Siad Barre

**Mohammed Siad Barre** (Somali: *Maxamed Siyaad Barre*; Osmanya script: 𐒑𐒖𐒄𐒖𐒑𐒗𐒆 𐒈𐒘𐒕𐒛𐒆 𐒁𐒖𐒇𐒇𐒗; Arabic: محمد زياد بري, romanized: *Muhammad Ziād Barīy*; c. 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) na he be a Somali military officer, politician, den revolutionary wey serve as de third presido of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 January 1991.

Barre, de commander of de Somali National Army, cam be presido of Somalia after de 1969 coup d'état wey overthrow de Somali Republic dey follow de assassination of Presido Abdirashid Shermarke. Na de Supreme Revolutionary Council military junta under Barre reconstitute Somalia as a one-party Marxist–Leninist communist state, wey dem rename de country de Somali Democratic Republic wey na dem adopt scientific socialism. Na Barre speak three languages, English, Somali den Italian.

Na Barre ein early rule be characterised by attempts at widespread modernization, nationalization of banks den industry, promotion of cooperative farms, a new writing system give de Somali language, den anti-tribalism. Insyd 1976, na de Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party cam be de country ein vanguard party. De year wey dey follow na Barre launch de Ogaden War against Ethiopia ein Derg regime, wey dey support de Western Somali Liberation Front on a platform of Somali nationalism den pan-Somalism. Na Barre ein popularity be highest during de seven months between September 1977 den March 1978 wen na Barre capture virtually de entirety of de Somali region. Na e decline from de late-1970s dey follow Somalia ein defeat insyd de Ogaden War, wey dey trigger de Somali Rebellion den dey sever ties plus de Soviet Union. Na Somalia then ally einself plus de Western powers den especially de United States for de remainder of de Cold War, although na e maintain ein Marxist–Leninist regime wey e sanso draw close to China.

Na opposition grow insyd de 1980s secof ein increasingly dictatorial rule, growth of tribal politics, abuses of de National Security Service wey dey include de Isaaq genocide, den de sharp decline of Somalia ein economy. Insyd 1991, na Barre ein government collapse as de Somali Rebellion successfully eject am from power, wey dey lead to de Somali Civil War den a massive power vacuum insyd ein wake. Na dem force Barre into exile in Nigeria, wer na he die insyd 1995 on de way to de hospital after he suffer a heart attack.

## Early years

Na dem born Mohamed Siad Barre at a time wen na birth records be unknown insyd Somalia. Na dem cast speculations upon ein exact birth year wey dey range from 1909 to 1921; nevertheless, e be generally agree dat na he be born to pastoral parents. Na dem say ein unofficial birthplace be insys Las Ga'al, wich be a district of de El-Gab region, dem presently know as Shilavo (Shilabo) insyd de Ogaden Region of Ethiopia. Na dem record ein official birthplace e be de city of Garbahare, wich be a part of de provincial capital of de Gedo region of Somalia. Na dem born Mohammed to a Marehan poppie den Ogaden mommie of de greater Darod clan. Na de colonial powers prevent ethnic Somalis dem born outsyd de two protectorates (Italian den British) from conscribing into dema respective territorial forces. By concealing ein unofficial birthplace like chaw odas, na e enable am to be eligible for de Italian colonial police force den military insyd Somalia.

Na Barre ein poppie den bro die wen na he be ten years old as a result of a raid by de Habr Yunis insyd de early 20th century, wey na dis event be posited by sam scholars na e deeply affect am.
	
Na de Middle East monthly insyd dema March 1991 issue state:Barre came from a humble background, deeply rooted in the Marehan sub-clan of the Darod. He had seen his father killed by Isaqs and the impression never left him. His clan straddled the British and Italian segments of Somalia, forming a minority in each. He was worried that the country could split in two and in either case, his clan, as a minority, would be shut out of power. He became an inspector of police and later went to Italy to attend a military academy. On his return, he rose through the ranks quickly to become Commander.
	
	
Na author Mohamed Diiriye insyd ein book *Culture and Customs of Somalia*, dey wrep:
 Many who knew Barre from his boyhood and during his stint in the colonial police under the Italians were not that surprised. Barre was not a normal person; he was a psychopath whose mercurial spirit vacillated between raving hatred in one moment and words of praise and reconciliation the next moment. He was said to have witnessed the murder of his own father when he was only ten years old during the turbulent year of 1921, when the clan conflicts instigated by Mohamed Abdulle Hassan were raging across the land.. Barre was reportedly forever after deeply marked by the murder of his father. He became sadistic..
	
