Nationalist sentiments in the Republic, stimulated to an unforeseen degree by Somali literacy, had reached a climax. The fighting in the Ogaden, in which many were directly and all indirectly involved, had become a national obsession. All interest focussed on the progress of the war and the unofficial contribution to the war effort had unquestioned priority over all other activities.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 568