London BBC World Service “Focus on Africa” program (in English) — 1515 GMT

The opposition Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) has been in considerable turmoil recently. Based in Ethiopia, there have been reports that its leader, Colonel Abdullah Yussuf, has been ousted with Ethiopian connivance and put under arrest, that there had been shootouts in the eastern city of Dire Dawa and a wave of detentions. Well, yesterday on this program we reported that a group of central committee members of the SSDF had held a meeting in Dire Dawa to select a new leader, and the man who come out on top as acting chairman was Muhammed Abshia, who is based in Nairobi. On the line Elizabeth Blunt asked Muhammed Abshia if he would take the job:

[Begin Recording]

[Abshia] Elizabeth, I have accepted the appointment of the Central Committee of the SSDF as the acting chairman until a congress of the whole front is convened.

[Blunt] When will that be?

[Abshia] We don’t know. Originally we have planned to be within a month from August but in view of these recent unfortunate developments, that has to be reviewed but it still is a priority list and we are hoping to confirm it as soon as possible.

[Blunt] What do you mean by unfortunate developments?

[Abshia] There has been a conflict and disagreement among the leadership of our front for some time and that has led to a recent decision of the central committee of the organization and these decisions include the relief of all responsibilities from the former chairman of the organization, Col. Abdullah Yussuf, and the appointment of a temporary chairman until the congress is convened and that.

[Blunt] What has happened to Abdullah Yussuf?

[Abshia] The Central Committee has decided to hold him in a house until the situation is clarified.

[Blunt] We had reports that he has been arrested by the Ethiopians. Is that true?

[Abshia] That is not true at all.

[Blunt] Did the Ethiopian Government play any role at all in these recent events?

[Abshia] None at all, it has been between the SSDF organization and its leadership.

[Blunt] What were the disagreements about?

[Abshia] As you know, I was not in the headquarters of the organization – I was in Nairobi – but I understand the majority of the Central Committee and the chairman could not agree on the execution of the various decisions agreed in August and therefore when a vote was taken, the majority has won.

[Blunt] People will say: How can you expect to overthrow President Siad Barre when you can’t agree among yourselves?

[Abshia] That is true if we continue to disagree and squabble. among ourselves then we can’t oppose and we can’t expect to succeed to remove Siad Barre. But the feeling is that we will try our best and we will review the situation, we will try to reorganize and reactivate our organization, and we will be, I hope, united.

[End recording]

_{FBIS-MEA-85-209, 29 Oct. 1985, pp. R2-R3}