Western Somali Liberation Front
Encyclopedia
The Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) was a separatist rebel group fighting in eastern Ethiopia
to create an independent state. It played a major role in the Ogaden War
of 1977-78 assisting the invading Somali Army. Since the end of the Ethiopian Civil War
, the WSLF was almost totally incorporated into the Western Somali Democratic Party
.
guerrilla activity in the Ogaden
and in the Haud
area east of Harar
flared sporadically after Somalia
gained its independence in 1960, but the guerrilla activity remained essentially a police concern until a border war erupted in 1964. When he seized power in Mogadishu
in 1969, Siad Barre
thwarted attempts at an understanding between Ethiopia and Somalia. He pledged to renew efforts to establish a "Greater Somalia
" that would encompass about one-third of Ethiopia's territory. Encouraged by the breakdown of authority in Addis Ababa
after the 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie, Somalia provided equipment, as well as moral and organizational support to insurgent movements in the Ogaden and southern Ethiopia.
The WSLF was founded by a young captain called Yusuf Dheere Mohamed Sugaal (Yuusuf the tall man) who was educated and trained in Syria, after finishing high school in Hargeisa
. Upon his return from Syria, Yusuf Dheere has created the "Ururka dhalinyara soomaali galbeed" or the Western Somali Youth Organisation. Yusuf Dheere, who was well connected and from a noble family, met the Somali president Siad Barre
in 1973 after putting the Somali elders behind his plan, and convinced the Somali president to do something about the Ogaden region. So Siad Barre gave Yusuf Dheere 2 years to give diplomacy a chance and to prepare the Somali National Army, for it was still unproven. In the meanwhile, Yusuf Dheere was told to recruit about 1500 volunteers and was permitted rations for only 1500 people; in the space of a month, he recruited over 3000 soldiers, most of them were old fighters from all over the country.
Two years after the initial meeting, and after going through the UN and unsuccessful peace meeting with Emperor Haile Selassie, Yusuf Dheere was given the go ahead he wanted and was told to get control of at least 60% of the Ogaden region before the Somali army would involve itself in the fighting. The WSLF found its opportunity when the Derg
overthrew Haile Selassie in 1974, and switched from the American support to the Soviet Union. Two years later, when the WSLF had control of most of the Ogaden, the first time since the Second world war that all Somalia was united with the exception of the NFD region in Kenya.
The WSLF was supported in its rebellion by 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. Somalia equipped both groups with Soviet arms, and later with the Somali army. Both groups also received aid and training from various Arab and socialist states, including Cuba.
Although the Ethiopian army outnumbered the Somalis by at least 3 to 1, the Somali army had much more air-superiority then the Ethiopians and were much better equipped. However after the massive Soviet-support stopped and America did not accept the military support that Somali has requested, the WSLF was forced later to retreat to camps in Somalia proper after a massive Soviet-supported and Cuban-armed Ethiopian and Cubans soldiers pushed back the WSLF and the Somalian army.
The Somali government subsequently forbade the WSLF and its leaders to use its territory to launch attacks into Ethiopia. By 1989 the WSLF had ceased to be an effective guerrilla organization within Ethiopia. Siad Barre's decision to restrict the WSLF led the exile of Yusuf Dheere in 1989 and to the formation of a WSLF splinter group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front
(ONLF), whose headquarters were in Kuwait
. Elements of the ONLF slipped back into the Ogaden in 1988, where they still operate. However not every one was happy with the ONLF because of its name (Ogaden rather than Somali), therefore many of the original WSLF supporters formed the United Western Somali Front which also includes some former ONLF members.
Source: U.S. Library of Congress
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
to create an independent state. It played a major role in the Ogaden War
Ogaden War
The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. In a notable illustration of the nature of Cold War alliances, the Soviet Union switched from supplying aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia, which had previously been...
of 1977-78 assisting the invading Somali Army. Since the end of the Ethiopian Civil War
Ethiopian Civil War
The Ethiopian Civil War began on September 12, 1974 when the Marxist Derg staged a coup d'état against Emperor Haile Selassie, and lasted until the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front , a coalition of rebel groups, overthrew the government in 1991. The war overlapped other Cold War...
, the WSLF was almost totally incorporated into the Western Somali Democratic Party
Western Somali Democratic Party
Western Somali Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia. It emerged out of the Western Somali Liberation Front in 1975...
.
