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Secret Flight: Kenyan Pilots Smuggle Ex-Dictator Home

1/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

In January 1995, Kenyan pilots Hussein Mohamed Anshuur and Mohamed Adan secretly transported Siad Barre, the former Somali ruler, from Nigeria to Somalia.
Barre had died in exile after being overthrown in 1991.
The pilots bypassed normal procedures to avoid Kenyan authorities.
They planned to mislead air traffic control about their destination.
After the mission, Anshuur said modern aviation technology would hinder such secrecy today.

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Story summary

In January 1995, Kenyan pilots Hussein Mohamed Anshuur and Mohamed Adan secretly transported Siad Barre, the former Somali ruler, from Nigeria to Somalia.
Barre had died in exile after being overthrown in 1991.
The pilots bypassed normal procedures to avoid Kenyan authorities.
They planned to mislead air traffic control about their destination.
After the mission, Anshuur said modern aviation technology would hinder such secrecy today.