The Rebirth of Somaliland (7): Operation Birjeex (SNM Rescue Unit)

The purpose of the operation was to rescue Abdillahi Askar at Birjeex military Headquarter, a highly fortified and enforced security prison within the 26^th sector of the army forces Birjeex compound.

By Dr. Hussein Mohamed Nur

The SNM had strong networks of cells operating inside the country. The principal goal was to facilitate operations and support networks for the movement. Those networks consisted of diverse people of different backgrounds including business people, traders, petty street workers, students, teachers, women, employees and professionals, etc. of the various departments and institutions of the government and armed forces of different ranks.

The latter also included high-ranking military officials within the army who acted as a linchpin in the internal operations of the SNM. Colonel Ibrahim Ismail Koodbur was a ranking military officer embedded within the 26^th sector of the army in Hargeisa. Koodbur was one of the extraordinarily brave men in the history and struggle of the SNM. He was the main architect together with other SNM officers such as Colonel Abdisalam Mohamoud Jama (Turki) and others.

In April 1983, Abdillahi Askar, Abdisalam Mohamoud ‘Turki’ and others entered Hargeisa as a group to join an SNM inside the cell including Colonel Ibrahim Kodbur (a member of the national army as a high-ranking officer). The purpose of the mission was to conduct a secret operation in Hargeisa.

The original mission was to headhunt high-ranking government officials (the commanders of the 26^th sector of the army, the NSS, the Hangash, and others). Unfortunately, before any action was conducted in accordance with the plan, the unit faced a sudden unforeseen problem.

The unit members switched the original plan into a rescue operation due to the unexpected change in the original plan. They had to divert mission as a colleague member, Colonel Abdillahi Barkhad Askar, was caught on 10 April 1983 by the Victory Pioneers (Guulwadayaal) and later moved to be imprisoned at Birjeex military Headquarter, a highly fortified and enforced security prison within the 26^th sector of the army forces Birjeex compound. At the time there were preparations for the celebrations of the Somali armed forces day (12^th of April 1983) underway.

This happened after the unit had a meeting on the evening of 10^th April 1983 at a house owned by Ismail Sheikh Musa Duale. As they finished meeting they left for another location to stay in the night. Abdillahi Askar was left behind.

Askar left the house alone afterward and was stopped by the Guulwadayaal on the road on his way to join the rest. He was brought to their center of the so-called ‘Victory Pioneers’ (Xarunta Guulwadayaal) (today’s site of the parliament).

Askar was later moved to Birjeex. General Gani, commander of the 26^th Sector of the armed formed in Hargeisa planned to bring Askar to the Hargeisa National Theatre on the next evening of 11 April 1983, the night before the celebration of the Somali military day as a show to the public before his execution plan on the next day.

The SNM unit immediately knew of the incident (from reports of an insider SNm cell unit) and urgently organized a small unit with Colonel Ibrahim Kodbur as the coordinator to rescue Askar. The unit consisted of 11:

1. Abdisalam Turki,

2. Said Abdi (said Birjeex),

3. Ibrahim Ismail Kodbur,

4. Bihi Haji Hassan Elmi,

5. Suleiman Said (Yare),

6. Ibrahim Arab,

7. Ahmed Hussein Warsame,

8. Said Kur-Libah,

9. Aden Maal Aqli,

10. Abdirahman Eid Farah,

11. Said Ahmed Dhigane.

Kodbur was an insider link man, coordinator, and the anchorman who still a high-ranking officer in the Somali army. He was leading the activities. He had the rota as the duty command Officer that night. He was our anchor man. They made themselves ready the next day (11 April) late afternoon together with two rescue vehicles and went according to the plan. They enforced entry from the entrance gate of Birjeex straight to where Askar was kept.

At first, they met with some resistance from a well-equipped guard and started exchanging fire with the guard. But that was surprisingly shock and awe for them. In fact, the shooting took place in close range and immediately they had the upper hand. Two of their colleagues were hit but were managed successfully to be taken out with them alive together with the prisoner.

Askar was in bad state and completely immobile due to the damages he was received whilst in the hands of the enemy. He was subjected to savage torture and beaten. He was in pajamas. His skin was burnt all over with candles and cigarette butts (as they noticed later afterward). They took the wounded men and the prisoner and swiftly hit the exit gate towards two vehicles parked outside and on standby.

