The Cold War led to many crazy decisions and bizarre alliances, but the Ogaden War is up there with the best of them. As Ethiopia plunged into bloody red revolution, neighbouring Somalia spotted an opportunity to conquer the disputed Ogaden region. As the fighting raged, America and the Soviet Union swapped sides mid war, while Castro’s Cuba even got involved. It would all end with a destabilised East Africa, helping to set in motion events such as the collapse of the Somali state, the Black Hawk Down incident, and the piracy crisis in the Horn of Africa. #coldwar #history #militaryhistory #historynerd #america #eastafrica