1982 Ethiopian-Somali Border War

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1982 Ethiopian-Somali Border War
Date June - August 1982 Location Central Somalia Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Ethiopia Somali Salvation Democratic Front	Somalia
Commanders
Mengistu Haile Mariam Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed	Siad Barre
Strength
10,000[1]	Unknown

Recent conflicts in the Horn of Africa Eritrean War of Independence – Eritrean Civil War – Ethiopian Civil War – Ogaden War – 1982 Border War - Somali Civil War – Djiboutian Civil War – Insurgency in Ogaden - Hanish islands crisis – Eritrean-Ethiopian War – OEF-Horn of Africa - Ethiopian war in Somalia

The 1982 Ethiopian-Somali Border War occurred between the months of June and August of 1982, when Somali rebels with Ethiopian military support invaded central Somalia and captured several towns. The fighting was a catalyst for U.S. military assistance in Somalia, which brought to the ceasing of the clashes.^[2][3]

[edit] War proggres

After a Somali National Army force infiltrated the Ogaden, joined with the WSLF and attacked an Ethiopian army unit outside Shilabo, about 150 kilometers northwest of Beledweyne, Ethiopia retaliated by launching an operation against Somalia.^[4] Somalia began reporting Ethiopian attacks across the border at the end of June 1982. Rebel group Somali Salvation Democratic Front claimed that the invasions were carried out by its forces, and Ethiopia denied involvement. By August, the invaders managed to capture the Somali border towns of Balumbale and Galdogob, northwest of the Mudug regional capital of Gaalkacyo, , threatening to split the country in two.^[5][6]. Siad Barre's regime declared a state of emergency in the war zone and appealed for Western aid to help repel the invasion.^[7][8] When it became clear that the invaders were receiving Ethiopian air cover and using armored vehicles, the United States and Italy began deliveries of military equipment. The U.S. deliveries, some rushed from Diego Garcia, included small arms, radars, and Vulcan air defense gun systems ordered earlier. The United States was particularly concerned because a SSDF success, even if limited to the secession of the Northern Region, would end U.S. rights to the base at Berbera.^[9]

After the United States provided emergency military assistance to Somalia, the Ethiopian attacks ceased. However, the Ethiopian/SSDF units remained in Balumbale and Goldogob, which Addis Ababa maintained were part of Ethiopia that had been liberated by the Ethiopian army. The SSDF disputed the Ethiopian claim, causing a power struggle that eventually resulted in the destruction of the SSDF's leadership.^[10]

[edit] References