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Secret flight to Somalia
Thirty-one years ago, two Kenyan pilots were approached by a Nigerian diplomat with an unusual request: transport the body of Somalia's deposed ruler Siad Barre from Lagos to his hometown of Garbaharey for burial. The mission, carried out in January 1995, required absolute secrecy and careful navigation of regional tensions.
The request
Hussein Mohamed Anshuur and Mohamed Adan, co-founders of Bluebird Aviation, were stunned when the diplomat arrived at their office at Wilson Airport in Nairobi. The Nigerian official asked them to charter a plane to fly Barre's remains-a distance of 4,300 km (2,700 miles)-without informing Kenyan authorities. The pilots immediately recognized the political sensitivity of the task.
"We knew this wasn't a normal charter," Anshuur told the BBC. The former Kenyan Air Force captain recalled the diplomat's insistence that the operation remain off the books, warning of potential diplomatic fallout if Kenya discovered the plan.
A dictator's legacy
Barre, who seized power in a 1969 coup, was a polarizing figure. Supporters viewed him as a pan-Africanist who opposed apartheid, while critics condemned his regime for human rights abuses. Forced from power in 1991, he initially fled to Kenya but was later granted asylum in Nigeria under military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. He died in Lagos in 1995 at age 80 from diabetes-related complications.
The pilots spent a day weighing the risks. The financial offer was substantial, but the potential consequences-including backlash from Kenya's government under President Daniel arap Moi-were severe. "If the Kenyan authorities found out, it could have caused serious problems," Anshuur said.
Secrecy and strategy
Barre's son, Ayaanle Mohamed Siad Barre, told the BBC the secrecy was driven by Islamic burial traditions, which require prompt interment. "Time was against us," he said. "If we had gone through all the paperwork, it would have delayed the burial." Nigerian officials claimed Garbaharey's runway was too small for a military aircraft, leading them to contact Bluebird Aviation.
The pilots demanded guarantees from Nigeria, including diplomatic protection and the presence of two embassy officials on the flight. Anshuur and Adan then devised a plan to evade detection. Their Beechcraft King Air B200 took off from Wilson Airport at 03:00 on 11 January, with a falsified flight manifest listing Kisumu as the destination.
"We first advised him to use a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, but he refused. He said the operation was too sensitive and that the Kenyan government must not be informed."
Hussein Mohamed Anshuur
The journey
After nearing Kisumu, the pilots switched off the radar and diverted to Entebbe, Uganda, where they refueled under the guise of a routine stop. Nigerian officials remained on board, and the plane continued to Yaoundé, Cameroon, before reaching Lagos. To avoid suspicion, Nigeria assigned the flight a military call sign, "WT 001."
On 12 January, Barre's wooden casket was loaded in Lagos, accompanied by his son and six family members. The return route mirrored the outbound journey, with stops in Yaoundé and Entebbe. The pilots maintained the deception, telling Ugandan authorities the destination was Kisumu before diverting to Garbaharey.
Mission accomplished
After the burial, the pilots returned to Nairobi, reporting their arrival from Mandera-a town in northeastern Kenya-to avoid scrutiny. "No one asked questions," Anshuur said. "That's when we knew we were safe."
Reflecting on the mission, Anshuur admitted it was the most stressful flight of his career. "Only afterward did it really sink in what we had done," he said. Today, at 65, he doubts such a covert operation would succeed due to improved radar coverage across Africa.
