ABSTRACT
The Ogaden is the semi-arid to arid area of grassland verging on desert between the core of Ethiopia and Somalia. On achieving independence in 1960, Somalia immediately abrogated the boundary treaty agreed between Ethiopia and Britain in 1897. The aim appeared to be to awaken Somali irredentism and in 1963-4 there was a brief conflict between the troops of Somalia and Ethiopia over Somali support for guerrillas in the Ogaden. With the overthrow of Haile Selassie and the arrival of the Marxist-based Dergue regime in 1974, Somalia re-opened the boundary question. In consequence, Somalia became one of the few states that switched from Soviet to US protection during the Cold War. Somali forces were crushed by Ethiopia at Jijiga in March 1978 and the conflict subsided, although guerrilla forces remained active. In August 1996, Ethiopian forces carried out military operations inside Somali territory, attacking the Islamic Union group, the aim of which is independence for Ogaden Province.
