Fidel Castro's thoughts/experiences of Siad Barre

[AbrahamFreedom]

https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/transcript-meeting-between-east-german-leader-erich-honecker-and-cuban-leader-fidel-castro

 

[Aurelian]

https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/transcript-meeting-between-east-german-leader-erich-honecker-and-cuban-leader-fidel-castro

Fidel's description of Siyad were spot on, but his view on Somalia's effort to erase the colonial borders dividing Somalia's was wrong. Siyad Barre should have presented Somalis views way better. I don't think there are any strong leftists arguments against erasing colonial borders.

 

[TheLand]

Are you just now finding out about this?

 

[AbrahamFreedom]

Are you just now finding out about this?

I read this some years ago. Posting it because I stumbled upon it again.

 

[SomaliSteel]

Summary Castro’s Main Views on Siad Barre​

1. Chauvinism over Socialism:
   Castro concluded that Siad Barre was driven primarily by nationalist and chauvinistic motives rather than genuine socialist ideals. He saw Barre’s socialism as a superficial façade used to secure support and weapons from the Soviet bloc.
2. Colonial-Era Mindset:
   He characterized Barre as a general molded under colonialism — part of a military elite that rose to power with little revolutionary struggle. The Somali “revolution,” Castro said, was “accomplished in a minute, with hardly a shot fired.”
3. Authoritarian and Arrogant Leadership:
   Castro described Barre as arrogant, self-convinced, and dogmatic, someone who dominated discussions and viewed himself as the wisest leader. Unlike other African leaders Castro respected (like Boumedienne or Neto), Barre “cannot listen” and speaks only in self-praise.
4. Manipulative “Socialist” Rhetoric:
   Barre’s constant invocation of socialism was, in Castro’s view, demagogic. He called Barre’s socialist rhetoric “unbearable,” noting that “he cannot say ten words without mentioning socialism,” yet his policies perpetuated inequality and personal rule.
5. Dangerous Nationalism and Anti-Ethiopian Chauvinism:
   Castro was alarmed by Barre’s territorial ambitions toward Ethiopia and his refusal to recognize the Ethiopian revolution under Mengistu Haile Mariam. He accused Barre of trying to cloak Somalia’s expansionist aims in Marxist language.
6. Threat to the Socialist Camp:
   Castro warned that Barre’s behavior and rightward drift (especially toward Saudi Arabia and the West) endangered Somalia’s relations with socialist countries. He predicted that if Barre’s chauvinism continued, Somalia’s revolution would “collapse” and align with imperialist powers.
7. Relations with the USSR and Cuba:
   Castro noted Barre’s growing irritation with the Soviet Union, accusing Moscow of delays and “lies.” Castro saw this hostility as a sign that Somalia was drifting away from the socialist bloc.

---

He even wanted a union with Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Yemen. Castro was a nutjob socialist hardliner. He did not see that people wanted to be with their own, The soviets governed a Russia dominated multi ethnic empire so it was clear why they opposed ethnic nationalism in their satellite states. The worst thing Barre did was go socialist. He made us poor and unable to pursue our own economic interests and ethnic unity.

 

[tyrannicalmanager]

Summary Castro’s Main Views on Siad Barre​

1. Chauvinism over Socialism:
   Castro concluded that Siad Barre was driven primarily by nationalist and chauvinistic motives rather than genuine socialist ideals. He saw Barre’s socialism as a superficial façade used to secure support and weapons from the Soviet bloc.
2. Colonial-Era Mindset:
   He characterized Barre as a general molded under colonialism — part of a military elite that rose to power with little revolutionary struggle. The Somali “revolution,” Castro said, was “accomplished in a minute, with hardly a shot fired.”
3. Authoritarian and Arrogant Leadership:
   Castro described Barre as arrogant, self-convinced, and dogmatic, someone who dominated discussions and viewed himself as the wisest leader. Unlike other African leaders Castro respected (like Boumedienne or Neto), Barre “cannot listen” and speaks only in self-praise.
4. Manipulative “Socialist” Rhetoric:
   Barre’s constant invocation of socialism was, in Castro’s view, demagogic. He called Barre’s socialist rhetoric “unbearable,” noting that “he cannot say ten words without mentioning socialism,” yet his policies perpetuated inequality and personal rule.
5. Dangerous Nationalism and Anti-Ethiopian Chauvinism:
   Castro was alarmed by Barre’s territorial ambitions toward Ethiopia and his refusal to recognize the Ethiopian revolution under Mengistu Haile Mariam. He accused Barre of trying to cloak Somalia’s expansionist aims in Marxist language.
6. Threat to the Socialist Camp:
   Castro warned that Barre’s behavior and rightward drift (especially toward Saudi Arabia and the West) endangered Somalia’s relations with socialist countries. He predicted that if Barre’s chauvinism continued, Somalia’s revolution would “collapse” and align with imperialist powers.
7. Relations with the USSR and Cuba:
   Castro noted Barre’s growing irritation with the Soviet Union, accusing Moscow of delays and “lies.” Castro saw this hostility as a sign that Somalia was drifting away from the socialist bloc.

