VAE VICTIS # 172: The Ogaden War

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The Ogaden War pitted Ethiopia and Somalia against each other for control of a desert plateau, populated by nomadic shepherds, on the border between the two states. Taking advantage of the revolution which has just ousted Hailie Selassie from power in Ethiopia, Somalia launched two liberation movements. Both failed, so the government committed its conventional forces from July 1977 to recover this province. This conflict took place in three phases: an insurrectional phase between May and July 1977, a conventional phase from July 1977 to January 1978, and then an Ethiopian counter-offensive until March 1978 which will recover the ground lost.

Wargame uses modified and simplified rules from the game Angola 1987-1988 (VaeVictis 154). The game is won on diplomatic terrain. Tipping international organizations (UN, OAU, Arab League) to one's side has a direct impact on victory but the Somali player can achieve military victory before Soviet and Cuban aid tilts the victory to the Ethiopian side. English translation of rules included.

Difficulty: 6 /10
Solitaire: 4 / 10
Duration: 3 to 4 hours.
One turn: 1 month.
Scale: Connection between two zones between 200 and 400 km.
Units: 1 counter = 1 brigade or 1 battalion ranging from 250 to 2500 men.