
Historical precedents, cultural and emotional ties, and the responsibilities of the West in the development of African history and East Africa in particular, imposed an unprecedented intervention on Italy.
It is the11 December 1992, a C-130 takes off from Pisa airport with the first advanced liaison unit (NAC) on board, consisting of some 20 paratroopers from the Col Moschin led by Lieutenant Colonel Raider Marco Bertolini.
The Italian adventure in Somalia has begun.
On the same day, the helicopter cruiser Vittorio Veneto, the frigate Grecale, the squad supply ship Vesuvio and the LPDs San Giorgio and San Marco sailed from the port of Livorno, with a section of naval riflemen from the 'San Marco' Battalion on board, the ferry 'Sardinia Viva' chartered for the occasion by the Italian government to transport a large part of the logistics battalion of the 'Folgore' paratroopers' brigade.
This tactical group will serve as a bridgehead allowing the subsequent deployment of the other units of the Brigade (183rd, 185th and 186th and 187th Regiments) and beyond. In fact, the 132nd Tank Regiment with a unit at company level on quarterly shifts, equipped with M60 tanks and divisions of the Lancieri di Montebello with FIAT 6614 armoured cars and Centauro heavy armoured vehicles are planned.

The naval group (24th), led by Captain Sirio Pianigiani, arrived in Somalia, at the port of Mogadishu, on 22 December, landing 23 amphibious and 16 tracked vehicles of the San Marco battalion.
The 5 January 1993, the ship 'Alcadia Falcon' arrives in Mogadishu with the last load of contingent equipment.
In 25 days, 2600 fully equipped and armed soldiers, 4200 tons of food, fuel and ammunition stowed in 210 containers, 800 vehicles and 15 helicopters were moved 6000 km from Italy.
For Italila it is the largest deployment of military forces since the Second World War. The Italian contingent is the largest after the American one.
Taking the Embassy
'Restore hope' was the optimistic name given to the mission, which saw the participation of 23,000 American marines, 1063 French soldiers and legionnaires, 900 Canadian paratroopers, 1,300 Moroccan soldiers, as many as 4,500 Pakistani infantrymen and 3,200 soldiers from 16 other nations, as well as 2,600 Italian paratroopers and soldiers.
Restoring hope. Two words that, in their simplicity, summed up an enterprise that would soon prove to be arduous and dangerous. The Italians did not back down and demonstrated, from the very first moments, efficiency and a spirit of sacrifice.

When it came to establishing the operations headquarters, there was no hesitation. The Parachute Brigade Headquarters would be deployed at theformer Embassy in Mogadishu, the abandoned and half-destroyed headquarters of the Italian diplomatic representation, while the headquarters of the entire contingent, for functional reasons, would remain in the vicinity of the Multinational Command (UNITAF).
But there was a problem: the vast area that encompassed the chancellery, the Ambassador's residence and various other buildings was still occupied by a gang of armed militiamen. Negotiations were started to get the 'squatters' to leave peacefully but, at the same time, military action was also prepared to deal with any inconvenience. It seemed that an agreement had been reached, but who was to say that it would then be respected?
In the late morning of 16 December 1992, the Tricolour waved again on the roof of the Chancellery, not as a symbol of restored national pride, but as a sincere and fraternal promise of help.
Fortunately, it had not been necessary to resort to arms. Two wings of ragged but jubilant crowds, waiting on the street in front of the diplomatic headquarters, had in fact marked with shouts and clapping all the stages of the 'blitz' of the incursors who, having set off from the provisional headquarters in the New Port, had reoccupied the Embassy without a shot in the arm. It was off to a good start.
On the road, let's get started!

Sending a column of humanitarian aid to the heart of Somalia, specifically to Gialalassi, over 180 km from the coast, was the first major operation of the Italian Contingent, which is still in the process of being completed. The so-called Imperial Road, the main route between the South and the North of the country and heading towards Gialalassi, had been unused by humanitarian convoys for about two years due to the presence of bandits, increasing the Multinational Command's concerns.
The operation was then preceded by a reconnaissance by the 9th assault battalion 'Col Moschin' and Carabinieri paratroopers to clear the way of any obstacles. The mission was a complete success, demonstrating the efficiency and organisation of the Italian soldiers.
Gialalassi was the first of many stages that enabled the Italian Contingent to control an Area of Responsibility almost as large as northern Italy. Locations such as Balad, Giohar, Buloburti, Belet Uen soon became known to all soldiers in the contingent.
Their immediate objective was to help hungry and sick people through the COUs (Humanitarian Operating Circuits), which also had military purposes. It was necessary to plan raids to get to know the area and assess health and food needs, often on sandy and ill-defined tracks.
Security was a crucial factor, as it was only possible to alleviate the suffering of local populations by ensuring the self-protection of personnel. Bandits and militiamen posed a constant threat.
The enthusiastic participation of the paratroopers in missions in Somalia saw them face tough challenges: travelling for days in the savannah under the scorching sun, battling insects and vermin, and confronting difficult realities very different from European traditions. At the same time, military patrols searched for weapons, while doctors and logistics officers organised humanitarian operations in the villages.
The 'Angioni' method also in Somalia

