Supreme Revolutionary Council (Somalia)
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) was the governmental body that ruled Somalia
for most of the period from 1969-1991.
was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards. His assassination was quickly followed by a military coup d'état
on October 21, 1969 (the day after his funeral), in which the Somali Army
seized power without encountering armed opposition — essentially a bloodless takeover. The putsch was spearheaded by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre
, who at the time commanded the army.
Alongside Barre, the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) that assumed power after President Sharmarke's assassination was led by Major General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye
and Chief of Police Jama Korshel
. The SRC subsequently renamed the country the Somali Democratic Republic
, dissolved the parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the constitution.
The revolutionary army established various large-scale public works programs. In addition to a nationalization program of industry and land, the new regime's foreign policy placed an emphasis on Somalia's traditional and religious links with the Arab world
, eventually joining the Arab League
(AL) in 1974.
In July 1976, Barre's SRC disbanded itself and established in its place the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
(SRSP), a one-party government based on scientific socialism
and Islamic tenets. In October 1980, the SRSP was disbanded, and the Supreme Revolutionary Council was re-established in its place. The SRC continued to rule the country until the outbreak of the civil war
in the early 1990s.
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
for most of the period from 1969-1991.
History
On October 15, 1969, while paying a visit to the northern town of Las Anod, Somalia's then President Abdirashid Ali ShermarkeAbdirashid Ali Shermarke
Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was Prime Minister of Somalia from July 12, 1960 to June 14, 1964, and President of Somalia from June 10, 1967 until his assassination on October 15, 1969...
was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards. His assassination was quickly followed by a military coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
on October 21, 1969 (the day after his funeral), in which the Somali Army
Military of Somalia
The Military of Somalia was, up until 1991, made up of the army, navy, air force, and air defense command. The outbreak of the Somali Civil War during that year led to the de facto dissolution of the national armed forces. However, efforts to re-establish a regular armed force by a re-constituted...
seized power without encountering armed opposition — essentially a bloodless takeover. The putsch was spearheaded by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
, who at the time commanded the army.
Alongside Barre, the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) that assumed power after President Sharmarke's assassination was led by Major General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye
Salaad Gabeyre Kediye
Salaad Gabeyre Kediye , was a Major General in the Somali military and a revolutionary.-Biography:Major General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye was born in September, 15 1934, in the town of Harardhere, situated in the Central Mudug region of Somalia, to an Abgaal family Hawiye clan...
and Chief of Police Jama Korshel
Jama Korshel
Jama Korshel was a Somali army Major General, former Head of the Somali Police Force, and one of the leaders of Somalia's 1969 coup d'état.-Biography:Korshel was born in the town of Ceerigaabo situated in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia....
. The SRC subsequently renamed the country the Somali Democratic Republic
Somali Democratic Republic
The Somali Democratic Republic was the name that the communist regime of former President of Somalia Major General Mohamed Siad Barre gave to Somalia after seizing power during a bloodless coup d'état in 1969...
, dissolved the parliament and the Supreme Court, and suspended the constitution.
The revolutionary army established various large-scale public works programs. In addition to a nationalization program of industry and land, the new regime's foreign policy placed an emphasis on Somalia's traditional and religious links with the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, eventually joining the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
(AL) in 1974.
In July 1976, Barre's SRC disbanded itself and established in its place the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party
The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party was the governing political party in Somalia from 1976 to 1991.- History :XHKS was created by the military regime of Siad Barre under Soviet guidance. A founding congress was held in June 1976. The congress elected a Central Committee, with Barre as the...
(SRSP), a one-party government based on scientific socialism
Scientific Socialism
Scientific socialism is the term used by Friedrich Engels to describe the social-political-economic theory first pioneered by Karl Marx. The purported reason why this socialism is "scientific socialism" is because its theories are held to an empirical standard, observations are essential to its...
and Islamic tenets. In October 1980, the SRSP was disbanded, and the Supreme Revolutionary Council was re-established in its place. The SRC continued to rule the country until the outbreak of the civil war
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
in the early 1990s.
Members
The following is a list of members of the Supreme Revolutionary Council in February 1970:| Chairman |
|---|
| Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Siad Barre Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad .... |
| Vice Chairman |
| Maj.-Gen. Jama Ali Korshel Jama Korshel Jama Korshel was a Somali army Major General, former Head of the Somali Police Force, and one of the leaders of Somalia's 1969 coup d'état.-Biography:Korshel was born in the town of Ceerigaabo situated in the northern Sanaag region of Somalia.... |
| Vice Chairman |
| Maj.-Gen. Salaad Gabeyre Kediye Salaad Gabeyre Kediye Salaad Gabeyre Kediye , was a Major General in the Somali military and a revolutionary.-Biography:Major General Salaad Gabeyre Kediye was born in September, 15 1934, in the town of Harardhere, situated in the Central Mudug region of Somalia, to an Abgaal family Hawiye clan... |
| Members |
| Brig.-Gen. Hussein Kulmiye Afrah Hussein Kulmiye Afrah Hussein Kulmiye Afrah was Vice President of Somalia in the era of Siad Barre, who governed the nation from 1969 to 1991.-References:... |
| Lt.-Col. Ahmed Mohamoud Ade |
| Maj.-Gen. Muhammad Ainanshe |
| Lt.-Col. Abdalla Muhammad Fadil |
| Lt.-Col. Ali Matan Hashi Ali Matan Hashi Ali Matan Hashi , also known as Ali Matan, was a Somali senior military official and politician. He was the first Somali pilot, and a prominent member of the Supreme Revolutionary Council .-History:Ali Matan was born into a Marehan Darod family.... |
| Lt.-Col. Mahamoud Miree Musa |
| Lt.-Col. Muhammad Sh. Osman |
| Lt.-Col. Muhammad Ali Samatar Muhammad Ali Samatar Muhammad Ali Samatar is a Somali politician and former Prime Minister of Somalia from 1 February 1987 to 3 September 1990.- Biography :Samatar was born in 1931 in Somalia... |
| Maj. Ismail Ali Abucar |
| Maj. Muhammad Ali Shirreh |
| Maj. Ahmed Suleiman Abdulle |
| Maj. Mohamoud Ghelle Yusuf |
| Maj. Farah Wais Dulleh |
| Capt. Musa Rabille God |
| Capt. Ahmed Muhammad Farah |
| Capt. Muhammad Omer Ges |
| Capt. Osman Muhammad Ghelle |
| Capt. Muhammad Yusuf Elmi |
| Capt. Abdi Warsama Isaak |
| Capt. Abdulrazzak Muhammad Abucar |
| Capt. Abdulkadir Haji Muhamad |