# Somali National Front (SNF), 1991–2001 > The SNF, 1991–2001: who formed it, its leaders, the 1991–92 campaign, Gedo, relations with Ethiopia and al-Itihaad, and its merger into the TNG. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/somali-national-front/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short The Somali National Front was formed after the government fell in January 1991. Unlike the four older movements, it grew from forces that had served the fallen government. Wikipedia describes it as made up largely of loyal remnants of the national army, splinters of the [Somali Democratic Movement](/en/institutions/somali-democratic-movement/) and supporters of Siad Barre, with support mainly from the Marehan, his own clan ([Wikipedia, Somali National Front](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). The four older movements are covered in [The armed movements against military rule, 1978–1991](/en/history/armed-movements-1978-1991/). ## Leaders - **[General Omar Haji](/en/people/omar-haji-masale/) Mohamed "Masale"**, a former defence minister, was its political and militia leader for most of the 1990s. Human Rights Watch called him "the undisputed leader" in 1994 ([Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, via ecoi.net, 1995](https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/195149)). - **General [Mohamed Hashi](/en/people/mohamed-abdi-hashi/) Gani** led its military wing from [Luuq](/en/regions/gedo/) in Gedo ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). - **General Mohamed Said Hersi "Morgan"** fought alongside SNF forces in Gedo in 1993, while reports at the time also called him an SPM leader ([IRB Canada, 1995](https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/195149)). In March 1992 Siad Barre and General Hashi Gani publicly criticised each other before television crews, which Wikipedia records as a sign of division inside the movement ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). ## The campaign of 1991–1992 - **March–April 1991.** Heavy fighting with the United Somali Congress. The SNF lost Kismayo and fell back to [Bardera](/en/regions/baardheere/) and Gedo ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). - **November 1991–March 1992.** It moved back into areas it had lost, while its opponents fought each other in Mogadishu. At its height it held parts of Bay, Gedo, Middle and Lower [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) and [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/) (same source). The Library of Congress records the USC split that made this possible ([Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study*](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/76.htm)). - **April 1992.** Forces led by [General Aidid](/en/people/mohamed-farrah-aidid/) pushed it back. Siad Barre left Somalia through the Kenyan border on 27 April 1992 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). See [Siad Barre](/en/people/siad-barre/) and [United Somali Congress](/en/institutions/united-somali-congress/). ## Gedo, 1992–1999 For most of the 1990s the SNF governed and operated in Gedo. Around 1992 it backed a sharia court in Luuq district. Wikipedia records fighting in August 1996 near Mandera between SNF forces, supported by Ethiopian helicopters, and al-Itihaad al-Islamiya, during which the Kenyan town of Mandera was hit ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). In 1994 the SNF took part in reconciliation conferences in Gedo and Bay (same source). In the late 1990s it divided into groups that supported Ethiopia and groups that opposed it; in June 1999 some SNF forces fought the Ethiopian army. The same year a coalition, the Allied Somali Forces (later the [Juba Valley Alliance](/en/history/juba-valley-alliance/)), took much of Gedo from it (same source). ## Into the TNG, 2001 In June 2001 the SNF merged into the [Transitional National Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) formed at Arta ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_National_Front)). The years that followed are covered in [2000–2006: Transitional governments and the rise of the courts](/en/history/rebuilding-2000-2006/). ## Sources differ - **Founding date.** March 1991 in most accounts; some say only "shortly after" the government fell. - **Who led it.** Contemporary reports gave different leaders for different years and areas; the IRB Canada review collects several of them. ## Read the primary sources yourself - Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, "Information on the Somali National Front (SNF) since 1994" (1995): [ecoi.net](https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/195149). - Library of Congress, *Somalia: A Country Study* (1993): [Disintegration](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/76.htm). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.