In the 1993 IBIS mission in Somalia, the Italian contingent adopted, from the outset, the effective "Angion methodi', previously deployed in Lebanon, between 1982 and 1984, under the leadership of Gen. Franco Angioni in Operation Italcon Lebanon 2. This approach, focused on understanding, helping and respecting the local culture, once again proved its worth as a model for international peace operations.
The COU for example was a humane, immediate and effective response to humanitarian relief in Somalia, extending beyond the large centres on the Imperial Route. From 15 March 1993, After the Addis Ababa Agreements, Italy promoted dialogue between the factions and the social reconstruction of the country. Among the initiatives of the Italian contingent, the creation of clinics accessible to the population stood out, a model also followed by the other contingents.
The Italian soldiers, in addition to carrying out orders, also distinguished themselves by their enthusiasm and generosity, sharing food and affection, especially with children. They distributed clothing, medicines and school supplies, collected in Italy by the families of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Paratroopers, with remarkable results, such as sending over 12 containers full of material. A signal demonstrating the strong personal and humanitarian involvement with the Somali people.
The Italian contingent reopened dozens of orphanages and educational institutions that had been abandoned, as well as rebuilding Koranic schools that had been destroyed during the civil war. The Folgore paid particular attention to the preservation of structures that were essential for the functioning of society.

Because of the conflict, many children became orphans and education came to a standstill, emphasising the need for the contingent's commitment to renewing the country's social and educational foundations.
Last but not least was the Army Veterinary Corps, which played a dual role: the control of food of animal origin for the contingent and the local population, and an intensive zoo-veterinary activity on Somali farms. The veterinary officers carried out more than 256,000 operations, including the treatment of parasitic, infectious and protozoal diseases, metabolic pathologies, and surgery. This commitment, marked by professional success and a positive response of the livestock to the treatments, increased the respect and sympathy of the local population towards the Italian Army, integrating the vets in the Somali context and contributing to the improvement of living conditions.
As part of their assistance to Somalis, the Italian military also established a postal service to reconnect families and communities separated by the war. Since many Somalis had taken refuge in Italy, a post office in Mogadishu forwarded correspondence and audio messages, often in Somali with Italian influences, to Livorno and from there to various Italian regions. Conversely, they collected mail from Somalis in Italy and sent it to Mogadishu. This service, showing solidarity, brought joy and hope to many, reuniting families divided by war.
An important demonstration of the contingent's generous commitment was the organisation of the return of displaced persons to their home villages. The initiative, aimed at decongesting the overpopulated capital and relaunching the local economy, strengthened trust between Italians and Somalis.
With these actions, the paratroopers gained the support of the local population and highlighted the importance of humanitarian and social commitment in crisis situations.
Re(organising) Mogadishu and surroundings

In addition to the humanitarian aspect, the Italian military concentrated on practical projects such as arranging markets and cleaning the streets in Mogadishu, a city cluttered with rubble and obstacles. A micro-economy of open-air markets, established along the main city streets and often based on barter, took the place of conventional trade, but obstructed traffic and complicated the logistical operations of the multinational contingent.
The Folgore entrusted their regiment with the task of creating a master plan for their area in Somalia, which included clearing rubble and relocating markets. To implement the plan, the regiment consulted with neighbourhood councils, listening to the needs of elders, priests and key community figures. In the context of street cleaning in Mogadishu, there were those who proposed contracting out the work to local companies to generate employment, but the Parachute Brigade had no funds for this purpose.
Some threatened armed resistance against the relocation of the markets, fearing economic damage. In addition, people involved in illegal trafficking opposed the master plan that would disrupt their illegal activities, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the challenges in restoring order.
After complex negotiations, agreements were reached to clean up the rubble in Mogadishu. The operations were carried out by both the regiment's machines and Somali workers, paid in kind (food and fuel) according to the 'food for work' principle.

The raw materials required for these activities were mainly provided by the Multinational Command and non-governmental agencies on the ground. This solution represented a compromise between different needs and perspectives.
Italian initiatives in Somalia, such as reactivating wells and cleaning irrigation canals, had a significant impact. In countries like Somalia, wells are vital for daily survival. Reactivating wells reduced the need for local communities to travel long distances for water, pay for access or move livestock. These actions significantly improved the lives of communities in arid and difficult areas.
As part of the industrial recovery in Somalia, the Parachute Brigade symbolically contributed by concentrating its efforts on a textile factory in Balad, the Somaltex, which had previously been closed due to lack of resources. By partially reopening the factory and placing the first order (one thousand pairs of short gym shorts), the paratroopers started an economic cycle based on selling products and reinvesting the profits to reactivate other machines. In fact, the condition was to allocate 50% of the proceeds to spruce up the salri, the remaining 50% to purchase the spare parts needed to activate other machines.
This initiative was a great success, managing to create employment and even stimulate the transition of a few militiamen to workers...
Military operations, eyes open and fingers on the trigger

