There are many tragic wars in modern African history. It took place in the 1970s, and the "Ogaden War" between Ethiopia and Somalia is one of them. Originally it refers to Somalis land.

Category：history

2025-04-17

Modern history of Africa has many tragic wars. It took place in the 1970s. " Ougaden War " " " between Ethiopian and Somalia " is one of them.

Ougaden (Somali :Ogaadeen)

initially referred to the land of the Somali people ▼

This war is the result of the overlapping of multiple factors such as the colonists' "mine buried" and the Cold War under the background of the Cold War , and the major major countries were involved in internal conflicts in Africa, ; it is also the result of the ethnic conflicts and economic interests between Ethiopia and Somalia .

Hori of the Horn of Africa oil and gas-rich basin

Ougaden Basin is located between Somalia and Ethiopia in the "Hori of Africa". Its geological characteristics are similar to other oil and gas-rich basins in the Middle East . Therefore, it is generally believed that Ougaden Basin also contains rich oil and gas resources. In the 1970s, it was also the statement that Ougarden area contained rich oil and natural gas resources, which triggered a cruel war.

hibernation valley in East Africa

volcanoes and fault layers provide conditions for abundant oil and gas. ▼

In October 1973, after the outbreak of the Fourth Middle East War of , the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is mainly composed of Islamic countries, announced that it would impose an oil embargo on some European and American countries, as well as Japanese, Rhodesia and South Africa, , causing international oil prices to soar. rose from less than US$3 per barrel in 1973 to nearly US$12.
Oil is not something you can buy if you want to buy
(Picture: shutterstock) ▼

Oil embargo has had a serious impact on the economies of Western countries. Some western countries' oil companies have begun looking for new oil and gas fields around the world (especially non-Islamic countries).
Before the 973 oil crisis, American giant Tenneco, Inc. began to explore oil in the Ogaden Basin. In 1972 (some say it was 1973), Tenneco discovered a natural gas reservoir in Calub located southeast of Ads Ababa , estimated to be 76 billion cubic meters. Then, a non-commercial crude oil reservoir with a thickness of 1 meter was found in the Hilala area not far away.
Tenneco discovered the country's first natural gas field, Calub gas field, in Ethiopia. However, in the following 30 years, Ethiopia's natural gas resources have never started large-scale development. ▼

With the rise in oil prices in 1973, the news that Ougarden discovered that oil and gas intensified the already-existing territorial disputes in this region. In 1974, the Ethiopian government after the coup terminated the agreement with Tenak during the former Empire.
This coup later evolved into Ethiopian civil war
and fought for decades in one battle
History of various projects during the stable period can only be stranded (Picture: wiki) ▼

local territorial disputes is the fundamental cause of the Ougaden war. The indigenous people of the Ougarden area are mainly Somalis, and they are the main residents of the "Horna of Africa" area. However, the Somalis did not form their own countries, but lived in tribal forms on lands that are now owned by Somalia, Djibouti , Ethiopia and Kenya .
Somalis were originally spread throughout East AfricaA corner
This means that people of a nation are spread to different countries ▼

884, after the "Berlin Conference" aimed at dividing Africa with the great powers of Western Europe After the "Berlin Conference" aimed at dividing Africa, imperialist countries divided up Northeast Africa, including Somalis settlement areas. Britain controls the central and northern regions of Somalia (British Somalia); Italy controls the southern parts of Somalia (Italian Somalia); France controls the northwestern parts of Somalia (French Somalia, now Djibouti).
At the Berlin Conference, Africa was clearly arranged by the great powers far away in Germany.
The next few decades will be the process of large-scale expansion of colonial forces. ▼

and also located in this area. Ethiopia under the leadership of Emperor Menelix II , not only maintained independence in the craze for the great powers to divide Africa, but also expanded its power southward: With the support of the United Kingdom, Ethiopia occupied the Harel region of Ogaden in 1884, and occupied more Ogaden strongholds in 1891.
Dynamic changes in the expansion of Ethiopia territory ▼

After that, Ougaden once changed hands between Ethiopia, Italy and the British, but in 1955, he completely fell into the hands of Ethiopia.
Menelic II laid the general territory of modern Ethiopia with its outstanding political and military talents
and was regarded as the founding father
(Picture: wiki) ▼

In the 1960s, in the wave of independence in Africa, British Somalia and Italian Somalia merged into today's Somalia, and French Somalia became today's Djibouti under the operation of France. In addition, the Ougarden area is still retained in Ethiopia, and there are also some Somalis settlement areas in northeastern Kenya.
After independence, Somalia held high the banner of "Greater Somalism". "Great Somalist " is a trend of thought that seeks to unify all Somalis in the same country : The five-pointed star in the Somalian flag represents five territories that need to be reunited. The Ogaden region has also become the goal of "Great Somalism".
The Somalia dream has not even ended its civil war.
Street battle on the streets of Somalia (Part 1), United Nations peacekeeping forces in Somalia (Part 2) (Photo: Flickr, wiki) ▼

