1973?1989 Somali armed separatist group in Ethiopia
The
Western Somali Liberation Front
(
Somali
:
Jabhadda Xoreynta Somali Galbeed
;
abbreviated
WSLF
) was an Ogaden separatist group fighting in eastern
Ethiopia
to liberate the
Ogaden region
from
Ethiopian control
. It played a major role in the
Ogaden War
of 1977?78, assisting the invading
Somali Army
.
Background
[
edit
]
After
World War II
, Somali leaders in the
Ogaden region
of Ethiopia persistently advocated for
self-determination
, yet their pleas were consistently disregarded by both Ethiopia and the
United Nations
.
[1]
In the post-war period, the British handed over the Ogaden to
Haile Selassie's
government. The region had been nominally under the rule of the
Ethiopian Empire
since
Menelik's expansions
in the late 1800s. Additionally, the British also handed over lands east of
Jigjiga
that had never been administered by the Ethiopian Empire.
[2]
1963 uprising
[
edit
]
During the late 1940s and 1950's, covert Somali organizations in the Ogaden formed with the aim of freeing the region from Ethiopian rule.
[3]
In 1963, the first major rebellion in the region broke out. Known as 'Nasrallah' or the Ogaden Liberation Front, the organization began with 300 men and soon swelled to 3,000.
[5]
[6]
The
Ethiopian Imperial Army
launched a large scale
counterinsurgency
campaign during the summer and fall of 1963. The imperial governments reprisals during the counterinsurgency campaign, which consisted large scale artillery bombardments of Somali cities in the Ogaden, resulted in rapidly deteriorating relations between the
Ethiopian Empire
and the
Somali Republic
, eventually resulting the
1964 Border War
.
[6]
[3]
In the years following, insurgent activity continued but declined over the late 1960's due to pressures from both the Ethiopian and Somali governments. The Nasrallah insurgents formed the foundation of the future Western Somali Liberation Front.
[7]
Between 1965 and 1975, Nasrallah began emphasizing on building the political and diplomatic groundwork for another liberation struggle. The organization opened an office in
Mogadishu
and in sympathetic Arab states such as
Iraq
and
Syria
.
History
[
edit
]
Formation
[
edit
]
The early 1970's saw the Ogaden liberation movement continue to gain momentum off the foundations of Nasrallah,
though the original organization had gradually started to disintegrate. In light of this, veteran insurgents and young
intelligentsia
from the Ogaden region within
Siad Barre's
government lobbied for Somalia to support the resumption of the armed struggle.
Following the toppling of
Halie Selassie's
imperial regime by the
Derg
military junta, the situation in the Ogaden deteriorated. In the same period, a severe drought gripped the Ogaden resulting in mass suffering. The Derg opted to suppress news of the situation in the region rather than provide relief, and under the junta military oppression in the region increased. As 1974 and 1975 drew on, pressure from Ogaden Somalis rapidly built on the government of Siad Barre.
[10]
By 1975, the Somali government had been convinced to aid the movement.
Significant reorganizations were made in this period, including the decision to choose a new name. There was a sharp debate over whether to name the organization the 'Ogaden' or 'Western Somali' liberation front, with the latter eventually prevailing as the choice.
In January 1976, a general conference of Western Somali society was held 100 km north-west of Mogadishu. A twenty-five member committee was elected to lead the WSLF, and
Abdullahi Hassan Mahmoud
became its first leader when the organization was formerly founded at the conference. That same year, training camps were soon formed across the Ogaden and Somalia.
Despite the organizations clear emphasis on Somalis, the WSLF found support among Muslim
Harari
and
Oromo
populations.
[11]
[12]
[13]
Many Hararis joined the organization, with several such as Colonel Ezedin Yusuf in leading positions during the armed struggle.
[14]
According to WSLF accounts, a large number of the fronts younger guerrillas were Harari "boys and girls".
[15]
[16]
[17]
[13]
Ioan Lewis
noted that Muslim Oromo support was significant to the WSLF, and extended into the command structure of the organization.
[11]
Insurgency
[
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]
The WSLF found its opportunity when the
Derg
overthrew Haile Selassie in 1974, and switched from American support to the Soviet Union. The initiation of guerrilla warfare occurred almost simultaneously in the northern and southern regions in the early months of 1976. By the year's end, it had expanded across southeastern Bale and Sidamo. The terrain, comprising partly arid scrubland and mountainous and wooded areas, was familiar to the fighters, and the local inhabitants were considered friendly. Infiltrating from various points in the Somali republic, the guerrillas moved rapidly across the rugged hills. Wherever they went, they dismantled the state presence by destroying government offices and systematically targeting police and civilian administration. In total there were fourth Brigades or in
Somali
"Afar Gaas" within the WSLF movement.