Insyd *The History of Somalia* Raphael Njoku dey say:
According to his biographers, at the tender age of 10, young Muhammad first witnessed the murder of his own father...The shock and impact of this life experience and the difficult circumstances of life as an orphan put a very deep scar in his psyche. It is from this difficult childhood that Barre developed a complex sense of cunning, sadism, insecurity, and vengeance. These behavioural traits were exacerbated and solidified under the Italian fascist colonial rule.

Na dem give am de kiddie time nickie *Barre*, wey dey refer to extrovertedness. Na Barre later on participate as a Zaptié insyd de southern theatre of de Italian conquest of Ethiopia insyd 1936. Insyd 1946, na Barre support de Somali Conference (Italian: *Conferenza Somala*), a political group of parties den clan associations wey na dem be hostile to de Somali Youth League wey na dem be supported by de local Italian settlers. Na de group present a petition to de "Four Powers" Investigation Commission in order make dem allow dat de administration of de United Nations Trust Territory fi be entrusted for thirty years to Italy.
Thru out chaw of ein life, na Mohammed Siad Barre dedicate einself to both formal den self-taught education whilst gradually dey advance ein prospective career. Mohammed, as a kiddie den orphan by de age of 10, he attend de elementary school insyd de town of Lugh (Luuq) insyd de Gedo Region, dem formally know as de Upper Jubba Region. Na he acquire de usual grounding insyd Islam at a Qur'anic school der. Insyd 1941, na Mohammed, aged twenty, join de police force wich na then e dey under de authority of de British military, wey occupy am since de initiation of World War II hostilities. Na Mohammed ein career insyd de police force lead am to de capital city, Mogadishu, make he pursue ein education both insyd de public den private sectors. Insyd de 1940s na he plete secondary school education. By 1950, wen na de British transfer dema administration to Italy, na Mohammed Siad achieve de highest rank possible for an indigenous, dat of chief police inspector.

Insyd 1952, na he den chaw of ein colleagues, wey dey include Hussein Kulmiye Afrah, Liiq-Liiqato, Shegow den Daud Abdulle, attend military academy insyd Italy wer na he chiefly study politics den administration. Between 1950 den 1960, na Mohammed Siad heavily pursue studies insyd languages, ultimately na he master Italian, English den Swahili. After na he fin ein course na dem promote am to de rank of second lieutenant. Insyd 1955, a year after he plete ein course insyd Rome na dem award am de position of police chief wey na dem subsequently assign am to de capital city, Mogadishu. By 1958 na he reach de rank of major whilst na he be de head of de security forces, wey dey include de executive director of de Italian police. Na he eventually sanso cam be vice-commander of de Somali Army wen na de country gain ein independence insyd 1960 as de Somali Republic.

Insyd de early 1960s, after he spend time plus Soviet officers in joint training exercises, na Barre cam be an advocate of Soviet-style Marxist-Leninist government, wey na he dey believe insyd a socialist government den a stronger sense of Somali nationalism.

## Exile den death
After na he flee Mogadishu on 26 January 1991 plus ein son-in-law General Morgan, na Barre temporarily remain insyd Burdhubo, insyd southwestern Somalia, ein family ein stronghold. Na de former dictator flee insyd a tank dem fill plus reserves from de Somali central bank. Na dis include gold den foreign currency dem estimate e be worth $27 million.

From der, na he launch a military campaign make he return to power. Na he twice attempt make he retake Mogadishu, buh insyd May 1991 na he be overwhelmed by General Mohamed Farrah Aidid ein army wey na dem force am into exile. Na Barre initially move go Nairobi, Kenya, buh na opposition groups der protest ein arrival den de Kenyan government ein support give am. In response to de pressure den hostilities, na he move two weeks later to Nigeria. Barre die of a heart attack on 2 January 1995, insyd Lagos.
## Honours
* Order of the National Flag, First Class, of de Democratic People's Republic of Korea – 1972
* Order of the Yugoslav Great Star – 1976
## References

## Read further
* 
* Shire, Mohammed Ibrahim, *Somali President Mohammed Siad Barre: His Life and Legacy*, (Cirfe Publications, 2011).

## External links

* Mohamed Siad Barre Archive at marxists.org
*Mohamed Siad Barre biographical website (in Somali)