Barre, Siad Muhammad
Head of government in Somalia 1969-1991
(?.?.1919 Ganane/Somalia - 02.01.1995 Lagos/Nigeria)
Barre was Commander in Chief of the Somali National Army, when he took over power in a bloodless military coup in October 1969. He imposed autocratic rule and favoured first the Soviet Union, later the US concerning political relationship. Although he was chairman of the OAU 1974-175 his international acceptance was suffering from accusations of substantial human rights abuses. In the early 90s increasing tensions between clan militias and the government forces weakened his government, he was forced to leave office as president of Somalia in 1991 and went to Nigeria into exile.