Somalia Claims Russian & Cuban Forces -Not Ethiopian Army- Fought in the Battle of Jijiga | Mar 1978

March 1978.
Footage of the Somalian charge d'affaires in Kenya, Dahir Hussein Diri, making the allegation that Russian (USSR) and Cuban forces fought against the Somalian military in the town of Jijiga in the disputed Ogaden region.
Somalian forces were forced to withdraw.
Mr. Diri was speaking in the12th floor suite of International House in Nairobi, Kenya where Somalia had its embassy.
Transcript:
"At the end of last week a massive air-borne attack was launched by the Russian commanding generals against Jijiga. It was preceded by waves after waves of bombers carrying out concentrated bombing and strafing against Jijiga. The fighters and bombers were taking off from Russian warships on the Gulf of Aden. This was followed by large armoured helicopters transporters under the cover of Mig-21 and 23 which poured into the area mechanised units with the most modern tanks-etc manned by Russians and Cuban. There were no Ethiopian troops in this offensive unless the Russians have become Ethiopian army and the Cubans have become the Ethiopians militia. The Ethiopian army has no role in the present fighting as they are not trained in the use of the sophisticated weapons."
Source: Reuters News Archive.

[@thirdworldrebel]

It wasn't a 'claim', as you titled it Mr. Makinde. Cuban forces fought that battle and were even captured as POWs and released almost fifteen years later after the fall of the Barre regime

[@adeyinkamakinde6164]

@thirdworldrebel: The word "claim" is a neutral one. Moreover, it is fixated on the question of there been no Ethiopian military involved at all.
No question that the Soviets and Cubans participated using military advisers, air power and ground troops. I have uploaded newreels which show Cuban soldiers receiving medals and marching at parades in Ethiopia.
Also previously posted (at my community page) the story of Private Carlos Orlando, a 20-year-old Cuban soldier from Camaguey had been captured by guerrillas of the insurgent Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) near Harrar after his unit had been wiped out in a gun battle in January 1978.

[@thirdworldrebel]

@@adeyinkamakinde6164 understood