Moreover, the Ougarden area has become the primary target of the then Somalia president Barre because of its discovery of oil and gas resources and its unique geographical location - like a sharp knife inserted into the heart of Somalia - like a sharp knife - it has become the primary target of the then Somalia president Barre .
The process of the war
The process of the war Ougaden is also fierce and dramatic. Ethiopia is better than Somalia in terms of population and territory, and has always been a powerful African country in history. But the situation in both sides in the 1970s was very delicate.
On Somalia, Siad Barre, who came to power through a coup in 1969, claimed that implemented "socialism" in Somalia, which hit it off with the Soviet Union, which was seeking global expansion. The Soviet Union immediately vigorously assisted Somalia, making Somalia build an army that dominates the Horn of Africa. Although it was a bloodless coup, Barre's coming to power was still not in line with procedural justice
so he later adopted the authoritarian rule model to eliminate the noise
(Barre met with Reagan President, picture: Blogspot) ▼

With the support of the Soviet Union's funds and weapons, Somali established an air force equipped with Soviet weapons, and the officers' regiment was trained in the Soviet Union.The Soviet Union sent more than 1,000 officers as military advisers in Somalia, and more than 2,400 Somali soldiers were sent to the Soviet Union for various types of military training.
The first Soviet jet front-line bomber Il-28
As the main force of the Air Force in the first few months of the Ogden War, in the first few months of the Ogden War, it was
(Photo: warspot) ▼

To be honest, Barre is also ambitious. He reformed his texts and bridged tribal conflicts within. In the first few years of his reign, was committed to the unity, planning and development of the country. , externally, hopes to include all Somalis under the command of the Somalian country and build a "Greater Somalia".
During his tenure, Barre also asked Somalia to be the host
held a meeting of the Organization of African Unity in the capital Mogadishu
0 years later, Somalia will hold the African Union again At the celebration, the Great Somalia Dream was left with only one slogan
(Picture: Yitu.com) ▼

In terms of Ethiopian , Emperor Haier Selasi originally maintained a good relationship with the United States. But in September 1974, he was overthrown by "Derg" (formal military administration committee). In March 1975, "Dege" announced the abolition of the monarchy.
Inside "Deg", Mengestu finally gained power through cruel struggles. In this process, a large number of outstanding officers were killed, which seriously affected the combat effectiveness of the Ethiopian army. Mengestu announced that he believed in Marxism-Leninism, and that would establish "socialism" and accelerate the move towards the Soviet Union. made the Soviet Union change its one-sided support for Somalia.
The regicide usurped the throne and the iron-blooded Mengestu
(Source: feedaformerdictator) ▼

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Ethiopia and Somalia had already had small-scale conflicts over Ogaden's belonging issue. Somalia also supports the Somalian rebel group "Western Somalia Liberation Front" (WSLF) in the Ogaden area, which once controlled a large tract of land in the Ogaden area.
With the support of the Somalian government or the Soviet Union,
WSLF has a considerable firepower advantage (picture: credoreference) ▼

On July 13, 1977, Somalia dispatched heavy troops to enter the Ogaden area with the cooperation of the "West Somalia Liberation Front", and the Ogaden War officially broke out.

just had not been peaceful for decades, and one wave had not yet settled and another wave had started.

(Picture: Yitu.com) ▼

Ethiopia believes that Somalia dispatched more than 70,000 troops, 40 fighter jets , 250 tanks , 350 armored personnel carriers and 600 cannons; the Soviet Union believes that Somalia dispatched more than 23,000 soldiers from the "West Somalia Liberation Front" cooperated with the operation.

Due to the need to deal with rebellions in other parts of the country and the low morale, the third and fourth infantry divisions of the Ethiopian army stationed in the Ogaden area were quickly defeated.

This war was very tragic, with countless casualties and injuries

The entire area seemed to have become a large cemetery

(Picture: forum.awd.ru) ▼

By September 1977, Ethiopia was forced to admit that it only controlled about 10% of Ogaden's area, and the situation was in jeopardy. On September 13, Somalia's armored troops occupied the important town of Ogaden with the support of the air force. Ethiopia faces defeat, Mengestu asks the Soviet Union for help.

In the early stage of the war, with the Soviet Union's military guidance and weapons assistance

Somalia used its huge air superiority to make Ethiopia beaten

(Photo: warspot) ▼

The Soviet Union originally wanted to mediate the conflict between these two "socialist" countries, hoping that Barre could withdraw his troops. But angry Barre rejected the Soviet Union's suggestion. In November 1977, Somalia expelled Soviet aid workers and broke off diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union's younger brother Cuba .

The annoyed Soviet Union sat on the side of Ethiopian . The Soviet aid workers who were originally in Somalia moved directly to Ethiopia.

