Soviet military aid to Somalia began as early as 1962.  In October, 1969 Siad Barre siezed control of the Somali government by coup and cemented a bond with the Soviets that further ensured heavy military support.*  
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Prior to the 1977-78 Ogaden War with Ethiopia, the most striking feature of the 23,000-man SNA had been its large armored force, which was equipped with about 250 T-34 and T-54/T-55 Soviet-built tanks and more than 300 APCs. The SNA tank force was more than three times as large as Ethiopia's.*
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In the middle of the Ogaden War, the Soviet Union switched loyalties and ceased supporting Somalia while immediately starting massive arms shipments to Ethiopia.  After several initial victories in the Ogaden, the Somalis were severely beaten by the Ethiopians who were aided by 11,000 Cubans and 1,500 Soviet Advisors.  The SNA lost most of it's armored forces in this war and never quite recovered from the defeat.*
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Regional discontent throughout Somalia coupled with ineffective control efforts by declining military forces brought a decade of disruption to the Siad Barre regime.  In 1991, the government collapsed and Barre fled the country.  Somalia has not had a centralized government or a national military presense since.*  