![Page semi-protected](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1b/Semi-protection-shackle.svg/20px-Semi-protection-shackle.svg.png)
1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War
1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the conflicts in the Horn of Africa and the Cold War | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
![]() ![]() |
![]() Supported by: ![]() | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
10,000 Ethiopian soldiers 5,000 SSDF militia[7][8][9] | 50,000 Somali soldiers[10] |
The 1982 Ethiopian–Somali Border War occurred between June and August 1982 when Ethiopia, sending a 10,000 man invasion force backed by warplanes and armored units, supported by thousands of SSDF rebels invaded Central Somalia.[8] The United States government responded by speeding up deliveries of light arms and Pattons already promised. In addition, the initially pledged US$45 million in economic and military aid was increased to US$80 million.[2][11]
Background
Ethiopia, which lies just to the west of Somalia, has been reported as being neighbors with Somalia as early as the 5th century BC.[12] Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia began as colonial competitors in the eighteenth century.[13] During this time period, territories between the countries were constructed with much debate over which country was the sole owner. This contention culminated in a settlement where Ethiopia gave Somalia a southern strip colonized by Britain yet was granted the controversial and prized Somali region Ogaden.[13] Between the early 19th century and World War II the boundaries of the two countries were constantly disputed, leading to the intervention from the United Nations after the war.[13] The United Nations decided to revert to the colonial boundaries agreement made in the late eighteenth century. Thus enacting the boundary to the previous owner (Ethiopia), due to the agreement being the only recorded settlement between Somalia and Ethiopia.[14]
In 1969, through a military coup following the assassination of the former president Abdirashid Ali Shermarke, Commander Mohamed Siad Barre took power of Somalia.[15] Siad Barre, a self-proclaimed Marxist, quickly aligned himself with the Soviet Union. Siad Barre prioritized party supremacy and created a dictatorship government.[13] In 1977, Somalia attempted to regain control of Ogaden with the support of the Soviet Union. But by 1978 the Soviet Union had switched its allegiance to Ethiopia due to the potential political gain and potential resources.[16] In 1978, backed with Soviet weaponry and Cuban reinforcements, Ethiopia regained control of Ogaden. This resulted in the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Somali men and women immigrating from the Ogaden region to the Somali borders.[13] Somalia, despite losing the 1977-78 war, never recognized the international border that places the Ogaden, with its ethnic Somali population, in Ethiopia.[14] This reason, many historians believe is what kept the hate between the two countries.
Cold War Influence
Following the Soviet Union's change of allegiance from Somalia to Ethiopia in 1978, the United States became reluctant allies to Somalia.[10] America came in the 12th hour when Somalia seemingly had no other allies left.[10] America originally was aligned with Ethiopia but stopped supplying and equipping the country with support and aid. The United States originally thought that in the long term Ethiopia would be a more valuable ally due to its geographical position, its size and influence.[10][12] Yet both Somalia and Ethiopia were in close proximity to western oil routes, which peaked both of the United States and the Soviet Union's stake in Africa.[12] Both the United States and the Soviet Union had military accord with the separate alliances to their respective countries.[14] America had access to ports and airstrips, while the Soviet Union had military posts scattered throughout Ethiopia by the Red Sea.[10] The extensive and continued involvement of the United States and the Soviet Union in the Horn of Africa was a tribute to the game of chess called the Cold War.
