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Witness History: The Somali pilot ordered to bomb his own country

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The Somali pilot ordered to bomb his own country

20/06/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Somali pilot ordered to bomb his own country

Somali fighter pilot Ahmed Mohamed Hassan faced a terrible choice in 1988

In 1988, Somali government forces began bombarding Hargeisa city, after it was occupied by rebels. One pilot faced a choice: bomb civilians or face the prospect of being shot.

At the end of May 1988, rebels from the Somali National Movement launched a series of lightning attacks on cities in northern Somalia - the area that today is the self-declared republic of Somaliland.  
 
The rebels were fighting against the military dictatorship of President Siad Barre. 

By the start of June, they had taken control of most of Hargeisa, the biggest city in the north.  
 
Government forces fell back to Hargeisa airport and other areas on the outskirts and were ordered to begin the indiscriminate bombardment of the city. 
 
At the time Ahmed Mohamed Hassan was a fighter pilot in the Somali air force. 

He now faced a choice: join other pilots in bombing the city or refuse and face the prospect of being shot. 

He’s been talking to Rob Walker. 
 
(Photo: Ahmed Mohamed Hassan in 2023. Credit: Ahmed Mohamed Hassan)

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