History
SomaliSomalia
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...
guerrilla activity in the Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
and in the Haud
Haud
Haud is a region of thorn-bush and grasslands in the Horn of Africa, which includes the northeastern part of the Ogaden territory of Ethiopia, as well the adjacent parts of Somalia. The Haud is of indeterminate extent; some authorities consider it denotes the part of Ethiopia east of the city of...
area east of Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
flared sporadically after Somalia
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...
gained its independence in 1960, but the guerrilla activity remained essentially a police concern until a border war erupted in 1964. When he seized power in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
in 1969, 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 ....
thwarted attempts at an understanding between Ethiopia and Somalia. He pledged to renew efforts to establish a "Greater Somalia
Greater Somalia
Greater Somalia refers to those regions in the Horn of Africa in which ethnic Somalis are and have historically represented the predominant population. Greater Somalia encompasses Somalia, Djibouti, the Ogaden of Ethiopia and the North Eastern Province of Kenya. Pan-Somalism refers to the vision...
" that would encompass about one-third of Ethiopia's territory. Encouraged by the breakdown of authority in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
after the 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie, Somalia provided equipment, as well as moral and organizational support to insurgent movements in the Ogaden and southern Ethiopia.
The WSLF was founded by a young captain called Yusuf Dheere Mohamed Sugaal (Yuusuf the tall man) who was educated and trained in Syria, after finishing high school in Hargeisa
Hargeisa
Hargeisa is a city in the northwestern Woqooyi Galbeed region of Somalia. With a population of approximately 2 million residents, it is the second largest city in the country. Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region...
. Upon his return from Syria, Yusuf Dheere has created the "Ururka dhalinyara soomaali galbeed" or the Western Somali Youth Organisation. Yusuf Dheere, who was well connected and from a noble family, met the Somali president 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 ....
in 1973 after putting the Somali elders behind his plan, and convinced the Somali president to do something about the Ogaden region. So Siad Barre gave Yusuf Dheere 2 years to give diplomacy a chance and to prepare the Somali National Army, for it was still unproven. In the meanwhile, Yusuf Dheere was told to recruit about 1500 volunteers and was permitted rations for only 1500 people; in the space of a month, he recruited over 3000 soldiers, most of them were old fighters from all over the country.
Two years after the initial meeting, and after going through the UN and unsuccessful peace meeting with Emperor Haile Selassie, Yusuf Dheere was given the go ahead he wanted and was told to get control of at least 60% of the Ogaden region before the Somali army would involve itself in the fighting. The WSLF found its opportunity when the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
overthrew Haile Selassie in 1974, and switched from the American support to the Soviet Union. Two years later, when the WSLF had control of most of the Ogaden, the first time since the Second world war that all Somalia was united with the exception of the NFD region in Kenya.
The WSLF was supported in its rebellion by the Somali Abo Liberation Front (SALF), whose sphere of operations was in the provinces of Bale, Sidamo
Sidamo Province
Sidamo was a province in the southern part of Ethiopia, with its capital city at Irgalem, and after 1978 at Awasa. It was named after an ethnic group native to Ethiopia, called the Sidamo, or more particularly, Sidama, who are located in the south-central part of that country...
, and Arsi
Arsi Province
Arsi was a province of Ethiopia with its capital at Asella. The province was reduced to a Zone of the Oromia Region with the adoption of the new constitution in 1995....
, where it advocated union with Somalia or the creation of an independent state. Somalia equipped both groups with Soviet arms, and later with the Somali army. Both groups also received aid and training from various Arab and socialist states, including Cuba.
Although the Ethiopian army outnumbered the Somalis by at least 3 to 1, the Somali army had much more air-superiority then the Ethiopians and were much better equipped. However after the massive Soviet-support stopped and America did not accept the military support that Somali has requested, the WSLF was forced later to retreat to camps in Somalia proper after a massive Soviet-supported and Cuban-armed Ethiopian and Cubans soldiers pushed back the WSLF and the Somalian army.
The Somali government subsequently forbade the WSLF and its leaders to use its territory to launch attacks into Ethiopia. By 1989 the WSLF had ceased to be an effective guerrilla organization within Ethiopia. Siad Barre's decision to restrict the WSLF led the exile of Yusuf Dheere in 1989 and to the formation of a WSLF splinter group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front
Ogaden National Liberation Front
The Ogaden National Liberation Front , is a separatist rebel group fighting to make the region of Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia an independent state...
(ONLF), whose headquarters were in Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
. Elements of the ONLF slipped back into the Ogaden in 1988, where they still operate. However not every one was happy with the ONLF because of its name (Ogaden rather than Somali), therefore many of the original WSLF supporters formed the United Western Somali Front which also includes some former ONLF members.
Source: U.S. Library of Congress