Mohamed siad barre biography of william

1. Military and Political Leader
2. Background and Early Life
3. Military Career and Pre-Presidency
4. The 1969 Coup
5. President of the Somali Democratic Republic (1969-1991)
6. Socialist Policies and Economic Growth
7. The Ogaden War (1977-1978)
8. Domestic Repression and Authoritarian Rule
9. The Somaliland Conflict (1981-1990)
10. The Collapse of the Barre Regime (1990-1991)
11. Exile and Death

Military and Political Leader

Mohammed Siad Barre, born circa 1919, was a Somali military and political leader who served as the President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991.

Background and Early Life

Born in Shilabo, Italian Somaliland, Barre came from a poor family. His father, killed by a member of the Isa clan, was from the Marehan clan. This incident is believed to have influenced Barre's later repressive actions against the Isa clan.

Military Career and Pre-Presidency

Barre joined the police in 1940 and rose through the ranks. In 1950, he attended a military academy in Italy, after which he continued his military service in Somalia. Before becoming President, he commanded the army under the democratic government that led Somalia to independence in 1960. By 1962, Barre had reached the rank of Brigadier General, and in 1966, he became a Major General in the Somali army.

The 1969 Coup

In October 1969, after a political crisis and the assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, Barre and his fellow officers led a military coup. They seized power, arrested ministers, disbanded parliament, and dissolved political parties.

President of the Somali Democratic Republic (1969-1991)

Barre became President and established the Supreme Revolutionary Council. In a speech, he justified the coup, citing corruption, nepotism, and disrespect for religion and laws.

Socialist Policies and Economic Growth

The new government declared Somalia a socialist state and embarked on a path of socialist development. The country was nationalized, and emphasis was placed on agriculture. While some economic success was achieved, private ownership of cattle and banana plantations remained common.

The Ogaden War (1977-1978)

Barre sought to create a "Greater Somalia" that would unite all ethnic Somalis. In 1977, he invaded Ethiopia to claim the Ogaden region. However, after losing Soviet support, Somalia withdrew from Ogaden in 1978.

Domestic Repression and Authoritarian Rule

Barre gradually became more authoritarian, suppressing dissent and favoring his own clan. Intertribal tensions escalated as he increasingly relied on his loyalists.

The Somaliland Conflict (1981-1990)

In 1982, a rebellion broke out in northern Somalia. Barre responded with brutal military force, resulting in the deaths of thousands.

The Collapse of the Barre Regime (1990-1991)

By 1990, Barre had lost control over much of Somalia. Rebel groups advanced on Mogadishu, and in January 1991, he fled the country. The Somali government collapsed, and the country descended into chaos and civil war.

Exile and Death

After his ouster, Barre settled in Kenya, where he lived until his death in 1995.