The Coffin in the Cargo Hold: A Secret Flight for a Fallen Dictator

A former military pilot has revealed details of a secret mission. He flew the body of a deposed president home for burial. The pilot, Ibrahim Ahmed, spoke to the BBC. His mission involved Somalia's former leader, Siad Barre. Barre ruled from 1969 until he was overthrown in 1991. He later died in exile in Nigeria in 1995. Ahmed's task was to retrieve Barre's body. He had to fly it back to Somalia for a clan burial. The operation was highly confidential. It required avoiding governments and international attention. "We used a normal-looking cargo plane," Ahmed explained. "But inside, we carried a specially sealed coffin." The flight path was indirect. It went from Nigeria to the small nation of Djibouti. From there, they flew into Somalia. The mission was successful. Barre was buried in his home region. For decades, the details of the flight remained hidden. Ahmed says he is speaking now to share a unique piece of history.