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Hargeysa, Somaliland, April 3, 2010 (SL Times) – The former Chairman of
the Somali National Movement Ahmed Sillanyo who was also the chairman of
the SNM for the longest period of its existence said in a BBC Somali
Service Program on Somali history that the crossing of the Somali
National Movement (SNM) guerrillas into Buroa and Hargeysa in 1988 was
based on a decision reached in Diridawa by the SNM’s executive and
central committees.
Explaining the circumstances of the decision, the Chairman pointed to
the agreement between the Somali and the Ethiopian regimes which
required that both countries stop supporting guerrilla movements against
each other and withdraw their troops 15 km from the border.
Chairman Sillanyo made it clear in this program that although the
agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia put the SNM in a tough position,
they were determined to continue their struggle and were confident that
they had a lot of support inside the country, so the SNM misled
Mengistu’s regime into thinking that they accepted the Ethiopian request
to stop guerrilla operations against the Somali regime when in fact they
gave the order for the SNM guerrillas to launch the offensive. And when
the Ethiopian government found out that SNM guerrillas crossed the
border and took advantage of the 15 km government troops withdrawal on
both sides of the border, the Ethiopians were told the SNM fighters did
it on their own and were not ordered by the leadership.
SNM Commander Ahmed Mire who was also featured in this program said that
initially their plan was to seize Berbera because it would have
facilitated their communication with the outside world, but they had to
change plans. Ahmed Mire said he will never forget the high morale and
self confidence of SNM commanders and fighters who were ready to
sacrifice their lives for their goal.
The BBC program was broadcast a while back, and is being re-broadcast
these days.
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