1978 Somali coup attempt

1978 Somali coup d'état attempt
	Part of the Cold War
	; Location of Somalia within the African Union.
Date	9 April 1978; 46 years ago
Location	Mogadishu, Somalia
Result	Coup attempt fails Siad Barre remains in power; Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed fled to Kenya; First anti-Siad Barre rebel group founded SSDF;
Belligerents
Government of the Somali Democratic Republic	Military faction; Alleged support: Soviet Union; Cuba;
Commanders and leaders
Siad Barre	Mohamed Osman Irro; Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed
Strength
	24 officers; 2,000 soldiers; 65 tanks
Casualties and losses
	17 plotters executed.

The 1978 Somali coup d'état attempt was a violent military coup attempt that took place in Somalia (then Somali Democratic Republic) on 9 April 1978,^[2] against the regime of President Siad Barre. The United States Central Intelligence Agency estimated that the coup, led by Colonel Mohamed Osman Irro, involved around 24 officers, 2,000 soldiers, and 65 tanks. Following the failed coup, 17 alleged ringleaders, including Osman, were summarily executed by firing squad.

^ ^a ^b ^c Cite error: The named reference CIA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Coup in Ethiopia Seems to Be a Failure, Diplomats Say". The Washington Post. 10 April 1978. Retrieved 15 June 2020.