Somalia expects invasion by Ethiopia and Kenya

December 8, 1980

Somali President Muhammad Siad Barre said Ethiopia and Kenya are plannint to invade Somalia. He said a joint communique issued at the end of a state visit to Kenya by the Ethiopian head of state, Mengistu Haile-Mariam, was a prelude to a massacre of Somalis. He summoned the ruling Supreme Revolutionary Council to an urgent meeting to determine Somalia's response to the communique, which the council secretariat described as tantamount to war. The National Assembly also was called into emergency session -- the first time it has met since the president declared a state of emergency in October to deal with internal dissidence.