Ambassador Cawil on Siyaad's Departure froom Xamar

[Cilmiile]

Barre had his reason for staying among his Mareexaan clansmen. he was very bitter against the Marehan for not defending his regime, when the fighting took place in Mogadishu on December 30,1990. By early morning of January 7,1991, the 5000-strong "Red Beret" presidential guard, who were all Marehan, left Mogadishu for thier clan areas. They took away all their heavy weapons; which Barre badly needed to defend his beleagured(sic) regime. Before they left Mogadishu, the Marehan forces looted all foreign embassies, including the American embassy, the United Nations, the petroleum prospecting companies, Somali-owned food stores and the Central Bank. They went out in convoys extending over 20 kms, flanked by tankds and armoured troop carriers. They left their president and patron, alone isolated unprotected, with only a mere 200 close relatives to look after him and his family. Barre was never a man to forget or forgive any wrongdoing against him.

[Cilmiile]

I am re-reading Ambassador Cawil's book(current Somaliland Finance Minister). The book is full of lies and inaccuracies so I am not sure just how accurate this passage is about Siyaad's last few days in Xamar.

It is pretty close to what I heard personally. That Siyaad's son had to browbeat the last of the Mareexaan soldiers to rescue his father, with the USC closing in and the President unwilling to retreat. I also heard they would not have safely made out but for a heroic intervention by some Majeerteen fighters.

What do u think?

[Gedo_Boy]

I think during those last days the army dissolved as each person went to his clan.

I know Siad Barre's personal driver had to almost dharbaax M Siad Barre to get him out of Villa Somalia and he threw him in a LandCruiser as some rebels were scaling Villa Somalia.........that's how close it was.



What was the MJ role in all of it?

[B-MAX]

Before they left Mogadishu, the Marehan forces looted all foreign embassies, including the American embassy, the United Nations, the petroleum prospecting companies, Somali-owned food stores and the Central Bank. They went out in convoys extending over 20 kms, flanked by tankds and armoured troop carriers.



Thanks for Authenticating my stories of Maraxaan being the biggest Moryaans in Somali History. Absolutely Priceless.

[Demure]

I can believe it. It's consistent with many similar accounts that I have heard about that timeframe.

I too heard Siad Bare didn't leave Villa Somalia untill USC were literally at his door step.

[eyes-only]

Siad BarreÂ’s son was caught by the USC but was later released by Ceydiid. After the car accident, Barre was not normal which is why he believed he was still in control even when he only controlled the capital. Some people lied to him wallaahiÂ…He should have listened to mareexaan when they told him the hawiye were turning against him.

What I donÂ’t understand is why all the government departments were destroyed. I mean, everything to do with the government was destroyed but there was no reason to destroy everything and why target defenceless ministers? There was just no reason to destroy things and assassinate former ministers. The USC and other groups were just too unorganised and didnÂ’t have real plans for running the country I think.


That is the problem with gorilla militias, you always end up with splinter groups who are not working to the original plans.

[AbdiWahab252]

My first cousin was part of the USC that captured Villa Somalia.

He told me of how the Villa was littered with wounded Marexan soldiers who were left behind by Siyaad (who by all accounts fled inside a water tanker).

Btw, Siyaad's last meal which was lunch was on the table before he could flee was Hilib Aari, suugo & Baasto.

The Marexan did loot a lot, so Ambassador Caawil is correct.

The ONLY DAROOD CLAN that stood their ground and fought valiantly were the Dhulbahante in Fiiyore.

[Samatr]

Cawil waa eey waa in la gawraco!

[Cilmiile]

Gedo Boy,


what is the scuttlebut in Diini households?

The Mareexaans made an organized retreat. They were heavily armed. They could have made life hell for the USC.

Why did they vacate Xamar?

With the SPM also closing in from the South, were they afraid that the fix was in and it was going to become Mareexaan vs the rest of Somalis. With every tribe sharpening their knives for the day of reckoning?

[AbdiWahab252]

Cilmiile:

U forgot one key fact. The majority of the SNA footsoldiers were Hawiye. Siyaad had made the mistake of making his Marexan into the Presidential Guard (which was not put through the rigorous training as the SNA) & made his Marexan officers without the proper training gained through the SNA ranks.

Combine that with heavy corruption among the Marexan officers who would sell weapons to the USC as the SNA & government was going broke.

All this made it easy for the USC to crush the SNA

[Cawar]

"With the SPM also closing in from the South, were they afraid that the fix was in and it was going to become Mareexaan vs the rest of Somalis."

This is def. the rumour that circulates as the Marexan's reasoning in abondoning Siad.

[Gedo_Boy]

Cilmiile,

Most Darood were surprised by the USC's actions against Daroods.....they just thought it was an overthrow of the Govt. From what I heard, Marexaan were the only ones who left Xamar before it got too bad.

I think it was the general atmosphere that caused them to retreat........the rebels (SPM/USC) were closing in on the city and the Abgaals made an uprising within the city........Banaadir was not the ideal place to be.

I think the clashes occurred more back in Gedo, because M Siad Barre wanted to make a counter attack and take back the city, and some others (I don't know who) didn't support going back to attacking............

So the counter attacks were not effective.......


Also, add the fact that many of the SNA's hardware/manpower and seasoned officers were being depleted in Waqooyiga and they were not as up to date with what was going on in Xamar.

Also, from what I hear, after bombing the North, M Siad Barre was very hesistant in using excessive force initially.............it was just a matter of too many fronts.

[Qaarxiye]

[quote] Siad BarreÂ’s son was caught by the USC but was later released by Ceydiid [/quote]

Bulsh!d..........all caydiid wanted to do was become the next somali hitler. all these fairytales that he was maskiin and let those he caught free is all stories hawiye tell each other to humanize and make caydiid look good.


[quote]"With the SPM also closing in from the South, were they afraid that the fix was in and it was going to become Mareexaan vs the rest of Somalis.[/quote]

sxb they called called Muslim Vs. Mareexaan, we didnt trust nobody but our own and I am greatful to that.

[sadeboi]

allah beenta iyo baqtiga halkaan lagu sheegayo!


Marexaan didn't leave Siyaad Bare in villa Somalia with few men. My family was one of the people in a convey with the president as he was leaving, he wasn't deserted and left with a lot of men and went to Kismayo and then Gedo. Marexaan were fighting, but it was Marexaan v. 'Muslim'; even the Daroods were in the kicking out of Marexaan. Marexaans were fighting in Muqdisho iyo Afgoye (my uncle was the leading the bah xawadle army), Hiiraale was in the fight, Gaani, and all the Marexaan military men, but they couldn't fight all Somalis who united in thier destruction. A lot of Marexaan colonels and generals were mad at Siyaad Bare, because he said lets not burn the city (he ordered them not to use the heavy weapons and aircrafts) but just fight with normal weapons. Nevertheless, in the midist of Marexaan v. 'Muslim' the "Muslim" started to turn on eachother.



Stop the bullsh*t, Siyaad Bares son was never captured.


Gedoboy, you do know were cawar is going with this; he sees this as evidence that the fairytale Dhafoorqiiq exsisted.

[Cawar]

^^LOL.

There was no such thing as Marexan vs muslim(and if ever it didnt last for more than a day or two If and only IF)...and you were too young to remember anyways..as I assume...

So...I am not going anywhere with the Dhafoor qiiq...ee dont put words into my mouth and stop believing what any marexan guy you see tells you....use your mind sometimes...and ask others too...you might get a different perspective..