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Protocol of the Third Conference of the 21st Committee

5 January 1992

 

Top Secret

Third Conference of the 21st Committee1 which was held in Kismayo 5 January 1992.

To: All Regional Commanders
To: Elders, Sultans and Tribal Chiefs
To: Intellectuals and Politicians in the Country and Abroad

Subject: Results of the Third Conference by the 21st Committee Elders and Regional Leaders

After a meeting by the conferees of the 21st Committee which was held in the town of Kismayo and attended by many distinguished leaders both civilian and military, who were representing the four major regions (Bosaso, Taleh, Kismayo, and Garbaherey).

The meeting was chaired by General Mohamed Saeed Hirsi (Morgan).  It was also attended by General Mahamoud Mohamed and Bashir Sheikh Abdi.  After a throughout review of the situation and challenges facing our People the following items were decided upon.

To select

In general the execution of this campaign is the duty of the leadership and every responsible clansman.  The following conclusions were reached:

  1. To unify the armies in the four regions, including their logistics, combat capability, and command.
  2. To purchase all military hardware needed from neighboring countries and abroad.  Also we must give special priority to have cooperation with sisterly organizations like the EPRDF, EPDM, and OLF.
  3. To support the current so-called government of Ali Mahdi and Omer Arteh in Mogadishu since they are fighting Aidid and his people.  The enemy of your enemy is your friend.
  4. To support and arm our people2 who live with the liDoor3 .
  5. To show world opinion that we are being exterminated and undergoing genocide, especially in the North4.
  6. To pursue a military campaign between the two rivers in the South5 so that it will be safe for our people.
  7. Our people must have a leadership role in both the Kenyan and Ethiopian governments.  Also we must do our best to have an autonomous Harerge6.
  8. To wage an all-out military assault when the time is ripe against both of our enemies7 so that we retain our historical leadership role, that will definitely bring back the dream and glory of the Sayed (the "Mad Mullah")8. 

(Signed)
Gen. Mohamed Saeed (Morgan)

Footnotes by Editor

1 The name of the "21st Committee" is derived from the date of 21 October 1969 when Gen. Mohamed Siad Barre came to power through a military coup.
2 Darods
3 Isaqs in the Republic of Somaliland (see the Dir for the relationship between the Darods and Isaqs)
4 Republic of Somaliland
5 the Saab group of clans comprised of the Digil and Rahanweyn (Midhifle) clans who are mainly farmers living on the fertile  land along and "between the two rivers".
6 the "Ogaden" region of Ethiopia that they failed to capture in the war with Ethiopia
7 the Isaqs and the Hawiye (see the Foundations of the Somali Ethnic Group to see their relationships)
8 Mohamed bin Abdullah, who referred to himself as "The Mullah" and whose enemies, particularly Great Britain, called "The Mad Mullah" -- The Sheikh of Mecca is alleged to have written a letter to Mohamed bin Abdullah, ordering him to stop using the titles of Seyyid or Mahdi because of the cruelty he was alleged to have committed against his own people.

 

This report and translation thereof is reprinted here from:  "Secret Document Reveals Siad Barre Aides' Tactical Plan to Retake Somalia" in "The Estimate", Volume IV, Number 7, March 27 - April 9, 1992, Washington, D.C. with their permission.

© The Estimate 1992

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