Despite the excellent humanitarian work, it takes little to return to the reality of war.
The country is teeming with armed and unscrupulous militia, so military operations must be, and will be, conducted with professionalism and determination, focused on extending control over the Area of Responsibility and disarming the population.
Reconnaissance missions called 'Odyssees' preceded the Humanitarian Operations Circuits (HCOUs) to identify areas at risk and assess the attitude of the population. The disarmament process included more than a hundred operations, such as 'Kangaroo', 'Mongoose', 'Hillaac' and 'Drum', varying in size of forces, level of responsibility and speed of execution.
These operations proved effective in requisitioning weapons and ammunition, contributing to the reduction of banditry and the improvement of security.
Changing course
The 'peace building' operations discussed in the report 'An Agenda for Peace' of the UN Secretary General involved 33 countries. During the change of command from UNITAF a UNOSOM II, military and humanitarian operations in the Italian sector continued intensively. With the transition, armoured patrols increased at the request of UNOSOM II, to deal with potential militia actions. We are at May 1993, the month passes very quickly.
This period of change was perceived as a critical and expectant time in Mogadishu.
5 June 1993
The 5 June 1993 represents the beginning of a tragic period for UNOSOM: a unit of the Pakistani Contingent falls into an ambush and suffers heavy casualties. In this critical situation, the rapid intervention of the Italian forces prevented worse consequences, managing to save 80 Pakistani soldiers and 10 marines, who were surrounded and low on ammunition.
The clashes
At 10:40 a.m., UNOSOM reports that near kilometre four, an area often the scene of firefights, Pakistani troops are facing disruptive actions by armed militiamen, with shooting taking place but no direct threat to the Italian sector. In response, General Loi, as a precaution, places the tank company stationed in Balad on alert.
Soon after UNOSOM requested two armed helicopters from ITALFOR to support Pakistani troops on the ground in the area of XXI October Street. The fighting is spreading rapidly, also involving the vicinity of Radio Mogadishu. The Italians are quickly and significantly reinforcing all their positions and checkpoints.
Italian intervention
Italian helicopters immediately open fire at Somali snipers who attack a Pakistani patrol, aggravating the tense situation. Around half past eleven, the circumstances seem to deteriorate further. At the same time, the tank company, already previously alerted, moves towards the capital and is ordered to take up position on the northern outskirts, awaiting further instructions.

Amidst the din of fighting and barricades erected by militias in the north-western part of the city, we arrive at the 14:00. The situation became untenable for the Pakistani Blue Helmets, and the UNOSOM Command asked General Loi to bring tanks into the city to relieve the pressure on them.
However, before proceeding, it is essential to prepare properly to ensure the success of the mission and avoid ambushes. Aerial surveillance and liaison to receive real-time information become crucial, so the presence of helicopters is necessary. There is also an influx of hundreds of guerrillas into the Pakistani sector, many of whom are equipped with anti-tank weapons.
Paratroopers and tank drivers take their places on board the armoured cars and tanks, lining up in front of the former Italian Embassy. The plan is to proceed towards the via Nazionale, dividing the convoy into two groups advancing from different directions, in order to guarantee mutual support in the event of an attack. The final destination is the cigarette factory on Via XXI Ottobre, where Pakistani and US soldiers are besieged.
Flying low over the semi-destroyed neighbourhoods of Mogadishu, the helicopters maintain their altitude despite the expectation of possible enemy fire. Observers notice armed groups about to attack the factory on XXI October Street and report numerous dead bodies. The two groups of tanks and armoured vehicles advance towards the National Street, moving through a tense and threatening Mogadishu.

On the way, they come across the first battered bodies of Pakistani soldiers, and the paratroopers prepare to collect them. The tension is tangible as the convoy approaches the cigarette factory to the north, with every soldier on the alert for a possible clash, although for now a silence reigns, broken only by the roar of the tank engines.
Finally, the convoy reaches XXI October Street. From above, observers in the helicopters report that the crowd, which shortly before was about to launch into the final assault on the factory, now retreats fearfully into the narrow streets of the neighbourhood, leaving the guerrillas disoriented. It is time to exploit the surprise effect, but as they approach the besieged, the latter shoot towards their rescuers. The situation has something of the ironic, were it not for the fact that the shots are real: it is the nervous tension that vents, preventing clear thinking.
In less than thirty minutes, Pakistani and American soldiers are safely on the tracked combat vehicles (VCCs). They board the vehicles in an orderly and silent manner, visibly shaken. Meanwhile, helicopters fly menacingly over some buildings from which snipers attempt to target the troops, but find themselves almost seeing machine gunners in their eyes. They decide to desist.
They are the 17:10 when the retreat begins. The vehicles' tracks crush the remaining, timid barricades as the convoy pulls away dazedly to the west, marking the end of a fragile spring peace.
The Italians will soon realise this too.