The Somali Democratic Republic was a Marxist-Leninist state that existed in the East African country of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. Led by Siad Barre, the SDR's capital was Mogadishu, and the SDR was ruled as an Islamic socialist nation. Siad enforced the Latin alphabet's usage in the country, attempted to break up the clan system, and promoted Somali nationalism. The Somali National Army was defeated by Ethiopian and Cuban troops during a failed invasion of the Ogaden region in Ethiopia from 1977 to 1978, and Siad Barre had several government officials purged to prevent a coup against him from taking place. During the 1980s, numerous armed opposition movements rose up against Siad Barre, and they overthrew him in 1991, taking control of Mogadishu. The democratic republic's armed forces were disbanded, and the country was carved up into numerous warlord-ruled states.
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