The Supreme Revolutionary Council was disbanded (again) in March 1982 when President Siyad paid his first official visit to the United States. In preparation for this, under American pressure, the Somali President had released the two prisoners of conscience, former Prime Minister Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Igal and the much respected former police commander, Muhammad Abshir, both of whom had been held without charge or trial virtually continuously since October 1969. The release of these prominent figures from the past was, however, followed in June of the same year by the arrest of seven leading members of the regime who were accused of being involved in a sinister plot against the government. This new group of detainees included Vice President Isma'il 'Ali Abokor and the former Foreign Minister, 'Omar Arteh – both prominent northerners and architects of the personality cult of the head of state.

I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Som…, loc. 594