However, they escaped in one of the cars abandoning as it had an engine failure. One of the wounded men was Bihi Haji Hassan Elmi. He was badly wounded. They brought him out into a bush of shrubs nearby. Unfortunately, it was impossible to take him with them. The circumstances got out of hand. Bihi told ordered them to leave him on the spot.

There was literally no chance to save him. They suddenly sped off towards the south, the direction of the border. At the Masalaha area, the only transport vehicle they became faulty. The engine would not start. Just after dusk and after the Maghrib prayers as they were frustrated but did not lose faith and on dependence on the All-Mighty, Allah, a miracle happened (as reported by Colonel Turki who is alive today – details are available in the forthcoming book of the author ‘The Rebirth of Somaliland’).

With the Grace of Allah’s and his permission, they gave the engine one last trial. Upon the first turn ignition and the engine miraculously roared like a brand new machine. They then sped off as fast as they could. They were never spotted by the enemy and therewith crossed the border at Harshin safely.

Bihi who was left behind died after killing several enemy soldiers. A memorial monument today stands on the spot where Bihi died. A memorial monument has been recently erected where Bihi died.

Of the 11 members of that spectacularly successful mission, as we write today only three of them are alive (Abdisalam Turki, Adan Mal Aqli, and Abdiraham Eid). The first two live in Hargeisa. Abdirahman Ciid lives in Ainabo, Sarar region. The rest of the team died (some in action during the operation, others in action during the SNM invasion in 1988, and still others in different circumstances.

Ibrahim Ismail (Kodbur) died in 1987; Bihi Haji Hassan Elmi (died in action) in action in 983); Said Abdi Yasin died in 1988); Said Ahmed Dhigane (died in action in 1983); Saleban Said died in 1988; Ahmed Warsame Malosh died in 2002.

In the decade of SNM liberation, thousands of civilians and SNM fighters including the top leading commanders lost their lives. The SNM lost some of its heroic and daring officers. Mohamed Ibrahim Hadrawi, one of the famous Somali cultural creator, poet, and composer, highlighted some of the SNM officers killed in battles in a series of poems known as ‘Dalalay series’:

1 Mohamed Hashi Deria (lixle); 2. Hamud Ibrahim Yasin; 3. Khalif Sh. Ahmed; 4. Mohamed Haji Hassan (Hurre); 5. Ibrahim Farah Dawarre *Gurey); 6. Mohamed Ahmed Mohamoud (Islawayne); 7. Aden Sh Mohamoud Sh. Abdillahi (Aden Shiine); 8. Abdi Sh Jama (Karuur); 9. Abdulkadir Kosar Abdi.

In 1987 the SNM launched an operation inside Hargeisa city. The purpose was the killings of top government officers in the North especially Hargeisa such as the commander of the 26^th Sector of the armed forces in the North, the Commander of the Police force, the governor etc. Meanwhile, Ahmed Ade, the top ranking officer of the NSS and a colleague of his nicknamed ‘Degmo-Laqas’ were successfully slain in the process.

Many at times it was not uncommon that civilians were caught in revenge for the actions and operations of the SNM. Most of the people were usually the suspects of supporting the SNM. Soon after that operation Sulub Jama Aw Osman (also known as Sulub Ugaadhyahan) and a friend of his who were both members of a clandestine SNM cell in Hargeisa were caught and imprisoned.

For three months they faced an ordeal. They were badly beaten and tortured in the Hargeisa Central Prison. Sulub described the merciless ordeal they went through (described elsewhere in the author’s forthcoming book ‘The Rebirth of Somaliland). Later on, they made an extraordinary successful escape from the prison in Hargeisa.

To be continued…

1. The Rebirth of Somaliland (6): The SNM Liberation Struggle And Tactical Operations
2. The Rebirth Of Somaliland (5): The Formation Of The SNM And Liberation Struggle
3. The Rebirth Of Somaliland (4): The 1961 Aborted Military Coup
4. The Rebirth Of Somaliland (3) – Northern Mistrusts And Discontents: Origins And Emergence Of Early Signs
5. The Rebirth Of Somaliland (2): The Process Of The Union And The Act Of Union
6. The Rebirth Of Somaliland (1): History of Somaliland