Assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke

The assassination of President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke marked a pivotal moment in Somalia's political landscape. While touring the drought-affected region of Las Anood, Sharmarke was shot and killed by his personal bodyguard. This act of violence was later deemed to be carried out independently by the bodyguard, as concluded by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The assassination triggered a swift political upheaval; within a week, General Siad Barre orchestrated a military coup that dismantled the existing parliamentary government. Analysts have since pointed to widespread corruption within the government as a primary motivator for Barre's actions, indicating a deep-seated discontent with the political status quo.