The secret mission to fly a president's body back home - pilot speaks to the BBC
Summary
Two Kenyan pilots were secretly asked to fly the body of Somalia's former leader, Siad Barre, from Nigeria to Somalia for burial. The mission was sensitive due to political implications and the need for secrecy. The pilots had to decide whether to accept the risk of transporting Barre's body without notifying Kenyan authorities.Key Facts
- The event took place 31 years ago when pilots Hussein Mohamed Anshuur and Mohamed Adan were approached for the task.
- Siad Barre, Somalia's former leader, died in exile in Nigeria after fleeing Somalia in 1991.
- A Nigerian diplomat requested the pilots to secretly transport Barre's body from Lagos, Nigeria, to Garbaharey, Somalia.
- The mission was politically sensitive, involving multiple governments and the risk of diplomatic issues.
- The secrecy was partly due to the Islamic tradition of quick burial and sensitivity over the mission's political nature.
- The diplomats wanted to avoid using government or military aircraft to reduce political tension.
- The pilots operated Bluebird Aviation, a private airline in Kenya, at the time of the request.
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