Somali National Movement

Based in the support of the Isaaq clans of northern Somalia, the Somali National Movement (SNM) was founded in 1982 in London to counter Siad Barre’s regime in Somalia. With the support of Ethiopia, the SNM engaged in guerrilla warfare against the oppressive regime. Even after Ethiopia signed a peace accord with Somalia in 1988, the SNM continued operations against government forces in their home territories in northern Somalia. By 1991, the group had secured the northern Somaliland region and declared the region it controlled as the independent Republic of Somaliland. The SNM has since become a political organization rather than a militant organization. The original goal of undermining the Siad regime had been completed, but the group began to adopt ideas of Somaliland independence towards the end of the conflict with the Somali government. Populations in northern Somalia were in favor of independence, and the democratic SNM leadership listened to and followed the public opinion.