POLITICAL IMPLICATION OF ASSASSINATION OF SOMALI PRESIDENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-510-5-8-1
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 20, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/09: LOC-HAK-510-5-8-1
1012MORANDUM 6 - i ? -
THE WHITE HOUSE 5'.
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TOP SECRET - SENSITIVE
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT INFORMATION
FROM: Henry Kissinger
October 20, 1969
SUBJECT: Political Implication of Assassination of Somali President
We still lack detailed information on the murder of President Shermarke
of Somali. 25X1
Despite tribal resentment toward the government's detente with
Ethiopia and the rancor of the losers over a bitterly contested
parliamentary election in March, the assassin --- a member. of
the Mobile Police Force -- appears to have been acting on his
An army (anti-detente) takeover in the near future is not likely.
The possibility remains, however, that there will be some inter-
tribal fighting if the assassin turns out to be from a major tribal
group opposed to Shermarke on ethnic rather than political grounds.
The National Assembly will elect a new President within 30 days.
All leading candidates are pro-Western, and would probably con-
time Somalia's ties with us as well as a .conciliatory policy toward
Ethiopia over the disputed border.
-Prime Minister Egal, whom you saw last week, is now flying home from
California. His return should have a general calming effect on the
country.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/03/09 : LOC-HAK-510-5-8-1