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Somalia, 1980-1996
Certainly, by mid-1989 the SNM felt strong enough to commence a large offensive in the north of Somalia. This was launched in December 1989 and resulted in the capture of 95% of the region two months later. During this time the insurgents were well-equipped, downing two F-6s in December 1989 and an An-26 transport in January, 1990, leaving only one operational aircraft of this type to the SAC, as the third example was meanwhile not airworthy any more, after being cannibalized for spares and left to rot on Mogadishu Airport.
Weakened by the SNM-uprising and additional revolts elsewhere in the country, through early 1990 the Somali regime prepared one final counteroffensive in the north, attempting to stall the rebel advance. For this purpose the locally based 26th Infantry Division was reinforced by three additional brigades as well as some T-54 and Centurion tanks, while the SAC was mobilized to give maximum air support possible and many of its MiG-17s and F-6s deployed to Hargheisa AB. Only some six MiG-21s and two Hunters were left in southern Somalia.
The offensive was launched on 26 March 1990, and initially the 26th Division succeeded in retaking the towns of Loyada and Zeila, which were in rebel hands since May 1989. Nevertheless, this success was short-lived at best: most of the government forces were defeated in a series of battles and either left scattered in remote encircled outposts, or besieged in the cities of Berbera and Hargheisa. The SAC and some civilian companies immediately launched an air bridge to the later city, but by the time the SNM rebels were already equipped with few SA-7 MANPADS: after a Somali Airlines Fokker F.27 was shot down – killing at least 30 – the SAC remained the sole force capable of flying into the city. Deploying their G.222s and Piaggio P.166s, sometimes escorted by fighter-bombers, the Somalis continued the air bridge, and even continued operating MiG-17s and F-6s from Hargheisa AB. In 3 June 1990 the operation was reinforced by the first deployment of An-26 transports. When the plane attempted to land in Hargheisa, however, the airfield was subjected to artillery fire: after making several turns over the city the aircraft was hit by ground fire and the hydraulic system damaged. The pilot, Col. Mohamed Sheikh Ibrahim, then decided that he has had enough and defected straight to Djibouti. Apparently, this senior SAC-offier had nurtured and partially planned this defection before, for he brough with him three other transport pilots; only the flight mechanic, Maj. Moussa Hersi Warsame, refused to seek political asylum in Djibouti, and applied to return to Somalia
