Origins of the Somali civil war

Shirvan (0:00)

In recent decades, Somalia has become analogous to a failed state. It is known as a sanctuary for warlords, jihadists, and even pirates. For this reason, the country poses a security risk in the Horn of Africa. However, it wasn't always like this. In fact, in mid-20th century, the country was a powerful force in the region. So in this report, we will explore the decline of Somalia, the origins of its long-standing crisis, and what issues the country faces today. My name is Shirvan, and welcome to CaspianReport. During the Middle Ages, several Somali states dominated the region, such as the Ajuran, Atal, Varsangali, Geladi, and the Mogadishu Sultanates. However, the situation changed dramatically in the 19th century when European powers colonized the Horn of Africa. As a result, British, French, and Italian colonies were established in the territories that were inhabited by ethnic Somalis. The circumstances changed again following the outcome of World War II. London needed to reward its East African allies and colonies for their support during the war. Therefore, artificial borders were designed in favor of the allied forces. For instance, the Ogadan region, which was mostly inhabited by Somalis, but conquered by the Ethiopians in the 19th century, was solidified as part of Ethiopia. At the same time, Italian Somaliland and British Somaliland were merged into the newly established Somali Republic in 1960 Meanwhile, French Somaliland remained with France, but eventually parted ways and formed the Republic of Djibouti. As European powers redesigned the borders, large portions of Somalis were left outside of Somalia. In Mogadishu, the government sought to seize the territories inhabited by its kin, a goal that became known as Greater Somalia. Eventually, in the early 1960s, tensions culminated in a skirmish between Ethiopia and Somalia over the Ogadan Plateau. The Ethiopian Air Force overwhelmed the Somali army and won the fight. However, the clash would lead to future conflicts over the course of the Cold War. Then, suddenly, in 1969, President Sharmouki of Somalia was shot dead by his own bodyguards. The assassination was followed by a military coup in which Major General Barayi seized power. Barayi's military government changed the dynamic of the region. He threw out the Constitution and dissolved the parliament. Thereby, the young democratic government changed to a one-party system. Over the next decade, Barayi placed an emphasis on Islamic social principles of progress, equality and justice, which correlated with the communist doctrine. These developments enabled the military government to swiftly modernize the state and society by implementing large-scale social programs such as cooperative farms, factories, literacy programs and even tree planting campaigns. Barayi's socialist emphasis received the approval of Egypt and the Soviet Union. As a result, financial and military aid from these two countries increased dramatically. For Moscow, extending support to socialist Somalia was a cold war countermeasure against the pro-American government in Ethiopia. For Cairo, however, the decision to support Mogadishu was based on securing the resources of the Nile by destabilizing Ethiopia. Either way, every involved player was looking out for their own interests. Geopolitical tensions peaked in 1974, when Ethiopian Emperor Salasi was overthrown in a coup. A communist military council known as the Derg took control of the capital. However, the Derg quickly fell into an internal conflict over who would hold power. Distinct Derg factions as well as separatist movements rose up in arms. In the same year, a major drought hit the region. The dryness was so severe that it was referred to as the Lingering Drought. With Addis Ababa in disarray, the geopolitical balance favored Somalia. Hence, Bahre seized the opportunity to arm Somali separatists in Ethiopia's Ogadan Plateau. At this point in history, the Somali military had developed into the largest and most advanced force in the region. Eventually, in 1977, emboldened by the circumstances, Somalia launched massive military operations into Ethiopia. Initially, the offense found success. The Somali army controlled about 90% of the Ogadan region, and the idea of Greater Somalia was within reach. Then, in a turn of events, somehow the Ethiopian Derg managed to convince the Soviets of their Marxist-Leninist devotion.

This presented Moscow with a dilemma of backing two allies against one another. At first, the Soviets offered to negotiate a peace settlement, but Barre rejected the idea. Following Mogadishu's refusal, the Soviet Union seized their support to Somalia, and instead started backing Ethiopia, whereas the United States conversely broke with Ethiopia and started supporting Somalia. However, the American support which accounted to about 100 million dollars annually was dwarfed by the Soviet commitment. In total, Moscow provided military supplies worth up to 7 billion dollars to Ethiopia. In addition, the Soviet Union sent advisers to the front lines and encouraged Cuba to deploy some 16,000 troops in support of Addis Ababa. The Soviet efforts proved to be decisive. A year later, the Somali army pulled back across the border. The Ogadan War had effectively ceased, and Ethiopia was saved from a major defeat. But its civil war continued, and would ultimately claim the lives of 1.4 million people. Meanwhile, the Ogadan War had taken an enormous toll on Somalia's military capabilities. About a third of the army had died fighting.