'Wild west': Australian veteran recalls danger of peacekeeping mission in 'lawless' Somalia
By Richard Wood • Senior Journalist7:05am Apr 22, 2023
Ahead of Anzac Day on Tuesday, one of the biggest peacekeeping operations involving the Australian Defence Force is marking its 30-year anniversary.
In early 1993, Somalia, in the Horn of Africa, was among the most dangerous countries in the world after it descended into anarchy amid a bitter civil war.
A United Nations operation in Somalia had included some Australians but in January 1993, a much larger Australian contingent - an 1100-strong group from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) - joined a US-led operation to restore security to Somalia.
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Australian soldiers posed with Somali children during the 1993 peacekeeping operation. (Australian Defence Force)
Among the Australian soldiers was Ken Snell, then a 26-year-old infantry corporal, who told 9news.com.au the Diggers faced "wild west" conditions in a country gripped by extreme violence.
"Somalia was lawless where anyone who could bear a weapon had some form of influence or authority," he said.
"Weapons ranged from former Soviet weapons including vehicles and artillery, anti-air weapons mounted on flatbed utilities, known as technicals ... machineguns and a broad range of small arms.
"There were also crudely made crossbows, bows and arrows and a large assortment of swords, knives and other bladed weapons."
The challenging job of the Australian mission, known as Operation Solace, was to protect humanitarian operations, including food aid, and improve the security situation in Somalia.
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Australian soldiers leave a US Marines helicopter in Somalia in 1993 during the peacekeeping mission Operation Solace. (Supplied)
"When we arrived clans groups and gangs were moving around our area of operations at will - thieving, intimidating and murdering people who got in their way," Snell said.
While food aid and medicines were arriving, supplies were promptly stolen by young gunmen loyal to competing warlords before they could reach the needy.
Snell said over about four months his battalion group oversaw the delivery of more than 8700 tonnes of humanitarian aid, delivered in trucks to central distribution points where thousands of desperate people gathered.
"These convoys were a daily mission for troops," he said.
"A number of contacts (enemy engagements) were experienced by members of the battalion group from section to platoon level and our training was validated."
He said it was confronting to see the long lines of Somalis waiting for food aid, but the Diggers realised they had to concentrate on helping them.
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HMAS Tobruk arrived in Mogadishu carrying vehicles and stores as part of Operation Solace in 1993. (Australian Defence Force)
Snell said he and his comrades were conscious they were among the first combat units deployed since Vietnam and that the Australian public would be watching the peacekeeping force.
"We received much support from family and many Australians ... literally hundreds of letters to 'Dear Digger', which was handed out for responses by the padre.
"I was fortunate to visit one of the primary school classes in Albury, who had written such a letter and speak to them after the deployment."
On Anzac Day, more than 120 veterans who served in Somali peacekeeping operations will march in Canberra with Governor-General David Hurley, who commanded 1RAR Battalion Group in Operation Solace.
