Somali Salvation Democratic Front
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Somali Civil War
Somali Salvation Democratic Front
Leaders Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (1981-1984, 1991?-1998), Musse Islam (1984-1986), Hassan Ali Mireh (1986-1988), Mohamed Abshir Musa (1991?-1998)
Clans/Tribes: Majerteen
Years active: 1981–1998
Headquarters:
Operating Areas: Puntland
Preceded by: Somali Salvation Front, Somali Workers Party, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Somalia
Succeeded by: Puntland
Allies: United Somali Congress (USC), United Somali Party, Somali National Democratic Union.
Opponents: Siad Barre
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v • d • e
Somali Civil War
Revolution (1986–92) – UN intervention (1992–95) – Attempts at reconciliation (1991–2004) – Consolidation (1998–2006) – Advance of the ICU (2006) – Ethiopian intervention (2006–2009) – War in Somalia (2009–)
Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) (Somali: Jabhadda Diimuqraadiga Badbaadinta Soomaaliyeed), initially known as the Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia, has been one of the major political and paramilitary umbrella organizations in Somalia since its founding in 1981 by several army officers opposed to the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre. It has its power base mainly in the Majerteen clan.
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Early History
The DFSS formally incorporated in Aden, South Yemen in October 1981 through the merger of three groups, Somali Salvation Front, Somali Workers Party and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Somalia (a front of the Communist Party of Somalia). An 11-member Central Committee was constituted, of which the SSF leaders held 7 seats. Some former CC members of the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party were part of the leadership of the new group. A military structure was built up, supported by Ethiopia and Libya.
In the summer of 1982 SSDF forces took part in an major Ethiopian offensive against Somalia. The campaign was called off when the United States initiated emergency military aid to Somalia. However some territory, including two district towns, had come under Ethiopian and SSDF control. The Mengistu regime declared that the territory was part of Ethiopia, something which created problems in the relations between the Ethiopian government and SSDF. In any case, the action was swiftly repulsed, and according to the U.S. Department of State, resulted in severe reprisals against the Majerteen clan;[1] the SSDF itself would be implcated in killings of members of Siad's own Marehan clan, in Cel-Habred in the Galgadud region in the early 1980s.[2].
A conflict soon emerged between the former SSF and the more leftist members. The SSF clique wanted to maintain the domination of SSDF of Majerteen and Darood clans. They made a deal with the Ethiopian government to purge the leftists. In 1984 the Mengistu government jailed many leading SSDF members, such as then colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. In 1984, Mohamed Abshir Waldo was installed as provisional SSDF Chairman.
From 1983 onwards many leaders, belonging to the Darood clan, were bought over by Barre. Many SSDF fighters defected to the regime. By 1985 SSDF had ceased most of their military operations against the Siad Barre regime.
In 1986 an SSDF congress was held, which elected Dr. Hassan Ali Mireh as chairman. He resigned in 1988, leaving a power vacuum in the organization. Musse Islan, a Somali, was elected leader by the SSDF Central Committee to hold the position until a Congress was convened.
In 1988 the governments of Somalia and Ethiopia made some agreements to cease hostilities. The Ethiopian government started closing SSDF camps, arresting its leaders and seizing weapons. The Ethiopian government also closed the SSDF radio station, Radio Halgan, which had been broadcasting since 1981.
In 1988 SSDF guerrillas started taking control over the western districts of Mudug and the southern areas of Nugaal and Bari regions.
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Post-1991
After the fall of the Barre regime, SSDF (based largely in northeastern Somalia) was divided in two factions. One was led by General Mohamed Abshir Musa (chairman) and the other was led by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed (deputy chairman, "president" of Puntland). Musa has been staying in Saudi Arabia for an extended period of time. The general secretary is Mohammed Abshir Waldo.
A congress was held in August 1994. Former Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdirizak Haji Huseen, was offered the chairmansip of SSDF by a group of clan leaders, but declined. Both Mohamed Abshir Musa and Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed have claimed that they were elected chairman at that congress.
In 1998 SSDF proclaimed north-eastern Somalia as the Puntland State of Somalia together with the United Somali Party and the Somali National Democratic Union.
On October 10 2004 Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was elected president of Somalia by the Somali parliament in exile. In December 2008. He resigned and went to exile in Yemen. His term has President included inviting the Ethiopian army to intervene in Somalia. An insurgency that weakened his government controlled area to a few city blocks and the deaths of 16,000 civilians.
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Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
Xisbiga Hantiwadaagga Kacaanka Soomaaliyeed
Leader Siad Barre
Founded June 1976
Dissolved 1991
Headquarters Mogadishu,Somalia
Membership 20,000
Ideology Socialism,
Pan-Somalism
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (in Somali: Xisbiga Hantiwadaagga Kacaanka Soomaaliyeed, XHKS), was the governing political party in Somalia from 1976 to 1991.Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Ideology
3 Organisation
4 Role in Somali Government
5 References
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History
XHKS poster
XHKS was created by the military regime of Siad Barre under Soviet guidance. A founding congress was held in June 1976. The congress elected a Central Committee, with Barre as the party general secretary. A five-member politburo, consisting of Barre, Lt. General Mahammad Ali Samantar (vice-president), Major General Husseen Kulmiye (2nd vice-president), Brig. Ahmad Sulaymaan Abdullah and Brig. Ismail Ali Abukor (who was later replaced by Brig. Ahmad Mahamuud Faarah), was constituted. Party cadres also included prominent socialists such as Abdulrahman Aidiid, Mohamed F. Weyrah (a well known socialist economist) and Abukar Sh. M Hussien.
During a brief period, prior to the escalation of conflict with Ethiopia in 1977, XHKS developed relations with foreign communist parties, such as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Socialist Unity Party of Germany. CPSU initiated a programme of assistance for the XHKS party school. After the break with the socialist states, a group including XHKS CC member broke away to form splinter groups. This was even further accelerated by the failed military coup of April 9, 1978. Popularly know as ”Nova Aprile”. In 1981 dissident factions would emerge as the Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia.
When Barre's regime fell in 1991, XHKS disappeared. In the same year the Somali National Front was organized by Barre loyalists.
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Ideology
XHKS poster showing Ogaden as part of Greater Somalia
XHKS was in theory a Marxist-Leninist party, but also included Islam and Pan-Somalism teachings in its ideology.
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Organisation
XHKS was supposed to function as a political force transcending clan lines, but in reality there was little change in political practice. Power was concentrated to three clans. The party developed an intelligence branch, Baadhista xisbiga, which worked parallel to state intelligence and paramilitary groups. At most XHKS had around 20 000 members. XHKS held its 3rd Congress in November 1986. A major reshuffle of the Central Committee took place.
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Role in Somali Government
XHKS poster
The Seveth Article of the 1979 constitution of the Somali Democratic Republic clarified the role of XHKS:“ Authority and Leadership of the Party
The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party shall be the only legal party in the Somali Democratic Republic; no other party or political organisation may be established.
The Somali Revolutionary Socialist party shall have supreme authority of political and socio-economic leadership in the Somali Democratic Republic.
