Historical precedents, cultural and emotional ties, the responsibilities of the West in the development of African history and in particular of East Africa, imposed on Italy an unprecedented intervention.
It's the11 December 1992, a C-130 leaves from Pisa airport with the first advanced liaison unit (NAC) on board, composed of about twenty paratrooper raiders 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 fleet supply vessel Vesuvio and the LPDs San Giorgio and San Marco set sail from the port of Livorno, carrying on board a unit of marines from the “San Marco” Battalion, and the ferry “Sardinia Viva”, chartered for the occasion by the Italian Government to transport a large part of the personnel of the Logistics Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”.
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 supplies for the contingent.
In 25 days, 2,600 fully equipped and armed soldiers, 4,200 tons of food, fuel and ammunition stowed in 210 containers, 800 vehicles and 15 helicopters had been transferred 6,000 km from Italy.
For Italy, this is the largest deployment of military forces since World War II. The Italian contingent is the largest after the American one.
“Restore hope” was the optimistic name given to the mission which involved the participation of 23,000 American marines, 1,063 French soldiers and legionnaires, 900 Canadian paratroopers, 1,300 Moroccan soldiers, 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 Command would be deployed at theformer Embassy in Mogadishu, abandoned and half-destroyed headquarters of the Italian diplomatic representation, while the Command of the entire Contingent, for functional reasons, would have remained in the vicinity of the Multinational Command (UNITAF).
But there was a problem: the vast compound that included the chancellery, the Ambassador's residence and various other buildings was still occupied by a band of armed militiamen. Negotiations were started to get the "illegal tenants" 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 could say whether it would 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 weapons. Two wings of a ragged but cheering crowd, waiting on the street in front of the diplomatic headquarters, had in fact punctuated with shouts and applause all the phases of the “blitz” of the raiders who, starting from the temporary headquarters of Porto Nuovo, had reoccupied the Embassy without a shot being fired. It was off to a good start.
The dispatch of a column of humanitarian aid to the heart of Somalia, precisely to Gialalassi, over 180 km from the coast, represented the first important operation of the Italian Contingent, still in the process of being completed. The so-called Imperial Road, the main road between the South and the North of the country and directed towards Gialalassi, had been unused by humanitarian convoys for about two years due to the presence of bandits, increasing the concerns of the Multinational Command.
The operation was then preceded by a reconnaissance of the 9th assault battalion 'Col Moschin' and Carabinieri paratroopers to clear the road of any obstacles. The mission was a complete success, demonstrating the efficiency and organization of the Italian soldiers.
Gialalassi was the first of many stages that allowed 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 the soldiers of 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 poorly defined tracks.
Security was a crucial factor, as the suffering of the local population could only be alleviated 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.
In the IBIS mission in Somalia in 1993, the Italian contingent immediately adopted the effective “Angion methodi”, previously employed in Lebanon, between 1982 and 1984, under the leadership of Gen. Franco Angioni in the operation Italcon Lebanon 2. This approach, focused on understanding, helping and respecting local culture, once again demonstrated its validity as a model for international peacekeeping 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 Accords, 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 stood out for their enthusiasm and generosity, sharing food and affection, especially with children. They distributed clothing, medicines and school supplies, collected in Italy by families of Officers, NCOs and Paratroopers, with notable results, such as the sending of over 12 containers full of material. A signal intended to demonstrate the strong personal and humanitarian involvement towards 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.
Due to the conflict, numerous children became orphans and education came to a halt, emphasizing the need for the contingent's commitment to renewing the country's social and educational foundations.
Last but not least, the Army Veterinary Corps played a dual role: the control of food of animal origin for the contingent and the local population, and an intense zooveterinary activity in Somali farms. The veterinary officers carried out over 256,000 interventions, including the treatment of parasitic, infectious, protozoan diseases, metabolic pathologies, and surgical interventions. This commitment, characterized by professional successes 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 veterinarians into 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. As many Somalis had fled to Italy, a post office in Mogadishu forwarded correspondence and audio messages, often in Italian-influenced Somali, to Livorno and from there to various regions of Italy. Conversely, they collected mail from Somalis in Italy to send to Mogadishu. This service, demonstrating solidarity, brought joy and hope to many, reuniting families divided by war.
