Somali Patriotic Movement

The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali Civil War. Commanded by Aden Abdullahi Nur Gabyow, (a defense minister under former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre,) it was based in the southwestern area of the country, and had considerable influence in the leaderless country. Members of the group supported the idea of Jubaland's secession from Somalia.

Begun by a group of affected Ogadeni privates, with an area of operations centered on Kismayo and the Kenyan border (Lower Juba). They were early allies of the UNC in operations against Siad Barre. A key accomplishment was the seizure of Bale-Dogle air base in the days prior to Barre's flight from Mogadishu.

However, after Barre's flight, when Ali Mahdi's Maifesto Group announced the formation of an "interim government" without consulting SPM leadership, a crisis ensued. After fighting broke out between the Manifesto Group supporters and the SPM, the SPM suddenly reversed direction and allied itself with Barre, who was seeking to reestablish his regime. This reversal was angrily resisted by many of the original Ogadeni, who split off into their own faction.

The SPM thus sundered into two tribal-oriented factions:


 * SPM Ogadeni, or SPM-SNA, under Ahmed Omar Jess and Gedi Ugas Madhar
 * SPM Harti, under Aden Abdillahi Nur "Gabyow" (Chairman) and General Mohamed Siad Hersi "Morgan" (Militia Commander)

On August 12, 1992, the SPM Ogadeni faction joined General Aidid to form the Somali National Alliance. The SPM fractured along tribal lines, and massacres and ethnic cleansing began between the two rival factions, as well as their external enemies.

In 1998, the SPM (Harti) under General "Morgan", based out of Kismayo, founded the autonomous state of Jubaland. They were strenuously opposed by the Allied Somali Forces, which later became the Juba Valley Alliance. The SPM and ASF/JVA contended over the control of south Somalia until the JVA proved victorious, driving General "Morgan" into exile.