Mohamed Siad Barre

Mohamed Siad Barre was a Somali military officer and politician who led Somalia as a dictator from 1969 to 1991. He came to power after a military coup and established a socialist government, trying to modernize the country through reforms. His rule was marked by efforts to unify Somalia, but also by political repression, human rights abuses, and conflicts with regional clans. In 1991, his government was overthrown, leading to years of civil war and instability that Somalia continues to experience today.