Battle of Hargeisa | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of The 1988 Hargeisa-Burao offensive of the Somaliland War of Independence | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Somali National Movement | Somali Democratic Republic | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Col. Ibrahim Degaweyne | Gen. Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
500 men 82 military vehicles | Unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Civilian population Decimated | 1 plane shot down “Thousands killed wounded or captured” |
The Battle of Hargeisa occurred on 31 May 1988 during the Somaliland War of Independence, when the Somali National Movement launched a surprise attack on Hargeisa, a major city in Somaliland.
In the late 1980s, the SNM intensified its insurgency against the regime of President Siad Barre, seeking autonomy for the northern regions. Hargeisa, being a strategic and symbolic city, became a focal point for SNM operations.
On 31 May 1988, SNM forces, led by Col. Ahmed Mire Mohamed, initiated a coordinated assault on Hargeisa. The operation was meticulously planned, with prior reconnaissance missions conducted to assess government defenses. SNM fighters infiltrated the city from multiple directions, targeting key military installations and government facilities. The surprise attack led to the swift capture of significant portions of the city, although some areas, including the airport, remained under government control. [1]
The SNM's incursion into Hargeisa prompted a fierce response from government forces, led by Gen. Mohamed Said Hersi Morgan. The Somali National Army (SNA) launched counter-offensives involving heavy artillery and aerial bombardments, resulting in widespread destruction and significant civilian casualties. The battle caused a mass exodus of residents, with many seeking refuge in neighboring regions and countries. Despite initial successes, SNM forces eventually withdrew from Hargeisa due to the overwhelming firepower of government troops. [2]
The Battle of Hargeisa was a turning point in the Somaliland War of Independence. It demonstrated the SNM's capability to challenge the Somali government's control over major urban centers. The extensive destruction and humanitarian crisis resulting from the battle drew international attention to the conflict. The events of 31 May 1988 are commemorated in Somaliland as a symbol of resistance and the struggle for self-determination. [3]
Awdal is an administrative region (gobol) in western Somaliland. It was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed and became a province in 1984 and is the most northwesterly province of Somaliland. To the east it borders Maroodi Jeex and Sahil; to its north-west it borders Djibouti; to its south and south-west lies Ethiopia; and the Gulf of Aden to its north. The province has an estimated population of 1,010,566. The region comprises the four districts of Borama, the regional capital, Baki, Lughaya, and Zeila.
The regions of Somaliland is divided into six administrative regions, Awdal, Sahil, Maroodi-Jeeh, Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool. These are in turn subdivided into twenty-two districts. Regions of Somaliland are the primary geographical divisions through which Somaliland is administered. A distinction is made between districts of grades A, B, C and D, with the classification being based on population, area, economy and production.
Odweyne district or Dadmadhedh region is a district in the central Togdheer region of Somaliland. Its administrative center is Odweyne.
Salahley District is a District in the most Eastern part of the Maroodi Jeex Region in Somaliland. Its capital lies at Salahlay.
General Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi also known as "Jidhif" was a chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces. He hails from the Jibril Abokor, a Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan. In the 1980s, he joined the Somali National Movement. Before being appointed as the chief of staff, he was head of Mercy Corps in Somaliland.
Events of 2018 in Somaliland.
Events of 2016 in Somaliland.
Allaybaday is a town in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland, on the border with Ethiopia. It is inhabited by Abdalla Abokor, Sa'ad Musa branch of the Habar Awal clan.
The Somaliland National Army, is the land force and largest branch of the Somaliland Armed Forces is based in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa. The Somaliland National Army is composed entirely of professionals and volunteers because the army is not mandatory for conscription. Some Somaliland battalions operate near the Puntland border due to a border dispute.
The 1988 Hargeisa Burao offensive was a major offensive conducted during the Somaliland War of Independence in May 1988 by the Somali National Movement on the cities of Hargeisa and Burao, then the second and third largest cities of Somalia. The SNM captured Burao on 27 May within two hours, while the SNM entered Hargeisa on 29 May, overrunning most of the city apart from its airport by 1 June. During the offensive the Somali National Army committed gross human rights violations, including attacking the civilian population using heavy artillery and tanks.
Hassan Yonis Habane was a chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces. As one of the commanders of the SNM, the predecessor of Somaliland, he won many battles and was one of the initiators of Somaliland's independence.
Osman Awad Hashi, as known as Osman Dacas, was 2nd chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces.
Ibrahim Ismail Koodbur is an early member of Somali National Movement (SNM). He died in 1987, before the restoration of Somaliland's independence.
Abdillahi Askar was a Colonel of the Somali National Movement (SNM).
Ibrahim Degaweyne is a Colonel of Somali National Movement (SNM). He is said to have never lost a battle.
The Burco-Duuray offensive was a confrontation during the Somaliland War of Independence, fought on 17 October 1984 between the Somali National Movement and the Somali National Army near Burco-duuray in the Jarar Zone of Ethiopia. The SNM, led by Mohammed Hashi Lihle, launched an offensive with around 400 fighters against a heavily armed SNA garrison of 1,000 soldiers and 70 technical vehicles. Despite being outnumbered, the SNM achieved a decisive victory, killing 170 SNA troops and destroying 17 vehicles, though they lost 27 fighters, including their commander.
The Battle of the Mountains took place on November 25, 1984, during the Somali Civil War. The conflict was a key confrontation between the Somali National Movement (SNM) and the Somali government forces under President Siad Barre. The SNM launched an assault on the mountainous regions of Somaliland, aiming to resist the oppressive regime and secure the region's autonomy.
The destruction of Hargeisa and Burao occurred in 1988 during the Somaliland War of Independence. It was part of a counteroffensive launched by the Somali government under President Mohamed Siad Barre against the Somali National Movement (SNM), an opposition group active in northern Somalia. The campaign involved indiscriminate aerial bombardments and ground assaults on the cities of Hargeisa and Burao, resulting in large-scale destruction and civilian casualties. It is estimated that 90% of Hargeisa and 70% of Burao were destroyed, displacing hundreds of thousands of civilians.
The Battle of Cadaadley occurred on 29 May 1988 during the Somali Civil War, marking a significant offensive by the Somali National Movement (SNM) against the Somali National Army (SNA). This engagement was part of a broader campaign launched by the SNM across multiple fronts, including Hargeisa and Burco, to destabilize the Somali government’s control in the northern regions.
The Battle of Burao took place on 27 May 1988 during the Somaliland War of Independence, when forces of the Somali National Movement (SNM) launched a surprise attack on the city of Burao, a strategic location in northern Somalia.
This article needs additional or more specific categories .(December 2024) |