During the Ogaden War (1977–1978) in which Somalia attempted to invade an Ethiopia affected by the Ethiopian Civil War, Cuba deployed 18,000 troops along with armored cars, artillery, T-62 tanks, and MiGs to assist the Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia. Cuban troops and warplanes played a major part in the expulsion of Somali regulars from the Ogaden. After the Ogaden War, Ethiopian leader Mengistu repeatedly requested aid by Cuban troops in his war against Eritrean separatists, but Castro refused to intervene, instead urging Mengistu to seek a negotiated solution giving Eritrea regional autonomy.