Somali Patriotic Movement

Infobox Somali faction
faction_name=Somali Patrotic Movement


leaders= Colonel Bashir Bililiqo SPM-Ogadeni (SPM-SNA):
* Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess
* Gedi Ugas MadharSPM-Harti:
* General Adan Abdillahi Nur ('Gabyow')
* General Mohammed Siad Hersi "Morgan"
clan_tribe=Ogaden (SPM 'Ogadeni') and non-Ogaden (known as SPM 'Harti')
active_years=Unified: 1989–1992 SPM-Ogadeni: 1992–2004 SPM-SNA: 1992–2003
headquarters=Kismayo
areaofoperations=southern Somalia
predecessor=
successor=SPM-Ogadeni: joined Somali National Alliance (SNA)
allies=Before split: United Somali Congress (USC)
opponents=SPM-Harti: Juba Valley Alliance (JVA)

The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali Civil War. [http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/World-Leaders-2003/Somalia-THE-FALL-OF-SIAD-BARRE-AND-DESCENT-INTO-CIVIL-WAR.html The Fall of Siad Barre and the Descent into Civil War] Nations Encyclopedia] Commanded by Aden Abdullahi Nur Gabyow, (a defense minister under former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre,) it was based in the southwestern area of the country, and had considerable influence in the leaderless country. Members of the group supported the idea of Jubaland's secession from Somalia.

Begun by a group of disaffected Ogadeni officers, with an area of operations centered on Kismayo and the Kenyan border (Lower Juba). They were early allies of the USC in operations against Siad Barre. A key accomplishment was the seizure of Balli-Dogle air base in the days prior to Barre's flight from Mogadishu. [http://www.civicwebs.com/cwvlib/africa/somalia/1994/lib_movments/lib_movements.htm The Liberation Movements of Somalia] Jack L. Davies, 27 August 1994 ]

However, after Barre's flight, when Ali Mahdi's Maifesto Group announced the formation of an "interim government" without consulting SPM leadership, a crisis ensued. After fighting broke out between the Manifesto Group supporters and the SPM, the SPM suddenly reversed direction and allied itself with Barre, who was seeking to reestablish his regime. This reversal was angrily resisted by many of the original Ogadeni, who split off into their own faction.

The SPM thus sundered into two tribal-oriented factions:

* SPM Ogadeni, or SPM-SNA, under Ahmed Omar Jess and Gedi Ugas Madhar
* SPM Harti, under Aden Abdillahi Nur "Gabyow" (Chairman) and General Mohamed Siad Hersi "Morgan" (Militia Commander)

On August 12, 1992, the SPM Ogadeni faction joined General Aidid to form the Somali National Alliance. The SPM fractured along tribal lines, and massacres and ethnic cleansing began between the two rival factions, as well as their external enemies.

In 1998, the SPM (Harti) under General "Morgan", based out of Kismayo, founded the autonomous state of Jubaland. They were strenuously opposed by the Allied Somali Forces, which later became the Juba Valley Alliance. The SPM and ASF/JVA contended over the control of south Somalia until the JVA proved victorious, driving General "Morgan" into exile.

ee also

* Somali Civil War
* Factions in the Somali Civil War

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1747697.stm#aang Aden Abdullahi Nur Gabyow]
* [http://www.arab.net/somalia/so_opposition.htm Armed opposition in Somalia]

References