General information
Part of Conflict: Somalia: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1981-04-06
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: SNM (Somali National Movement) was formed in London on 6 April 1981. The stated goals were to overthrow President Siad Barre and his “absolute and despotic dictatorship”. The group also rejected “the pursuit of an incoherent, ill-conceived, unpredictable and self-defeating foreign policy” which according to the group had led to an “isolation of the Somali Republic and international indifference to Somali causes”. Furthermore, the group aimed to establish “a system of representative democracy”. Other stated aims were negotiations with Ethiopia, improved relations with the Arab world and a neutral foreign policy. The basic position of the group was non-Marxist.
Date of first use of armed force: 1982-04-01
Comment on date of first use of armed force: The first recorded use of armed force by SNM (Somali National Movement) took place in the northern town of Hargeisa in mid-April 1982. Supporters of the group reportedly launched attacks on security forces, during which at least 12 civilians were killed and several more injured.
It is possible that the first use of armed force occurred earlier than in April 1982; however, due to lack of reliable information, it is not possible to give a more precise date.
First Battle Related Death: 1982-04-01
Comment on First Battle Related Death: The first recorded battle related death occurred in the northern town of Hargeisa in mid-April 1982. Supporters of SNM (Somali National Movement) reportedly launched attacks on security forces, during which at least 12 civilians were killed and several more injured.
It is possible that the first battle related death occurred earlier than in April 1982; however, due to lack of reliable information, it is not possible to give a more precise date.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1983-02-05
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: On the night between 1 and 2 January 1983, SNM launched an attack on Mandera prison, located 60 km east of the northern town of Hargeisa. The group claimed to have managed to free 780 prisoners. Several civilians were reported to have been killed in connection to the attack. One month later, on 5 February, the first joint military operation by SNM and SSDF was conducted near Durosi, close to the Ethiopian border. 37 government troops were killed in the attack along with one member of SNM’s executive committee.
It is possible that the conflict reached the threshold of 25 battle related deaths prior to 5 February 1983; however, there are not enough specific reports about battle related deaths before this date.
Conflict issues
Conflict Goal Issues: The Somali National Movement (SNM) was a rebel group primarily made up of Muslims from the Isaaq-clan of Somalia fighting against the Somali government to change the government and, later, to establish an independent Somaliland. The group emerged in 1981 and released several statements pertaining to conflict goal issues during its first year. They called for the ousting of the regime headed by President Siad Barre and expressed their intent to establish a democratic and ‘traditional’ political system which would emphasize human rights and freedom of expression. The SNM also intended to decentralize the state structure and introduce changes to the economic system through establishing a mixed economy.
As the conflict progressed, the group did not explicitly reemphasize issues of decentralization, changing the economic system or of establishing a ‘traditional’ political system. The SNM did, however, release further statements calling for ousting the Barre regime, replacing it with a democratic system, and implementing foreign policy reform in calling for an establishment of an independent Somaliland which would not have ties to the South. The issue of independence was noted towards the end of the conflict, stating their commitment to the “restoration of the sovereignty and independence that Somaliland enjoyed following decolonisation by the British on 26 June 1960.” The SNM also began calling for civil rights to be promoted through a reform of the bureaucratic setup and parliament which would enable free and fair elections to be held. During this time, they also called for the establishment of an interim government following the planned ousting of Siad Barre and his government and indicated plans of establishing national power-sharing to give all clans equal representation in the future. Finally, the group continuously emphasized its intentions to establish Sharia law following the ousting of the government.
The main conflict goal issues for the SNM were the establishment of Sharia law, the ousting of the government, and the establishment of a democratic system. These issues were continuously mentioned throughout the conflict and were, most importantly, heavily emphasized in communications, which is why they are considered the main issues of SNM.
Conflict Dynamics Issues: During the year of its creation, the SNM pronounced its only statement pertaining to conflict dynamics issues, when they called for the removal of ‘all foreign military bases in the region’ in 1981. As only one issue was stated, no main conflict dynamics issue was interpreted for SNM.
