Changes

In 1978, emboldened by Soviet support, Barre launched an invasion of the Ogaden region in Ethiopia, hoping to expand Somali influence. The campaign backfired disastrously. Ethiopia, now also a Marxist ally of the USSR and aided heavily by Cuban troops, repelled the Somali offensive and retaliated by devastating villages in the Ogaden region. As a result, roughly one million civilians—mostly women and children—were forced to flee into Somalia, creating a refugee crisis on top of an already strained nation.

In 1978, emboldened by Soviet support, Barre launched an invasion of the Ogaden region in Ethiopia, hoping to expand Somali influence. The campaign backfired disastrously. Ethiopia, now also a Marxist ally of the USSR and aided heavily by Cuban troops, repelled the Somali offensive and retaliated by devastating villages in the Ogaden region. As a result, roughly one million civilians—mostly women and children—were forced to flee into Somalia, creating a refugee crisis on top of an already strained nation.

Defeated abroad and weakened at home, Barre responded to growing internal opposition—especially from the Isaaq clan in the north—with brutal force. In the late 1980s, his regime launched a full-scale military assault on northern cities such as Hargeisa, Berbera, and Bur’o. Prior to the bombings, Isaaq civilians were forcibly marched through the desert toward Ethiopia’s border. Barre's racist [[Isaaq genocide]] claimed the lives of 200,000. Entire cities were depopulated and reduced to rubble. By 1990, over 360,000 Somali refugees had crossed into Ethiopia. The Washington Post estimated that 50,000 civilians—most of them from the Isaaq clan—were killed.

Defeated abroad and weakened at home, Barre responded to growing internal opposition—especially from the Isaaq clan in the north—with brutal force. In the late 1980s, his regime launched a full-scale military assault on northern cities such as Hargeisa, Berbera, and Bur’o. Prior to the bombings, Isaaq civilians were forcibly marched through the desert toward Ethiopia’s border. Barre's racist [[Isaaq genocide]] claimed the lives of 200,000. Entire cities were depopulated and reduced to rubble. By 1990, over 360,000 Somali refugees had crossed into Ethiopia. The Washington Post estimated that 50,000 civilians—most of them from the Isaaq clan—were killed. (It is believed, Colonel Nur Omar Mohamed, [[Ilhan Omar]]’s father, played a direct or enabling role in the genocide).

Despite signing a peace agreement with Ethiopia in 1988, Barre's government remained unstable. His heavy-handed socialist policies, militarism, and reliance on foreign communist powers had left the country economically crippled and politically fractured.

Despite signing a peace agreement with Ethiopia in 1988, Barre's government remained unstable. His heavy-handed socialist policies, militarism, and reliance on foreign communist powers had left the country economically crippled and politically fractured.

By 1991, after years of repression, civil war, and mounting opposition from across Somalia’s clans and regions, Siad Barre was overthrown and fled into exile—bringing an end to a disastrous regime that had plunged Somalia into chaos and set the stage for decades of unrest.

By 1991, after years of repression, civil war, and mounting opposition from across Somalia’s clans and regions, Siad Barre was overthrown and fled into exile—bringing an end to a disastrous regime that had plunged Somalia into chaos and set the stage for decades of unrest.

Following the collapse of the Barre regime, the foreign policy of the various entities in Somalia, including the Transitional Federal Government, has centered on gaining international recognition, winning international support for national reconciliation, and obtaining international economic assistance.  

Following the collapse of the Barre regime, the foreign policy of the various entities in Somalia, including the Transitional Federal Government, has centered on gaining international recognition, winning international support for national reconciliation, and obtaining international economic assistance.

==Jihadist groups==

==Jihadist groups==