Rhamu Incident

The Rhamu Incident, also known as Battle of Rhamu on the 29 June 1977, was a brief armed conflict between Kenya and Somalia, in which the latter invaded the Northern Frontier District on the eve of the Ogaden War. A force of 3000+ Somali soldiers supported by the Somali Air Force attacked a border post, and killed 480 Kenyan police officers and soldiers.[1] The Somali army did not occupy the area, as the objective of their mission was to invade Ethiopia through Kenya. Rhamu, situated on the Ethiopian-Kenyan border, lay on the road to the Sidamo region, and was considered a strategic point of entrance. Upon learning of the incursion, the Kenyan government immediately ordered a temporary retreat from the NFD, after which they would mobilize the entire Kenyan army and dispatch them to the region. Fearing escalation with Somalia, the Kenyatta regime requested aid and interference from the UK if the situation degenerated into a full-scale war. The Somali government denied the invasion, and claimed to have no knowledge of the incident.

Rhamu Incident
Part of Somali–Kenyan conflict
Date 29 June 1977 Location Northern Frontier District, Kenya Result Somali victory Somali army successfully crossed into the Sidamo Region of Ethiopia
Belligerents
Kenyan military, Kenyan Police	Somali National Army, WSLF, Somali Air Force
Strength
2158	3000+
Casualties and losses
480 soldiers and police officers killed 6 aircraft destroyed 20 tanks destroyed or captured 40+ armoured vehicles destroyed or captured	19 soldiers killed 5 tanks destroyed 10 armoured vehicles destroyed