Somali Democratic Republic

Somalia, 1969–1991. Draft, not yet reviewed

The Somali Democratic Republic was a communist state with a unitary system of government in Somalia that existed from 1969 to 1991. Established in October 1969, the Somali Democratic Republic emerged following a coup d'état led by Major General Siad Barre and the Somali military. Barre's administration and the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party governed Somalia for the next 21 years and was characterised by modernisation efforts, the standardisation of the Somali language, and infrastructural projects. In July 1977, the Ogaden War started after Barre's government used national liberation to justify the incorporation of the predominantly Somali Ogaden of Ethiopia into a Greater Somalia.

Seat of power: Mogadishu

Rulers

Siad Barre

President of Somalia, 1969–1991

Barre's early rule was characterised by attempts at widespread modernization, nationalization of banks and industry, promotion of cooperative farms, a new writing system for the Somali language, and anti-tribalism. The following year Barre launched the Ogaden War against Ethiopia's Derg regime, supporting the Western Somali Liberation Front on a platform of Somali nationalism and pan-Somalism. More than 2,000 members of the Majeerteen clan died of thirst, and an estimated 50,000 to 200,000 Isaaq were killed by the government.

Portrait of Siad Barre: Government of Somalia, Public domain, file

Culture

The SRC arrested members of the former civilian government, banned political parties, dissolved the National Assembly, and suspended the constitution.
The Somali revolutionary army initiated large-scale public works programs in 1972, and implemented an urban and rural literacy campaign, significantly increasing the literacy rate from 5% pre-campaign to 55% by the mid-1970s. However, exact pre-campaign rates are disputed by scholars as reports were unlikely to include literacy attained through religious education.
On 9 April 1978 a coup was attempted against the Somali government of President Siad Barre. The attempted coup was unsuccessful; 17 alleged ringleaders were summarily executed by firing squad, and Abdullahi Yusuf fled to the neighboring country of Ethiopia, which was considered an enemy by the Somali government.
On 26 January 1991, Barre was ousted from power leaving behind a power vacuum between opposition groups in its wake.

Picture

Mohammed Siad Barre served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 January 1991.

Image: Government of Somalia, Public domain, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.