26

Between July 1977 and March 1978, Somalia confronted Ethiopia for the possession of the province of Ogaden, populated largely by Somalis. The border conflict dates back to the colonial era and the dispute over Ogaden eventually became incorporated within the Cold War due to the seesaw policy practiced by the USSR, which supported in turn Somalia then Ethiopia, newly socialist at the time. From a military viewpoint, the war witnessed the massive intervention of the Soviets and their allies.