1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War

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1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
Date6 February –6 April 1964[2][3]
(2 months)
Location
Ogaden, Ethiopia
Result

Stalemate

Belligerents
Ethiopian Empire Ethiopia Somalia Somalia
Supported by:
Syria United Arab Republic[1]
Commanders and leaders
Ethiopian Empire Haile Selassie
Ethiopian Empire Aklilu Habte-Wold
Ethiopian Empire Aman Mikael Andom		 Somalia Aden Adde
Somalia Daud Abdulle Hirsi
Somalia Siad Barre
Strength
24,000 soldiers 20,000 soldiers[4]

The 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War was a short war between the Somali Republic and the Ethiopian Empire in which Somalia attacked several towns along the Somali-Ethiopian border to support Somali insurgents in the Ogaden[5][6]

Background[]

The Ogaden region of Ethiopia, where the fighting took place

After the independence and unification of British Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland on July 1, 1960, one of the major goals of the Somali Republic was the unification of Greater Somalia, which included the Somali region in Ethiopia. The Somali government supported the Bale revolt led by Waqo Gutu that began in 1962.[7] On 16 June 1963, after the Ethiopian government attempted to collect taxes, Somali guerrillas started an insurgency at , a watering place north of Werder. The guerrillas were greatly supported by the Somali government and operated in lowland Hararghe and Bale provinces. Their numbers eventually grew to about 3,000, but they never posed a serious threat to the government. Their guerrilla tactics were unsophisticated and the Ethiopian army was able to engage and disperse them on several occasions.[8]

Clashes broke out between Ethiopian forces and insurgents who demanded to reunite with their co-ethnic Somalis in the Republic. Haile Selassie rejecting their demand, used brutal repressive crackdowns against the Somalis in the Ogaden region, finally caused clashes between Somali and Ethiopian forces in 1964. The new Somali government, despite being weak, had felt obliged to response by supporting its brethren under foreign subjugation.[9]

War[]

In early February 1964, the Somali Army attacked Ethiopian police units at (southeast of Jijiga), (northeast of Aware), Ferfer, , and Dolo, with most of its forces attacking (northeast of Jijiga). In response, Ethiopia sent an airborne company, an infantry battalion, an artillery battery, and a mechanized platoon with M24 tanks to Togochale,[6] and with support from the air force, which began punitive strikes across the southwestern frontier against Feerfeer (northeast of Beledweyne) and Galkacyo, the Somali army was quickly routed.[10][11]

Aftermath[]

On 6 April 1964, Somalia and Ethiopia agreed to a cease-fire. At the end of the month, the two sides signed an accord in Khartoum, Sudan, agreeing to withdraw their troops from the border, cease hostile propaganda, and start peace negotiations.[12][13] The border war also led the Organisation of African Unity to pass the Cairo declaration in July 1964 that called on all member states to respect existing borders.[14] The Khartoum negotiations led to the end of the Somali insurrection in the Ogaden for a time,[4] but it would be restarted in Somalia's next attempt to annex the Ogaden with the Ogaden War in 1977.

References[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Mekonnen, Teferi. "The Nile issue and the Somali-Ethiopian wars (1960s–78)". Annales d'Éthiopie.
  2. ^ "Somali Irredentism: An analysis of its causes and its impact on political stability in Somalia from 1960 -1991" (PDF).
  3. ^ "FRUS 1964-68, Vol. XXIV: Horn of Africa". 1997-2001.state.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  4. ^ a b "Somalia irredenta". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  5. ^ "Ethiopia/Ogaden (1948-present)".
  6. ^ a b Ayele 2014, p. 22.
  7. ^ Waal, Alexander De (1991). Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia. Human Rights Watch. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-56432-038-4.
  8. ^ Waal, Alexander De (1991). Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia. Human Rights Watch. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-56432-038-4.
  9. ^ "Somali Irredentism: An analysis of its causes and its impact on political stability in Somalia from 1960 -1991" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Somali Irredentism: An analysis of its causes and its impact on political stability in Somalia from 1960 -1991" (PDF).
  11. ^ Mekonnen, Teferi (2018). "The Nile issue and the Somali-Ethiopian wars (1960s-78)". Annales d'Éthiopie. 32 (1): 276–277. doi:10.3406/ethio.2018.1657.
  12. ^ "Somalia profile - Timeline". BBC Africa. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Onwar". Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  14. ^ "RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE FIRST ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT HELD IN CAIRO, UAR, FROM 17 TO 21 JULY 1964" (PDF).

Bibliography[]

  • Ayele, Fantahun (2014). The Ethiopian Army: From Victory to Collapse. Northwestern University Press.
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