---

He even wanted a union with Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Yemen. Castro was a nutjob socialist hardliner. He did not see that people wanted to be with their own, The soviets governed a Russia dominated multi ethnic empire so it was clear why they opposed ethnic nationalism in their satellite states. The worst thing Barre did was go socialist. He made us poor and unable to pursue our own economic interests and ethnic unity.

meanwhile his soviet overlords admitted the Ogaden intervention wasa mistake

 

[reer]

meanwhile his soviet overlords admitted the Ogaden intervention wasa mistakeView attachment 377014

youre replying to a salaad gabeyre fan. salaad gabeyre was a ussr agent who failed to coup mohamed siad barre and got himself executed as a result. mohamed siad barre was nowhere near as dedicated to socialism or communism like salaad gabyre and he allowed people castro called 'right wing' in his government.

 

[Guure⁸]

youre replying to a salaad gabeyre fan. salaad gabeyre was a ussr agent who failed to coup mohamed siad barre and got himself executed as a result. mohamed siad barre was nowhere near as dedicated to socialism or communism like salaad gabyre and he allowed people castro called 'right wing' in his government.

I thought salad gabayre was just angry about siyaad cuz siyad lied to him before the revolution?

 

[reer]

I thought salad gabayre was just angry about siyaad cuz siyad lied to him before the revolution?

he was mentioned as an agent in declassified soviet files.

Mitrokhin Archive - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

.......Lieutenant-Colonel
Salah Gaveire Kedie (codenamed OPERATOR), who had
trained at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow, was
recruited as a KGB agent. In 1971, however, Gaveire
Kedie was accused with Vice-President Muhammad
Ainanche of plotting Siad Barre’s assassination. Both
were found guilty of treason and executed in public.

https://archive.org/stream/TheWorldWasGoingOurWayTheKGBAndTheBattleForTheTheThirdWorld/The%20World%20Was%20Going%20Our%20Way_djvu.txt

 

[Sup]

Summary Castro’s Main Views on Siad Barre​

1. Chauvinism over Socialism:
   Castro concluded that Siad Barre was driven primarily by nationalist and chauvinistic motives rather than genuine socialist ideals. He saw Barre’s socialism as a superficial façade used to secure support and weapons from the Soviet bloc.
2. Colonial-Era Mindset:
   He characterized Barre as a general molded under colonialism — part of a military elite that rose to power with little revolutionary struggle. The Somali “revolution,” Castro said, was “accomplished in a minute, with hardly a shot fired.”
3. Authoritarian and Arrogant Leadership:
   Castro described Barre as arrogant, self-convinced, and dogmatic, someone who dominated discussions and viewed himself as the wisest leader. Unlike other African leaders Castro respected (like Boumedienne or Neto), Barre “cannot listen” and speaks only in self-praise.
4. Manipulative “Socialist” Rhetoric:
   Barre’s constant invocation of socialism was, in Castro’s view, demagogic. He called Barre’s socialist rhetoric “unbearable,” noting that “he cannot say ten words without mentioning socialism,” yet his policies perpetuated inequality and personal rule.
5. Dangerous Nationalism and Anti-Ethiopian Chauvinism:
   Castro was alarmed by Barre’s territorial ambitions toward Ethiopia and his refusal to recognize the Ethiopian revolution under Mengistu Haile Mariam. He accused Barre of trying to cloak Somalia’s expansionist aims in Marxist language.
6. Threat to the Socialist Camp:
   Castro warned that Barre’s behavior and rightward drift (especially toward Saudi Arabia and the West) endangered Somalia’s relations with socialist countries. He predicted that if Barre’s chauvinism continued, Somalia’s revolution would “collapse” and align with imperialist powers.
7. Relations with the USSR and Cuba:
   Castro noted Barre’s growing irritation with the Soviet Union, accusing Moscow of delays and “lies.” Castro saw this hostility as a sign that Somalia was drifting away from the socialist bloc.

---

He even wanted a union with Ethiopia, Somalia, and South Yemen. Castro was a nutjob socialist hardliner. He did not see that people wanted to be with their own, The soviets governed a Russia dominated multi ethnic empire so it was clear why they opposed ethnic nationalism in their satellite states. The worst thing Barre did was go socialist. He made us poor and unable to pursue our own economic interests and ethnic unity.

And here I thought Somalis, waged the longest war / revolution against colonial powers, at least in Africa, and one of the longest struggles globally. Ironically although he was spot on with some of his statements about Barre, most of those points also fit Castro to a tee. Lot of projection going on there

 

[Jaffar]

what the soviets suggested wasnt to bad in theory to solve it to create one state Somalia and Ethiopia as one state, but confederal system similar like theegypt syria union it would have solve allot of issues the issue was that siad barre would have taken this but the somali public would never accept it