A friend of mine recently brought this to light but it is interesting to see that Somalia played a role in SA's liberation from apartheid.
When Somalia (in the 1970s) served as a launching base for the Cuban-style ANC invasion to overthrow the apartheid regime of South Africa.
In the early 1970s, the armed wing of the ANC -- the Umkhonto we Sizwe (also known as MK) -- planned an ambitious operation to overthrow the racist apartheid regime of South Africa. The scheme, prepared by Somalia and Soviet Union (and planned by Tambo, Slovo and Mabhida), was to dispatch a boat (Aventura) full of arms from Kismaayo and land a force of 25 to 45 highly-trained MK soldiers on the Pondoland coast. It was a beautiful attempt to incite an insurrection, reminiscent of the incident in the Cuban revolution that lead to Castro’s triumphant march into Havana.
Shubin writes in ‘ANC: View from Moscow’: “Fortunately, the new government of Somalia…was a strong supporter of the ANC and offered its help. The Somali authorities were most helpful. When it was not on schedule, they sent an Air Force plane to spot the incoming ship at sea.”
The plan was for the MK fighters to go ashore complete with their equipment in special rubber containers. Having landed, they were to set up a secret base, recruit and train supporters and begin a campaign of sabotage and insurrection. When they were nearing Mombasa, the boat developed engine trouble, and a Somali tug towed the shop back to Kismaayo. A section of the ANC blamed the Greek crew onboard the boat of sabotage. Unfortunately, the South African regime got hold of the clandestine plan by infiltrating the guerrillas inside the country and apprehending one of them. Under severe torture, he revealed the whereabouts of his colleagues which led to the infamous trial of 'Pretoria Six'.
Former SA president Thabo reflects:
"For many years afterwards Somalia remained in our memories as African places of hope for us, a reliable rear base for the total liberation of Africa, including our liberation from apartheid. Indeed, in later years, others of our comrades returned to Mogadishu, this time to work with the Somali government to prepare for the clandestine infiltration into South Africa of cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, who would travel to apartheid South Africa by sea, secretly departing from the Somali ports!" (ANC Today Vol. 7, No 1)
When Somalia (in the 1970s) served as a launching base for the Cuban-style ANC invasion to overthrow the apartheid regime of South Africa.
In the early 1970s, the armed wing of the ANC -- the Umkhonto we Sizwe (also known as MK) -- planned an ambitious operation to overthrow the racist apartheid regime of South Africa. The scheme, prepared by Somalia and Soviet Union (and planned by Tambo, Slovo and Mabhida), was to dispatch a boat (Aventura) full of arms from Kismaayo and land a force of 25 to 45 highly-trained MK soldiers on the Pondoland coast. It was a beautiful attempt to incite an insurrection, reminiscent of the incident in the Cuban revolution that lead to Castro’s triumphant march into Havana.
Shubin writes in ‘ANC: View from Moscow’: “Fortunately, the new government of Somalia…was a strong supporter of the ANC and offered its help. The Somali authorities were most helpful. When it was not on schedule, they sent an Air Force plane to spot the incoming ship at sea.”
The plan was for the MK fighters to go ashore complete with their equipment in special rubber containers. Having landed, they were to set up a secret base, recruit and train supporters and begin a campaign of sabotage and insurrection. When they were nearing Mombasa, the boat developed engine trouble, and a Somali tug towed the shop back to Kismaayo. A section of the ANC blamed the Greek crew onboard the boat of sabotage. Unfortunately, the South African regime got hold of the clandestine plan by infiltrating the guerrillas inside the country and apprehending one of them. Under severe torture, he revealed the whereabouts of his colleagues which led to the infamous trial of 'Pretoria Six'.
Former SA president Thabo reflects:
"For many years afterwards Somalia remained in our memories as African places of hope for us, a reliable rear base for the total liberation of Africa, including our liberation from apartheid. Indeed, in later years, others of our comrades returned to Mogadishu, this time to work with the Somali government to prepare for the clandestine infiltration into South Africa of cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, who would travel to apartheid South Africa by sea, secretly departing from the Somali ports!" (ANC Today Vol. 7, No 1)
