The Somali Opposition Fronts: Some Comments and Questions

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Periodical article

Title:	The Somali Opposition Fronts: Some Comments and Questions
Author:	Compagnon, Daniel
Year:	1990
Periodical:	Horn of Africa
Volume:	13
Issue:	1-2
Period:	January-June
Pages:	29-54
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Somalia
Subjects:	rebellions Politics and Government nationalism
Abstract:	This paper focuses on the role of the three most well-known opposition fronts fighting against the military regime in Somalia: the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), the Somali National Movement (SNM) and the United Somali Congress (USC). Written sources being scarce and difficult to check, the paper focuses on three major items: the experiences and prospects of overthrowing Mahammad Siyaad Barre's rule; the necessary but always postponed unification of the opposition; and the limited credibility of the fronts as true democratic alternatives to dictatorship. The first part describes ten years of failed attempts to topple the military regime; the tribal and clan nature of the three liberation movements and the side effects of Ethiopia's support of the three organizations. The second part deals with the major obstacles to an effective unification of the opposition movements. The third part analyses the opposition fronts' programmes and shows that they are vague and leave many important questions unanswered. The main conclusion is that Siyaad Barre's greatest strength has been the weakness of his opponents. Notes, ref.