Conflict Resolution Issues: Whilst no conflict resolution issues were stated in the initial stages of conflict, SNM stated two issues toward its latter stages. In 1990, the group stated its opposition to negotiations with the Somali government, and in 1991 they called for reconciliation processes to begin and for peacebuilding processes to be continued. As no issues were stated with continuity, no main conflict resolution issues were attributed to SNM.
Type of conflict issues: Conflict Goal Issues: Bureaucratic setup, Change economic system, Change judicial system, Civil rights, Constitutional issues, CPS: Democracy, CPS: Other/undefined system, Decentralization, Economic reforms, Executive power-sharing, Executive power-sharing: interim, Foreign policy reform, Freedom of expression, Hold elections, Human rights, Independence, Oust full executive, Oust head of the executive, Reform parliament, Restructure military forces
Conflict Dynamics Issues: DFI: Withdrawal of military intervention/foreign forces
Conflict Resolution Issues: Call for truth and reconciliation processes, Opposition to negotiations
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1982
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1983
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 25 |
| Best | 25 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1984
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 50 |
| Best | 50 |
| Low | 50 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1986
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 178 |
| Best | 178 |
| Low | 178 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1987
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 440 |
| Best | 440 |
| Low | 360 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1988
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1000 |
| Best | 1000 |
| Low | 0 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1989
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 4254 |
| Best | 350 |
| Low | 350 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1990
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1229 |
| Best | 1229 |
| Low | 163 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
1991
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 300 |
| Best | 300 |
| Low | 25 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Somalia): n/a
Side B (SNM): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1981 Dyad Archive
Terminated: NO
1982 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: YES
Victory: YES
Terminated: NO
1983 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle related deaths for this conflict in unclear, mainly due to the lack of neutral sources. Most reports about battle related deaths are provided by the rebel groups and are generally considered to be overstated at the same times as rebel losses are rarely reported. On the other hand, the reports can be seen as indicators of ongoing fighting. Furthermore, given the amount of references to clashes in mainly the north and central parts of the country, it is highly unlikely that the dyad did not reach 25 battle related deaths in 1983.
Comment on Active: SNM (Somali National Movement) was reportedly responsible for, or at least associated with, most of the violent clashes with government troops in the northern part of the country. The larger part of these clashes took place in the region of Hargeisa and in the northern Somali-Ethiopian border region.
The border towards Djibouti was closed on 8 January as a result of SNM’s attack on Mandera prison one week earlier, however, this attempt to limit SNM activities was not successful enough and the attacks continued throughout 1983.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1984 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle related deaths for this conflict in unclear, mainly due to the lack of neutral sources. Most reports about battle related deaths are provided by the rebel groups and are generally considered to be overstated at the same times as rebel losses are rarely reported. On the other hand, the reports can be seen as indicators of ongoing fighting. Furthermore, given the amount of references to clashes in mainly the north and central parts of the country, it is highly unlikely that the dyad did not reach 25 battle related deaths in 1984.
Comment on Active: SNM suffered a serious setback in October 1984 when government forces killed one of SNM’s top military commander; Col Mahmed Farah Hassan Da’ardeh, who reportedly was behind the 1983 attack on Mandera prison.
The fighting between SNM and government forces increased in 1984, mainly in the northern part of the country. In October, government forces killed 50 SNM rebels while the latter were preparing for an offensive. SNM responded by launching several hit and run attacks on military positions in late October and early November. Two of these positions were located on Hargeisas outer defensive perimeter: Daraweine, one of the main fuel and ammunition dumps, and Toon. Clashes also took place in the area between Hargeisa and the Somali-Ethiopian border (at Bokol Qol Bulale, Salahle and Inagaha, and further north at Baki, beyond Boroma). Clashes also took place further south, in the area of Burao.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1984-12-31
Comment on Termination: The low-scale fighting between SNM and the government continued after 1984, but there was not enough evidence of battle related deaths during 1985 for the conflict to be seen as active (to have reached the threshold of 25 battle related deaths). The conflict became active again in 1986.