Due to Siad Barre's human rights abuses, the United States was only comfortable with sending light weapons for defense rather than for attack.[12] John E. Pike writes “although the United States was prepared to help the Siad Barre regime economically through direct grants, World Bank-sponsored loans, and relaxed International Monetary Fund regulations, the United States hesitated to offer Somalia more military aid than was essential to maintain internal security. The amount of United States military and economic aid to the regime was US$34 million.”[17]
Border War
After President Siad Barre visited the United States in early February 1982, only months later did the assault on Somalia's border began.[17] In the middle of July the SSDF (Somalia Salvation Democratic Front also known as Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia), a paramilitary umbrella organization created after Siad Barre's reign as dictator began, and Ethiopia armed with Soviet military weapons and machines crossed over the disputed Ogaden region into the Mudug region of Somalia.[12] The Mudug region, located in central Somalia, was the point of attack as any conflict there would threaten to split the country into two halves.[17] The Ethiopians came armed with Soviet-supplied MIG fighters and T-55 tanks.[10] The estimated the size of the Ethiopian force was at 10,000 men, while the Somali army was estimated to be around fifty thousand by Western diplomatic sources at the beginning of the campaign. [10] Despite the difference in army size, the Somalis were extremely unprepared as they were not very well equipped. Upon entering the country, the Ethiopian army were able to capture Balanbale and Galdogob.[10] Balanbale and Galdogob were two towns near the capital of the Mudug region, Galcaio. After the successful seizure of Balanbale and Galdogob, Siad Barre and his government declared a state of emergency.[17] The regime fearful of the country becoming a war zone, pleaded for western help. The United States delivered arms which had been previously offered due to their previously existing allegiance. The weaponry was sent with rules stating that the guns should be used to repel invasion but not to attack in revenge.[17] Along with the weapons, the United States also supplied Somalia with economic and military aid totalling over one hundred and twenty five million dollars. In addition, the initially pledged US$45 million in economic and military aid was increased to US$80 million. The new arms were not used to repel the Ethiopians, however, but to repress Siad Barre's domestic opponents.[2][11][10]
Aftermath
After the Ethiopians invaded Somalia, many diplomats believed that Somalis would welcome the Ethiopians as liberators due to the human rights abuses of President Siad Barre's government.[10] Yet the historical dislike between the two countries proved too much for there to be a welcome for the Ethiopians.[10] In the years following the border war, President Siad Barre gained support after speaking at a summit hosted by the League of Arab States.[10] But ultimately year after year Somalia was challenged by war and economic trouble. Newly formed regional clan and guerilla groups revolted and challenged the Siad Barre government. Siad Barre's regime was also pressured economically by the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank to liberalize its economy.[10] The economic system pressured Somalia to exercise the free market system, so that its currency would reflect its true value.[10] Due to constant political pressure, Somalia became engulfed in a full scale civil war by 1988. The forever escalating and intense civil war resulted in Somalia's disruption. This collapse of Somalia was in the words of the Conciliation Resource “hastened by the ending of the Cold War. As Somalia's strategic importance to the West declined, the foreign aid that had sustained the state was withdrawn. Without the resources needed to maintain the system of patronage politics, Barre lost control of the country and the army. In January 1991 he was ousted from Mogadishu by forces of the United Somali Congress (USC) drawing support from the Hawiye clans in south central Somalia.”[18]
References
- ^ Cowell, Alan (8 October 1982). "Ethiopian Drive Against Somalia Bogs Down". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d "The History Guy: Ethiopia-Somalia Wars and Conflicts". Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "CIA: The recent trends in the Horn of Africa" (PDF). Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ Cowell, Alan (8 October 1982). "Ethiopian Drive Against Somalia Bogs Down". The New York Times.
- ^ "CIA: The recent trends in the Horn of Africa" (PDF). Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ "The Status of the Somali Armed Forces" (PDF). Retrieved 9 December 2008.
- ^ "US Department of the Army: Analysis of Somalia, December 1993".
- ^ a b "History – Somalia – problem, area, crops, system, power". www.nationsencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ Yuusuf (Dhegey), Sayid-Axmed M. (19 January 2015). Milicsiga Dagaalkii Dhexmaray Xukuumaddii Maxamed S. Barre iyo Jabhaddii SNM: Sababihii Dagaalka iyo Saamayntii uu ku yeeshay Jamhuuriyaddii Soomaalida. ISBN 9789174635782.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Times, Alan Cowell and Special To the New York. "ETHIOPIAN DRIVE AGAINST SOMALIA BOGS DOWN". Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Somalia SOMALIA'S DIFFICULT DECADE, 1980-90 - Flags, Maps, Economy, Geography, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System". www.workmall.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Recent Trends in the Horn of Africa" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. 15 December 1983. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "HISTORY OF SOMALIA". www.historyworld.net. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Times, Sheila Rule and Special To the New York. "Somalia and Ethiopia Resume Relations". Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "Mohamed Siad Barre | president of Somalia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "Somalia: Status of the Armed Forces" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. March 1982. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Pike, John. "1980s Ethiopian Conflicts". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- ^ "Endless war: a brief history of the Somali conflict". Conciliation Resources. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
17.Ethiopia, Somali continuing military imbalance in the Ogaden. (1983). Retrieved January 30, 2020, from [1]
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/08/world/ethiopian-drive-against-somalia-bogs-down.html
External links
- CIA info
- Laitin Research
- Ethiopia The Somali - Flags, Maps, Economy, History, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System
- Ethiopia's Invasion of Somalia, 1982–83. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Somali Democratic Republic, 1983 - 48 páginas (Somebody knows the link of this article).
- 1982 in Ethiopia
- 1982 in Somalia
- Conflicts in 1982
- Territorial disputes of Ethiopia
- Territorial disputes of Somalia
- Wars involving Ethiopia
- Wars involving Somalia
- Ethiopia–Somalia border
- Ethiopian Civil War
- Ethiopia–Somalia military relations
- Proxy wars
- June 1982 events in Africa
- July 1982 events in Africa
- August 1982 events in Africa
- Wars involving the United States