Not only did the Soviet Union no longer provide weapons to Somalia,

, a group of younger brothers were also called to help teach Somalia a lesson,

(Photo: narod.ru) ▼

In order to show its strength, the Soviet Union dispatched hundreds of large transport aircraft, tanks, artillery , helicopter parts, etc. to Ethiopia. The Soviet Union also transported 15,000 Cuban soldiers from the Angolan battlefield into Ethiopia. Soviet brothers such as East Germany, North Korea and South Yemen also provided military assistance to Mengstu.

Later, many tanks and armored vehicles that were scrapped due to damage in this war were piled up in Ethiopia, forming a tank grave

(Picture: Yitu.com) ▼

After the Soviet Union broke off diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, Somalia's situation became extremely embarrassing. Due to ideological reasons, the US, the Soviet Union's Cold War rival, was not concerned about providing assistance to Somalia in Barre. only sent 1,500 tons of munitions and scrapped military uniforms, helmets, , etc. to Somalia. , also an Islamic country, only sent three pilots to help Somalia fight as volunteers.

In early 1978, with the completion of Soviet transportation, General Vasily Petrov of the Soviet Union commanded the Ethiopian and Cuban troops to start a big counterattack. The Somali army was not an opponent of the Soviet Union at its peak. Under the attack of the Ethiopian-Cuban coalition, the Somali army retreated step by step.

No matter who wins and loses, whichever is lost,

This is another victory for the international communist camp

(at least that's what the Soviet Union said, picture: warspot) ▼

At first, Somali officer Aidid (the one the United States wanted to catch in the "Black Hawk Down" incident) used " Supervisor " to set up the machine gun , and fired a gun on the Soyuz soldiers who dared to retreat, temporarily stabilizing the situation.

However, with the strengthening of the attack of the Ethiopian coalition and with the air support of the Soviet Union, carried out airborne behind the Soyuz, and the Soyuz was completely defeated. to April 1978, the Eco-Gourt coalition forces recaptured all the lost land in the Ogaden area.

After the war, in order to commemorate the communist soldiers who died in this war

After the war, the Soviet Union and Cuba jointly built a monument in Ethiopia

(Photo: shutterstock) ▼

Complex environment restricts oil and gas mining

This war ended with the restoration of the two sides of Ethiopia-Somali to the pre-war control area, and the two sides fought lonely. However, it is estimated that both sides directly lost more than 150,000 people on the battlefield, and a large number of civilians were killed. The war caused serious disasters to the people of both countries.

As for the legendary oil and gas resources, neither nor mined oil in the Ougarden area until the end of the war. But there is indeed oil in the Ogaden Basin.

Major energy companies have contracted all the oil and gas mining rights of Ogaden▼

After expelling Tiannak Company, Ethiopia later invited the Soviet Union's " Oil Exploration Expeditionary Team (SPEE)" to continue working in the Calub and Hilala gas fields. SPEE drilled more wells in Calub and Hilala, and confirmed Calub's natural gas reserves, also found condensate gas at 4750 meters deep in Hilala.

However, due to the decline of Soviet power in the late 1980s, the oil and gas resources of Calub and Hilala were not effectively exploited, and was also terminated until 1994.

has been twists and turns, and the fate of the tragedy is it.

(a brine oil pool in Ethiopia, picture: Yitu.com) ▼

1st century, international oil companies including Chinese companies began to re-explore oil in this area. At present, the two development blocks Calub and Hilala have implemented natural gas recoverable reserves of more than 120 billion cubic meters; in 2017, the Dohar gas field was discovered in this area, adding high-quality natural gas resources. The natural gas resources of these three gas fields in are enough to support the first phase of the 3 million tons of LNG project for 20 years.

At the same time, the Hilala block test found industrial crude oil , with geological reserves of about 46 million tons. The first barrel of crude oil was produced in June 2018, with a daily production of 90 tons of qualified crude oil, and excellent crude oil quality.

Investors' estimate of political risks

is the first wall facing Ethiopia's rich oil and gas resources development

(Picture: Newage) ▼

At this point, oil and gas mining in Ethiopia has gradually begun. However, the complex geopolitical environment in the local area still restricts the development and utilization of resources. In April 2007, the local anti-government armed forces "Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)" attacked the Chinese-funded enterprise locations. Nine Chinese workers were killed in the attack, and seven other Chinese workers were kidnapped. In addition, 65 Ethiopian employees were beaten to death. The organization has also repeatedly threatened foreign companies not to exploit oil here.

ONLF is almost a lineage of WSLF, but for Ethiopia

They have completely gone from opposition armed forces to terrorists

(Picture: Tuchuang Creative) ▼

2019 to the present, Ethiopia has been trapped in a civil war and cannot extricate itself. Ethiopian ethnic groups, including the Somalis, are still fighting on the battlefield. The development situation that has finally formed in is ruined. Somalia has become the most failed country in the world.

The poor people of East Africa have been robbed of more than 30 years of their lives by continuous wars. During this period, almost the entire country's territory has become a monument to war. If Africa wants to get out of chaos and suffering, the road ahead will be long and difficult.

Source: Earth Knowledge Bureau

Author: Kilimanjaro's snow

Editor: Deng Ruomeng

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