[18]
First Brigade was known as "Duufaan". Second Brigade was known as "
Ahmed Gurey
" and was the largest Brigade of the WSLF. Third Brigade was known as "Horyaal" and the Fourth Brigade was known as "Ciil Tire". Each brigade was assigned to enter different front in the
Somali Region
of
Ethiopia
.
In 1976, the Somali government set up a counterpart of WSLF to fight in the
Oromo
areas, calling it the
Somali Abo Liberation Front
(SALF), whose sphere of operations was in the provinces of
Bale
,
Sidamo
, and
Arsi
, where it advocated union with Somalia or the creation of an independent state. Wako Gutu and Shekih Hussein were some of the prominent Oromo nationalists who joined SALF, which soon surpassed the
Oromo Liberation Army
(OLF). Somalia equipped both groups with Soviet arms, and in early 1977 sent 3,000 soldiers from the
Somali Army
to fight as guerrillas with the WSLF.
[19]
By early 1977, with the exception of towns strategically positioned on vital routes and intersections, the WSLF effectively controlled most of the
Ogaden
lowlands. The rebels employed hit-and-run tactics, targeting the Ethiopian army at its vulnerable points and then blending into a predominantly supportive or sympathetic local population. These tactics eroded the morale of the Ethiopian troops, compelling them to retreat to bunkers and camps. The Ethiopian army found itself confined to garrison towns, many of which were besieged. While any attempt to storm these garrison towns invited devastating firepower from the Ethiopian defenders, travel between towns became perilous. Military and civilian vehicles required armed escorts, often falling into ambushes or encountering land mines. On February 11, 1977, a notable ambush occurred near Horakelifo (between
Degehabur
and
Jijiga
), resulting in the death of 25 soldiers and officers, with another 24 wounded, and the destruction of armored cars and trucks. Around the same time, a police contingent was annihilated not far from
Filtu
. These disruptions to supply lines led to frequent transportation delays to the camps. In addition to affecting the morale of the troops, guerrilla actions aimed at sabotaging the economy also occurred. In the summer of 1977, WSLF fighters destroyed several important installations, and on June 1, they detonated the railway connecting the Ethiopian capital to the port of Djibouti. This crucial economic lifeline, normally handling 70 percent of Ethiopia's exports and 50 percent of her imports, remained out of commission until August.
[20]
On June 1977,
Siad Barre
decided to intensify the war by involving the regular Somali forces. On June 13, 1977, approximately 5,000 SNA soldiers crossed the border, launching a coordinated attack on specific targets in the Ogaden. The soldiers had taken off their uniform insignia and disguised themselves as guerrillas for the operation. Under the command of SNA officers, the WSLF engaged in attacks on Ethiopian military positions, pounding
Gode
,
Degehabur
and
Kebri Dahar
with mortars and rockets. However, the offensive was repulsed with heavy casualties. At
Gode
alone, 300 WSLF guerrillas and 14 high ranking SNA officers were killed. Dissent among the army, especially among the
Ogaden clan
, became vocal. After this disastrous offensive, the decision was made to invade Ethiopia to support the WSLF.
[21]
Ogaden War
[
edit
]
On July 13, 1977, the Somali army invaded Ethiopia. The Somali government refused to declare war, instead insisting that in the media that all the military actions were taken by the WSLF. The WSLF engaged in sabotage actions, impairing the mobility of the Ethiopian army. By September 1977, the Somali forces had overrun 90% of the Ogaden. The 2nd Brigade,
Ahmed Gurey
was the main strength of the WSLF during the war, they captured Jigjiga after 4 weeks of heavy fighting with the
Ethiopia army
.
[22]
Former
Somali President
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
said "the WSLF brigades were very strong and united against all odds." during his interview with former
BBC World Service
report
Abdisalan Harari
.
[23]
This was claim backed by an interview with former Cuban leader
Fidel Castro
.
[23]
However, in early 1978 the Ethiopian government acquired a new arsenal of Soviet equipment and, spearheaded by Cuban combat troops, managed to push back the Somali incursion.
After the
Ogaden War
, the Ethiopian army only remained in full control of the Ogaden for a very brief period of time. Six months later, the WSLF was back in control of most of the countryside, and the army was confined to the towns and the roads. Sweeps and patrols in 1979 managed to reduce rebel activity, but failed to clear out the insurgents. By the end of the 70s, the WSLF was estimated to have an army of 18,000 men, thus becoming the second largest rebel group in Ethiopia, the first being the
Eritrean People's Liberation Front
(EPLF).
[21]
Decline
[
edit
]
In 1979, the
Isaaq
wing of the WSLF,
Afraad
, came into conflict with the main
Ogaden clan
forces of the WSLF. In early 1979, two WSLF fighters raped an
Isaaq
woman near
Tog Wajaale
, her teenage brother then retaliated by shooting the WSLF fighters dead, the commander of the WSLF unit then had the boy and some other members of his family executed. Shortly afterwards an Isaaq officer had 14 Ogaden WSLF members executed for harassing the local population. The next year, Issaq fighters killed 6 WSLF fighters and 13 Ogaden civilians near
Werder, Ethiopia
.
