the Red Berets (Duub Cas), and a paramilitary group called the Victory Pioneers carried out actions against certain clans, including the Majeerteen, Hawiye, and Isaaq clans. The Red Berets destroyed water reservoirs to deny water to the Majeerteen and Isaaq clans and their animals. Many members of the Majeerteen clan died of thirst. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 200,000 Isaaq people were killed by the government.
Clan Politics
After the Ogaden War, Barre started to use "clannism" to stay in power. He built a large army of 120,000 soldiers to control the public. This army also encouraged conflicts between clans in rural areas and carried out massacres in cities. Barre also targeted the Isaaq clan for harsh treatment. This fueled a strong desire for self-rule among supporters of the Somali National Movement.
By the mid-1980s, more resistance groups, supported by Ethiopia's communist government, appeared across Somalia. Barre responded by ordering harsh actions against those he believed were helping the rebels, especially in the northern regions. This included bombing cities. The city of Hargeisa, a stronghold of the Somali National Movement (SNM), was bombed in 1988. General Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan, Barre’s son-in-law, led the bombing, which resulted in the deaths of 50,000 people in the north.
Rebellion and Removal from Power
After the Ogaden War failed, Barre’s government began arresting officials and military leaders. They were suspected of being involved in a coup attempt in 1978. Most of those accused were quickly executed. However, some officials escaped abroad and started forming groups to remove Barre's government by force.
A new constitution was created in 1979, and elections were held for a People's Assembly. But Barre and his party still held the power. In October 1980, his party was ended, and the Supreme Revolutionary Council was brought back. By this time, people were losing faith in Barre’s government. Many Somalis were unhappy with life under military rule. The government became more controlling.
In the 1980s, the Cold War was ending, and Somalia became less important to other countries. Resistance groups, supported by Ethiopia, grew across the country. This eventually led to the start of the civil war in 1991. Barre’s government was overthrown, and the Somali National Army (SNA) was disbanded.
Some of the groups that led the rebellion included the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), United Somali Congress (USC), Somali National Movement (SNM), and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM). There were also peaceful political groups like the Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and the Somali Manifesto Group (SMG). Siad Barre escaped from his palace in a tank towards the Kenyan border.
After Barre was removed, many of the opposition groups started fighting for power. In the south, armed groups led by USC commanders General Mohamed Farah Aidid and Ali Mahdi Mohamed fought each other to control the capital city.
Exile and Death
After leaving Mogadishu on January 26, 1991, with his son-in-law General Morgan, Barre stayed for a short time in Burdhubo, his family's stronghold in southwestern Somalia. The former leader fled in a tank that was filled with money, gold, and foreign currency from the Somalian central bank. This was estimated to be worth $27 million.
From Burdhubo, he tried to launch a military campaign to get back to power. He tried twice to retake Mogadishu. But in May 1991, General Mohamed Farrah Aidid's army defeated him, and he was forced to leave the country. Barre first moved to Nairobi, Kenya. However, opposition groups there protested his arrival, and the Kenyan government's support for him. Because of this pressure, he moved to Nigeria two weeks later.
Barre died of a heart attack on January 2, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria. He was buried in Garbahare, Somalia.
Honours
Order of the National Flag, First Class, of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea – 1972
See also
In Spanish: Mohamed Siad Barre para niños
- Mohammad Ali Samatar
- Hussein Kulmiye Afrah
- Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
- Muse Hassan Sheikh Sayid Abdulle
- Ali Matan Hashi
- Abdullahi Ahmed Irro
- Mohamed Osman Irro
- Aden Abdullahi Nur
- Dahir Adan Elmi