1986 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle related deaths for this conflict in unclear, mainly due to the lack of neutral sources. Most reports about battle related deaths are provided by the rebel groups and are generally considered to be overstated at the same times as rebel losses are rarely reported. On the other hand, the reports can be seen as indicators of ongoing fighting. Furthermore, given the amount of references to clashes in mainly the north and central parts of the country, it is highly unlikely that the dyad did not reach 25 battle related deaths in 1986.
Comment on Active: The clashes between SNM and government forces were concentrated to the northern part of the country, where SNM attracted most of its support. SNM frequently launched attacks from the Ethiopian side of the border. Fighting were mainly reported in Haregeisa and the surrounding region, where the situation escalated in December following the killing of the local chief of security, Col Ahmed Aden.
In 1986, SNM claimed that it had conducted 30 operations between June 1985 and February 1986, killing 476 government soldiers while only losing 38 of their own troops. Such reports, including this one, were generally considered to be clearly exaggerated.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1987 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle related deaths for this conflict in unclear, mainly due to the lack of neutral sources. Most reports about battle related deaths are provided by the rebel groups and are generally considered to be overstated at the same times as rebel losses are rarely reported. On the other hand, the reports can be seen as indicators of ongoing fighting. Furthermore, given the amount of references to clashes in mainly the north and central parts of the country, it is highly unlikely that the dyad did not reach 25 battle related deaths in 1987.
Comment on Active: Clashes were reported at a number of locations in Somalia. The main part of the clashes took place in the northern and north-western part of the country, such as in Hargeisa. In February, SNM claimed to have launched attacks against Somali positions in the Todghere province. Ethiopian troops were reported to have been involved, but this was not confirmed by the Ethiopian government. The clashes were extensive and it was reported that about 200 SNM troops had been killed or captured. In September, it was reported that SNM had increased their attacks, notably at Ina-Guuhaas, Lebi Sagaleh as well as in Dabagorayale and Qool Bullaleh. SNM also claimed to have taken control of most of the rural areas in the Togder and Sanag regions in the north-western part of the country.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1988 Dyad Archive
Comment on Yearly Battle Related Deaths: The number of battle related deaths for 1988 is difficult to estimate due to the lack of reliable information. There were few, but most often none, independent sources present in the area of the fighting. Africa Confidential estimated in late September 1988 that possibly as many as 15 000 people may have been killed between May and September. According to estimates made by some diplomats and Somali officials, about 50 000 people died in the fighting between government forces and SNM during June, July and August. However, due to the lack of reliable information, the number of battle related deaths are only set to at least 1000.
Comment on Active: The main part of the fighting in 1988 continued to be concentrated in the north-western part of Somalia. SNM launched large-scale attacks on two larger cities in the north, Hargeisa and Burco. The government responded by deploying thousands of ground troops to the region and using heavy artillery and air bombings on the two cities. In late May, SNM attacked the main northern sector arms supply depot at Adadley, seizing a large amount of weapons. Some of these weapons were then used to arm prisoners which SNM freed from prisons in the north.
On 17 July, government forces recaptured the town of Burco. Towards the end of 1988, SNM launched a new offensive against Hargeisa (which it never managed to fully capture) and the area around Burco.
A second front was also opened through an alliance between SNM and the Hawiye clan, this time near the capital of Mogadishu. However, the armed units in the south did not achieve any large-scale attacks on Mogadishu.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1989 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1990 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
1991 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 1991-12-31
Comment on Termination: On 16 May the SNM unilaterally declared the independent Somaliland Republic. It was not recognised by the new government, but what followed were mainly political disagreements and the fighting ceased. Here the termination date is set at 31 December 1991 since there is no clear ceasefire agreement in 1991. Therefore it is only possible to say that the conflict actually ended when there were no longer more than 25 deaths in one year.
