 On 15 October 1969 , while paying a visit to the northern town of Las <unk> , Somalia 's then President Abdirashid Ali Shermarke was assassinated by one of his own <unk> . His assassination was quickly followed by a military coup d 'état on 21 October 1969 ( the day after his funeral ) , in which the Somali Army seized power without encountering armed opposition — essentially a bloodless takeover . The putsch was spearheaded by Major General Mohamed Siad Barre , who at the time commanded the army . 
