Somali National Movement
| Somali National Movement (SNM) | |
|---|---|
| Participant in Somali Civil War | |
 |
|
| Ideology | Somaliland separatism |
| Groups | Isaaq |
| Leaders | Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid
|
| Headquarters | Dire Dawa, Hargeisa |
| Area of operations |  Somalia Ethiopia[2] |
| Became |  Somaliland |
| Allies | Somali Patriotic Movement |
| Opponents | Somali National Army |
The Somali National Movement (Somali: Dhaq dhaqaaqa wadaniga soomaliyeed, Arabic: الحركة الوطنية الصوماليه) was a 1980s–1990s Somali rebel group. Founded and led by Isaaq members to protect the clan's interests,[3] it was key in the formation of Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia.[4]
Formation
In April 1981, a group of Isaaq dissidents living in east London (Whitechapel) formed the Somali National Movement (SNM), and at the end of 1981 it was announced in London, which subsequently became one of the Somalia's various insurgent movements. According to its spokesmen, the rebels wanted to overthrow Siad Barre's dictatorship.
Somali Civil War
The SPM succeeded in overrunning several government outposts in southern Somalia. The SNM-USC-SPM unification agreement failed to last after Siad Barre fled Mogadishu. On January 26, 1991, the USC formed an interim government, which the SNM refused to recognize. On May 18, 1991, the SNM declared the northwestern Somali regions independent, establishing the Republic of Somaliland. The USC interim government opposed this declaration, arguing instead for a unified Somalia. Apart from these political disagreements, fighting broke out between and within the USC and SPM.
Somaliland
The SNM was extremely influential in the establishment of Somaliland, a self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia.[5] Many former SNM members would be key in the formation of the government and constitution.
References
- ↑ http://www.alnef.org.za/conf/2010/presentantions/somalia.pdf
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Helen Chapin Metz, Somalia: a country study, Volume 550, Issues 86-993, (The Division: 1993), p.xxviii.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The UK Prime Minister's Office Reply To The "Somaliland E-Petition"