[22]
On August 1980, the
Derg
regime launched a massive anti-insurgency campaign known as "Operation Lash" to clear the Ogaden of insurgents. The Ethiopian army deployed six divisions consisting of 60,000 men under the command of
Merid Negussie
. After stationing troops around the border of Somalia to block suspected entry and exit points, the Ethiopian forces moved in, dispersing, encircling and liquidating the rebels. The SALF disintegrated, whereas the WSLF managed to escape to northern Somalia. By December 1980, the Ogaden was completely cleared from insurgents.
[21]
In 1981, the Mengistu regime began to support the
Somali National Movement
(SNM). The resulting war between the SNM and the WSLF was an important element in Ethiopian strategy, to exploit the clan divisions within Somali society and give the WSLF the final blow. From 1982 to 1984, the
Somali National Movement
(SNM) with support from the Ethiopian army, engaged in intense clashes with the WSLF in north western Somalia. In December 1984 the SNM launched an offensive that forced the WSLF out of its rear bases in northern Somalia. By January 1985, the WSLF had effectively ceased to exist.
[22]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Davids, Jules (1965).
The United States in world affairs, 1964
. New York : Published for the Council on Foreign Relations by Harper & Row. pp. 284?286 – via Internet Archive.
- ^
Drysdale, John (1964).
The Somali dispute
.
Frederick A. Praeger
. pp. 70?71.
OCLC
467147
.
- ^
a
b
"The 1963 Rebellion in the Ogaden".
Proceedings of the Second International Congress of Somali Studies. Vol. II: Archaeology and History
. Helmut Buske Verlag. 1984. pp. 291?307.
ISBN
3-87118-692-9
.
- ^
Hagmann, Tobias (2014-10-02).
"Punishing the periphery: legacies of state repression in the Ethiopian Ogaden"
.
Journal of Eastern African Studies
.
8
(4): 725?739.
doi
:
10.1080/17531055.2014.946238
.
ISSN
1753-1055
.
- ^
a
b
Politics and Violence in Eastern Africa: The Struggles of Emerging States
.
Taylor & Francis
. 2017. pp. 191?192.
ISBN
9781317539520
.
- ^
Henze, Paul B.; Corporation, Rand (1986).
Rebels and Separatists in Ethiopia: Regional Resistance to a Marxist Regime
. Rand. p. 33.
ISBN
978-0-8330-0696-7
.
- ^
Fitzgibbon, Louis (1982).
The Betrayal of the Somalis
. R. Collings. pp. 52?54.
ISBN
9780860361947
.
- ^
a
b
Lewis, Ioan M. (1998).
Saints and Somalis: Popular Islam in a clan-based society
. Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press. pp. 99?100.
ISBN
978-1-56902-103-3
.
- ^
Matshanda, Namhla (2014).
Centres in the Periphery: Negotiating Territoriality and Identification in Harar and Jijiga from 1942
(PDF)
. The University of Edinburgh. p. 200.
S2CID
157882043
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 2020-01-31.
- ^
a
b
Waldron, Sidney (1978).
Afocha A Link Between Community and Administration in H?rar, Ethiopia
. Syracuse University. p. 88.
ISBN
9780915984534
.
- ^
Ylonen, Aleksi (28 December 2023).
The Horn Engaging the Gulf Economic Diplomacy and Statecraft in Regional Relations
. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 118.
ISBN
978-0-7556-3519-1
.
- ^
"Letter From Jeddah: An Interview With WSLF"
(PDF)
.
Horn of Africa
.
1
(2): 8. April?June 1978.
- ^
History of Harar and Hararis
(PDF)
. p. 172.
- ^
Teshale, Semir.
Insurgency in Ethnically Divided Authoritarian-led Societies: A Comparative Study of Rebel Movements in Ethiopia, 1974?2014
(PDF)
. University of Toronto. p. 155.
- ^
Woldemariam, Michael (2018).
Insurgent Fragmentation in the Horn of Africa
. Cambridge University Press.
- ^
Waal, Alexander De (1991).
Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia
. Human Rights Watch. p.
74
.
ISBN
978-1-56432-038-4
.
- ^
Tareke, Gebru (2016).
The Ethiopian Revolution: War in the Horn of Africa
. p. 642.
ISBN
978-99944-951-2-2
.
OCLC
973809792
.
- ^
a
b
c
Tareke, Gebru (2009).
The Ethiopian revolution: War in the Horn of Africa
.
ISBN
9780300156157
.
- ^
a
b
c
De Waal, Alexander (1991).
Evil Days: Thirty Years of War and Famine in Ethiopia
. Human Rights Watch.
- ^
a
b
Lewis, I. M (1994).
Blood and Bone
. Red Sea Press.
Bibliography
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]