Siad Barre was a Somali military leader and politician who served as the President of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. He came to power after a coup d'état and established a socialist government, promoting nationalization and land reform. His regime was marked by efforts to modernize the country, but it also faced criticism for human rights abuses and authoritarian rule. Barre's government eventually faced significant opposition, leading to civil war and the collapse of his regime in 1991. After his ousting, Somalia descended into chaos, resulting in ongoing conflict and instability that has affected the region for decades.