Raul Castro and Soomaaliya

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

It was said it was Raul Castro's -- not his older, then-ruling brother Fidel -- keen idea of sending Cuban troops to Soomaali Galbeed to help Xabashis.

 

It was him as a Cuban defense minister who suggested to his brother to help the crushed and overpowered Xabashis, and soon implemented that plan. He even flew to Adisababa to lead his speciallly trained troops.

 

Some 1,000 Russians and 2,000 Cubans arrived with the hardware, and they may not all be just advisers: both Eritrean and Somali rebel forces claim to have captured Cuban combat troops. Underscoring Moscow's new urgency about the battle of the Horn, Raul Castro, Fidel's brother and Cuba's Defense Minister, arrived in mid-January, apparently to help Mengistu run his dual war against the rebels and his political opponents in Addis Ababa.

 

[

Time

magazine - Feb. 06, 1978]

The Soviet Union is arming Ethiopia in the battle, and U.S. government sources said last week that Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother, is in Ethiopia to direct a counterattack that might involve Cuban troops. Somalia issued a statement Monday asking "the world at large and especially friendly and peace-loving nations to fully support Somalia to quell...

 

[

Modesto Bee

- January 18, 1978]

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

I found this piece as well, I think it may be a bit relevant. It was a meeting between East German leader Erich Honecker and his Cuban counterpart, Fidel Castro. Circa March, 1977.

 

The following excerpt is Fidel Castro told Honecker in East Berlin.

------------

 

Siad Barre had arrived in Aden that morning. Mengistu did not arrive until the afternoon. I had a conversation with Siad Barre in which he bared his claws. He told me that if Mengistu was a real revolutionary he should do as Lenin, and withdraw from his territory. Siad Barre took a very hard position. I asked him whether he felt that there had been no real revolution in Ethiopia and that Mengistu was not a real leftist leader. He told me that there had been no revolution in Ethiopia. While in Mogadishu he had shown me a map of Greater Somalia in which half of Ethiopia had been annexed.

 

After my talk with Siad Barre, I told Mengistu about Barre's attitude, and asked him to remain calm. I already felt bad about having invited Mengistu to Aden while there was still a powder keg situation back in his country and that in such a tense situation he was to hear out the Somalis' territorial demands.

 

With regards to my question about the situation of the Ethiopian army, Mengistu said that there were still difficulties but that he didn't think that there was an acute danger of a coup.

 

When the meeting started, Siad Barre immediately began speaking. Siad Barre is a general who was educated under colonialism. The revolution in Somalia is led by generals who all became powerful under colonial times. I have made up my mind about Siad Barre, he is above all a chauvinist. Chauvinism is the most important factor in him. Socialism is just an outer shell that is supposed to make him more attractive. He has received weapons from the socialist countries and his socialist doctrine is [only] for the masses. The Party is there only to support his personal power.

 

In his case there is a bizarre symbiosis of rule by military men who went through the school of colonialism and social appearances. Something about socialism appeals to him, but overall there is still a lot of inequality and unfairness in the country. His principal ideas are nationalism and chauvinism, not socialism.

 

His goal is old fashioned politics: sweet, friendly words. Siad Barre speaks like a wise man; only he speaks. He is different from the many political leaders that I know. [Egyptian President Anwar] Sadat, [Algerian President Houari] Boumedienne, [Mozambique President Samora] Machel, [Angolan President Agostinho] Neto and many others are strong characters. They can also listen and do not take a dogmatic attitude. One can speak with them. Siad Barre really thinks that he is at the summit of wisdom. Until now everything has gone smoothly for him. The Italians and the British made him a general. The revolution was accomplished in a minute, with hardly a shot fired. He put on a socialist face and got economic aid and weapons from the Soviet Union. His country is important strategically, and he likes prestige. Barre is very convinced of himself. His socialist rhetoric is unbearable. He is the greatest socialist; he cannot say ten words without mentioning socialism.

 

With this tone he began to speak in the meeting with Mengistu. He began giving a lecture on Ethiopia and demanded from Mengistu to do as Lenin had done: do away with the Ethiopian Empire. Mengistu remained quiet; he said that Ethiopia was ready and willing to find a solution

and that there needed to be the first concrete steps on both sides to achieve a rapprochement.

 

Siad Barre theatrically responded that he was disappointed with Mengistu and that he displayed the same attitude as the Ethiopian Emperor. The Ethiopian revolutionary leadership had the same mentality as Haile Selassie. The meeting had begun at 11 PM and a solution was not in sight.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

This quote, from Fidel Castro, seems a bit interesting too, as well.

 

I was well received in Somalia. I had asked them not to have any public demonstrations. Siad Barre was very friendly during our first dinner. Prior to my arrival, I had received his reply to a letter of mine regarding the question of relations between Somalia and Ethiopia. I had also sent an envoy to Somalia for discussions with Vice President Samantar and Interior Minister Suleiman. Samantar held to leftist positions, while Suleiman was a representative of the right wing. The discussion of our representative with him was very severe. I had already received considerable information in the PDRY regarding the situation in Somalia. The power and influence of the rightist group continue to increase. The Interior Minister, Suleiman, is doing everything possible to bring Somalia closer to Saudi Arabia and the imperialist countries. Samantar is losing influence. Everything seems to indicate that he is being driven into a corner by the right.

------------

 

Only that evening did we begin to discuss specific problems, at my residence. It was clear to me that we had to be careful because surely the interior minister had installed bugs. This same evening Siad Barre finally talked about Ethiopia. He compared it to the Tsarist Empire and said that Ethiopia was the only surviving colonial power. Thanks to Lenin's wisdom, the Tsarist Empire had disappeared, but it lived on in Ethiopia. He had proposed to the Ethiopians, some time ago, to establish a federation or even a unification of the two countries. Ethiopia had not reacted then, but was now itself proposing this solution. He spoke very enthusiastically about his efforts to reach a solution with Ethiopia. I used the occasion to tell Siad Barre that I would travel to Ethiopia the next day and asked him if he would be willing to meet with Mengistu. He agreed.

[Fabregas]

Siad proposed a unification or federation with Ethiopia interesting? THat is if we believe the Cubans. Lol @ Saudi Arabia and the imperial countries! Left and Right wing Soomaalidu waxa kama yaqanaan, waa Qabil uun, wax kale ma jirin! It was probably just a way to get money from the Soviets and Americans!

[Jamster]

Suleiman Dafle's educational background (Sandhurst military Academy; an elist academy for the top brass) in that old country Britain might have indicated to Mr Castro that he holds right wingish ideas. Also, Suleiman was/is good close friends with some of the influencial princes of Arabia.

 

PS: Bugs! oo soomaliya iyo sophistication-kii iyo hada say tahay! cakuye ciil badanaa.