The military coup that ended the democratic
regime retroactively defined its action as a
Marxist revolution not only instituting a new
political order but also proposing the radical
transformation of Somali society through the
application of "scientific socialism." Despite
the presence of Soviet advisers with the armed
forces
no evidence indicated that the coup was
Soviet-inspired. SRC members included officers
ranging in rank from major general (Siad Barre
and Jaama Ali Qoorsheel) to captain, but the
young Soviet-trained junior officers--versed in
Marx and Lenin--who had encouraged the coup were
excluded from important positions in the
revolutionary regime.
The SRC, which was synonymous with the new
government, reorganized the country's political
and legal institutions, formulated a guiding
ideology based on the Quran as well as on Marx,
and purged civilian officials who were not
susceptible to "reeducation." The influence of
lineage groups at all levels and elitism in
public life based on clan affiliation were
targeted for eradication. Eventually, Siad Barre
emerged as Somalia's strongman, spokesman for its
revolution, and leader of its government. In 1971
he announced the regime's intention to phase out
military rule after the establishment of a
political party whose central committee
ultimately would supersede the SRC as a policy-
and decision-making body
