Siad Barre
Strengths -
*Note: This was largely during the first years of his regime
• Galvanised Somalis into one cohesive state
•Took over a highly corrupt Somali democracy
• Invested in some big infrastructure projects like roads and docks
• Launched a nation-wide campaign to improve literacy
• Instilled a strong sense of communalism and nationalism
Faults -
• Illegally seized power without any mandate
• Silenced, imprisoned and murdered dissidents (usually clans he hated)
• Made us join the Arab League
• Dragged Somalia, a young country with high prospects into a disastrous war with Ethiopia. A war that was needless and was used as a cover to further purge Somalia's most talented top officials/commanders.
• Lacked the political intelligence to rule the country.
• Oversaw wholesale corruption and clan nepotism
• Turned a self-sufficient, young country with high prospects into a basket-case, aid-dependent banana republic.
• Fought a bitter war against his own people after years of sidelining major clans and letting his kin loot the country.
• Failed to listen to the USSR and Castro on the Ogaden issue
• Again showed the lack of political intelligence that plagued his regime by not stepping down and allowing for reconciliation.
• Ordered, directly and indirectly, the indiscriminate murder and rape of the Northern Somali Republic. To this day, mass graves are still being found in the Somaliland.
• Singlehandedly, deepened the rift between Somali clans and caused a level of mistrust and suspicion of one another which I don't think will ever be healed.
• Revised Somali history to exaggerate, and in some cases, completely fabricate his clan's achievements.