The Somali Democratic Action Front (SODAF; Somali: ''Ururka Dhaqdhaqaaqa Dimuqraadiyada Soomaaliyeed'') is the first political faction of the

Somali Rebellion The Somali Rebellion was the beginning of the civil war in Somalia that occurred in the 1980s and early 1990s. The rebellion started in 1978 when President Siad Barre began using his special forces, the "Red Berets" (''Duub Cas''), to atta ...

Activities

Led by the former erstwhile and beloved mayor of Mogadishu,

Omar Hassan Mohamud "Istarliin" Omar Hassan Mohamud Istarliin ( so, Cumar Xasan Maxamuud "Istarliin", ar, عمر حسن إسترلين) was a Somali Mayor of Mogadishu in the government of Aden Abdullah Osman Daar shortly before the military coup d'état of 1969. Following th ...

, it was the first primary opposition of the

Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1 ...

regime established in Rome in conclusion of meetings between 1974-1976 by exiled politicians who fled from regime reprisals after the execution of the former Minister of Defence General

Salaad Gabeyre Kediye Salaad Gabeyre Kediye ( so, Salaad Gabeyre Kediye, 1933 – 3 July 1972), also known as Salah Gaveire Kedie, was a Somali senior military official and a revolutionary who was executed by the Siad Barre regime. Biography Kediye was born in Harard ...

accused of organising a counter coup. Initially powerful both economically and diplomatically, following the end of the war with Ethiopia in the summer of 1978, SODAF had been invited to merge with the Somali Salvation Front (SSF) led by Colonel

Abdullahi Yusuf Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed ( so, Cabdulaahi Yuusuf Axmed, ar, عبدالله يوسف أحمد‎; 15 December 1934 – 23 March 2012) was a Somali politician and former colonel in the Somali National Army. He was one of the founders of the Somali ...

and two other small parties to form the

Somali Salvation Democratic Front Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) ( so, Jabhadda Diimuqraadiga Badbaadinta Soomaaliyeed), initially known as the Democratic Front for Salvation of Somalia, was a political and paramilitary umbrella organization in Somalia. Founded in 1978 ...

(SSDF) with the approval and assistance of President

Jomo Kenyatta Jomo Kenyatta (22 August 1978) was a Kenyan anti-colonial activist and politician who governed Kenya as its Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964 and then as its first President from 1964 to his death in 1978. He was the country's first indigeno ...

and his vice-president

Daniel Arap Moi Daniel Toroitich arap Moi ( ; 2 September 1924 – 4 February 2020) was a Kenyan politician who served as the second president of Kenya from 1978 to 2002. He was the country's longest-serving president. Moi previously served as the third vice ...

before the SSDF moved to Ethiopia and set up a military base there.

References

{{reflist Factions in the Somali Civil War