An important demonstration of the contingent's generous commitment was the organization of the return of displaced people to their villages of origin. The initiative, aimed at decongesting the overpopulated capital and reviving 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 contexts.
In addition to the humanitarian aspect, the Italian military focused on practical projects such as the arrangement of markets and the cleaning of the streets of Mogadishu, a city cluttered with rubble and obstacles. A micro-economy of open-air markets, which arose along the main streets of the city and were often based on barter, took the place of conventional trade, but obstructed traffic and complicated the logistical operations of the multinational contingent.
Folgore tasked its regiment with creating a master plan for their area in Somalia, which included clearing rubble and relocating markets. To implement the plan, the regiment consulted with neighborhood councils, listening to the needs of elders, priests, and key community figures. In the context of street cleaning in Mogadishu, there were suggestions that the work should be contracted out to local businesses to generate employment, but the Paratrooper Brigade did not have the 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 development plan that would disrupt their illicit activities, highlighting the complexity of the situation and the challenges in restoring order.
After complex negotiations, agreements were reached for the cleaning of the rubble in Mogadishu. The operations were carried out both by the regiment's machines and by Somali workers, paid in kind (food and fuel) according to the principle of "food for work".
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 Paratroopers Brigade contributed symbolically by concentrating its efforts on a textile factory in Balad, the Somaltex, previously closed due to lack of resources. By partially reopening the factory and making the first order (a thousand pairs of gym shorts), the paratroopers started an economic cycle based on the sale of products and the reinvestment of profits to reactivate other machines. In fact, the condition was to allocate 50% of the proceeds to cover the salaries, the remaining 50% to purchase the spare parts needed to activate other machines.
This initiative was a huge success, managing to create employment and even stimulating the transition of some militiamen to workers…
Despite the excellent humanitarian work, it takes little to return to the reality of war.
The country is teeming with armed and unscrupulous militiamen, so military operations must be conducted, and will be, with professionalism and determination, focused on extending control over the Area of Responsibility and disarming the population.
Reconnaissance missions called “Odysseys” preceded the Humanitarian Operations Circuits (COU) to identify risk areas and assess the population’s attitude. The disarmament process included more than one hundred operations, such as “Canguro”, “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.
The “peace building” operations discussed in the report “An Agenda for Peace” of the Secretary General of the UN 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.
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 losses. In this critical situation, the rapid intervention of the Italian forces prevents worse consequences, managing to save 80 Pakistani soldiers and 10 marines, surrounded and with little ammunition.
At 10:40 a.m., UNOSOM reported that near kilometer four, an area often the scene of firefights, Pakistani troops were facing harassment by armed militiamen, with ongoing gunfire but no direct threat to the Italian sector. In response, General Loi placed the tank company stationed in Balad on alert as a precaution.
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 helicopters immediately open fire on Somali snipers who attack a Pakistani patrol, worsening the tension of the situation. Around half past eleven, the circumstances seem to worsen further. At the same time, the tank company, previously alerted, moves towards the capital and receives the order to position itself 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. Air surveillance and real-time information communication become crucial, therefore the presence of helicopters is necessary. It is also reported that hundreds of guerrillas have arrived in the Pakistani sector, many of whom are equipped with anti-tank weapons.
Paratroopers and tank crews take their places aboard armored cars and tanks, lining up in front of the former Italian Embassy. The plan is to proceed toward 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 American soldiers are besieged.
Flying low over the half-destroyed neighborhoods of Mogadishu, the helicopters maintain their altitude despite the expectation of possible enemy fire. Observers notice armed groups preparing to attack the factory on XXI October Street and report numerous dead bodies. The two groups of tanks and armored vehicles advance toward National Street, moving through a tense and menacing 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 Via XXI Ottobre. From above, observers in helicopters report that the crowd, which moments before was about to launch a final assault on the factory, is now retreating in fear into the narrow streets of the neighborhood, leaving the guerrillas disoriented. It is time to exploit the element of surprise, but as they approach the besieged, they shoot at their rescuers. The situation is ironic, if it were not for the fact that the shots are real: it is the nervous tension that is venting, preventing them from thinking clearly.
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.