Pilots Detail Covert Operation to Transport Former Somali President Siad Barre's Body

Covert Transport of Siad Barre's Body Detailed by Pilots

In January 1995, Kenyan pilots Hussein Mohamed Anshuur and Mohamed Adan, partners in Bluebird Aviation, received a request from a Nigerian diplomat at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The diplomat sought to charter an aircraft to transport the body of Somalia's former ruler, Siad Barre, from Lagos, Nigeria, to his hometown of Garbaharey, southern Somalia, for burial.

Siad Barre had died in exile in Nigeria at the age of 80, four years after being overthrown and fleeing Somalia on January 28, 1991. The proposed mission presented political sensitivities due to Barre's history and the potential involvement of multiple governments. The pilots considered the request for a full day, assessing potential implications, particularly from the Kenyan government led by President Daniel arap Moi, given Barre's earlier temporary asylum in Kenya and subsequent pressure on Moi's administration.

Barre's son, Ayaanle Mohamed Siad Barre, later stated that the secrecy surrounding the operation was primarily to facilitate a prompt burial in accordance with Islamic tradition, rather than to conceal illegal activities. He also indicated that Nigerian officials cited the small size of Garbaharey's runway as a reason for using a private aircraft rather than a military one, which led to Bluebird Aviation being contacted.

Prior to accepting the mission, the pilots requested and received guarantees from the Nigerian government, including an agreement to assume political responsibility if issues arose, and the assignment of two Nigerian embassy officials to accompany the flight.

On January 11, 1995, a Beechcraft King Air B200 aircraft from Bluebird Aviation departed Wilson Airport. The pilots filed a flight manifest indicating Kisumu, Kenya, as the destination. However, the aircraft diverted mid-flight, switching off its radar before proceeding to Entebbe, Uganda. Upon landing, airport authorities in Entebbe were informed the aircraft originated from Kisumu. The two Nigerian officials aboard remained on the aircraft.

After refuelling in Entebbe, the aircraft declared Yaoundé, Cameroon, as its next destination, where Nigerian diplomats involved in the coordination were awaiting. Before entering Nigerian airspace, the Nigerian government instructed the pilots to use the Nigerian Air Force call sign "WT 001" to avoid scrutiny.

The aircraft arrived in Lagos on January 11. The following day, January 12, Siad Barre's wooden casket was loaded onto the aircraft. The return flight included the two Nigerian government officials and six members of Barre's family, including his son, Ayaanle Mohamed Siad Barre. Maintaining operational discretion, the pilots did not inform airport authorities in Cameroon, Uganda, or Kenya that they were transporting a body.

The return route retraced the outbound journey, with brief stops in Yaoundé and Entebbe for refuelling. From Entebbe, the pilots informed Ugandan authorities that Kisumu, Kenya, was their final destination, then again diverted, flying directly to Garbaharey, Somalia. After the casket was offloaded and the burial attended, the pilots, with the Nigerian officials, departed for Wilson Airport.

To conclude the mission without incident, the pilots informed Wilson air traffic control upon their return that they were arriving from Mandera, north-eastern Kenya, giving the impression of a local flight. The mission concluded without interception.

Anshuur commented that a similar mission would be impractical today due to advancements in aviation technology and expanded radar coverage across the African continent, which have significantly reduced existing air traffic control gaps present in 1995.