السياسة السوفيتية تجاه القرن الافريقي 1963 - 1978 == Soviet Policy Towards The Horn Of Africa 1963 - 1978
Author name:
قيس عدنان عودة الفهداوي
Supervisor name:
سمية امين ياسين
General topic:
History
Specific topic:
Modern and Contemporary History
Degree:
Doctorate
University:
University of Anbar
Language:
Arabic
University location:
Anbar
First pages:
11T2857 - p.pdf
Abstract:
The Somali - Ethiopian conflict over the province of Ogaden and the Ethiopian strong ties with the US were reasons for the intervention of the Soviet Union in the African Horn. Traditionally, the intervention of Moscow came by a way of an agreement to supply military support to Somali in 1963, and the development in the military cooperation between the two countries after the coup of 1969 which brought the General Mohammed Siad Barre into power. The beginning of the Seventies witnessed a huge increase in the Somali military power. In 1974, the policy of Moscow reached its peak, and that same year witnessed the first test for its survival under changeable conditions. The Soviet Union formalized its relations with Somali throughout the peace and friendship treaty in the midst of 1974. Almost successively, the Ethiopian revolution caused the end of the imperial regime in September 1974.Thus, the emperor Hilasilasi was replaced by a military council known by the name Derek which announced its enmity to the Western front and its support for the Eastern front. At the beginning, the Soviet Union policy towards Ethiopia was characterized by caution because Ethiopia was still dependent on the American support and the Soviet Union did not want to agitate the Somali enmity. But the change in the Soviet attitude was underway when Mangistu named president of the military council in February 1976.The Soviet found in him a loyal friend who since his arrival into power announced his will to accelerate the revolutionary march and the socialist inclination of Ethiopia. The Soviet Union began considering what problems its relations with Ethiopia may have on its relations with Somali. The Soviet Union wants to keep its domination on Somali and at the same time to get more powerful in Ethiopia. For the Soviet leadership, it is clear that the development which can threaten that Soviet ambition and which was beginning to take form after 1974, is the fighting which broke out between Somali and Ethiopia because this will enforce the Soviet Union to choose between the two countries. In an attempt to avoid this situation, the Soviets sought, in March 1977, to establish a confederal union including the three socialist countries; Somali, Ethiopia, and Southern Yemen with Djibouti to be added in the future. According to a suggestion written and signed under Soviet guarantee to supply economic and military support for this union. Therefore the regions of tension in Eretria and the province of Ogaden will be given self - rule inside and within the ongoing border arrangements of Ethiopia. The Somali president, Said Barry, strongly refused this suggestion and affirmed that the union could only be established when all the nations would be able to have the right of self - determination. This practically means that Eretria must be member of this union by its own right and Western Somali is to join the union either as a separate entity or as a part of Somali. The Somali president was content that there is a golden chance to seize Ogaden and to annex it to Somali since the ruling council in Ethiopia was busy with an extending internal opposition to the regime and was also obliged to devote most of the military abilities to Eretria Province, where the Eritrean rebels launched a violent war of separation and succeeded in their control over 80% of their lands after badly defeating the Ethiopian army. The key ports on the Red Sea came under the threat of the Eritrean resistance. Added to this, the Western Somali Liberation Front (Ogaden), which was supported by the Somali government, declared war against Ethiopia. Since its independence in 1960, Somali was thinking of seizing Ogaden and for the first time, it was more well - armed than its Ethiopian counterparts. Will the president, Said Barry, fail to take action and let the golden chance slip from him for the sake of the Soviet promises of self - rule of Ogaden —a promise may never be possibly kept by the Soviets. When the fight broke out between Somali and Ethiopia as a result of the Somali attack on Ogaden in July 23rd 1977, the Soviet Union took sides with Ethiopia. Moscow launched the biggest air and sea bridge (after the October war) to transport weapons and military equipments to Ethiopia. The American intelligence estimated the size of the military equipment which Moscow provided Ethiopia about 61,000 ton and the overall value of the Soviet loads about one billion dollars.11000 Cuban soldiers were sent to Ethiopia. In an unprecedented step, Moscow sent two of its high profile generals to take part in planning and managing the war which ended with the defeat of Somali and its withdrawal from Ogaden in March 9th 1978. The Soviet did not achieve their supreme goals but their policy did not bring them heavy loss. Although losing Somali meant for them the loss of their biggest military bases outside the Warsaw League, the final outcome was positive for the Soviet policy because Moscow won a new and important position in Ethiopia. In November 1978, Mangistu visited Moscow and signed a 20 - year - agreement of friendship and cooperation which established the allegiance between the Soviet Union and Ethiopia which was one of the important circles of the American influence. Ethiopia also has a coast on the Red Sea, so this can provide the Soviet Union with institutions which equal in their value what the Soviets lost in Somali. Added to that, the Ethiopian population is seven times larger than the Somali's, its national income is eight times larger than the Somali's, its area is twice larger than the Somali's, and its natural resources are more abundant and its influence in Africa is wider.
Summary:
11T2857 - A.pdf
References:
11T2857 - R.pdf
