Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 1, Documents on Sub-Saharan Africa, 1969–1972

282. Memorandum From the Presidentʼs Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon¹ ²

Washington, October 28, 1969

SUBJECT:

• Somali Coup and Former Prime Minister Egal

In response to your concern over the welfare of Prime Minister Egal, I asked Elliot Richardson to send out an urgent instruction, and our Embassy in Somalia answered this morning. (Tab A)

Egal is under closely-guarded house arrest. He apparently escaped harm during the coup and has been treated decently so far, including retention of his household servants. Our embassy has not probed further than this—and expression of our concern was kept low key to avoid any reaction by the coup leadership that could jeopardize Egal. The new regime is bound to be suspicious of an attempted restoration in these early days (especially by what they see as a US/Ethiopian alliance), and I think we have made our point about Egalʼs treatment with a discreet inquiry.

We still know very little about the new government or its intentions. No strong man has emerged and the power seems to lie with a group of young colonels trained in the USSR and Italy. The Italians (whose intelligence is solid from their colonial tie to Somalia) report that these officers are mainly moderates who will try to clear away domestic corruption without changing the detente with Ethiopia or opening the door to the Soviets.

As of this morning, public statements from the new regime have not gone beyond what I reported to you earlier—an emphasis on restoring political integrity, but no specifics on foreign or domestic policies.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 743, Country Files, Africa, Somalia Republic, Vol. I. Secret. Sent for information. At the bottom Nixon wrote, “Maybe (hopefully) they are like the Greek Colonels.” Next to his note is stamped, “Nov 6 1969.”
2. Kissinger informed the President, who had expressed concern over former Prime Minister Egalʼs welfare, that Egal was under house arrest. Kissinger also noted that that little was known about the new government or its intentions.