Samatar Jama Barre (CivBE)

PAU
Leaders (Starships)

Samatar Jama Barre

Introduced in Vanilla
Titles	Great Uncle "The One Following the Right Path"
Civilization	People's African Union
Preferred victory
Language	English, Somali
Voice actor/actress	Ahmed Abdi

Samatar Jama Barre leads the People's African Union.

Once a mere militia-man in a small army sent to take down a nationalistic communist revolution in the Congo, Samatar skyrocketed through the ranks of the Union through his fatherly leadership style and several deals made with both the PAC and the ARC in order to develop and redevelop African territory. Secretly, Samatar despises both, stating in a letter to his brother that ". . . I hated how I had to smile and thank those ministers of trade, with their suits made from the wool of village goats of Africa, over cups of our coffee, playing the part of the big chief man, and they smiled and congratulated themselves on pulling another one over on our people. They came to Africa to make a fortune, and they left with a fortune, and I let them do it because I didn't see any other way for our people's future." While slightly skeptical of religion, Samatar is a consummate Humanist and has a near-encyclopedic knowledge of African history, particularly pertaining to the colonial period and ancient Egypt.

Starships[]

Main article: Leaders (Starships)

The leader Barre (Benevolent) reduces the cost of cities by 25%

Civilopedia entry[]

History[]

Avuncular, genial, affable, affecting an air of bonhomie, Samatar Jama Barre wished to be addressed as Kubwa Mjomba (“great uncle” in Swahili) by those he both commanded and protected. Despite his seeming benevolence and absent-minded demeanor, he was nonetheless an efficient and effective administrator, an able diplomat, and ruthless when necessary. Barre was amused and likely pleased when detractors likened him to the traditional African village chieftains of the past, claiming him to be a throwback and out-of-step with the new world in the wake of the Great Mistake. But the Peoples’ African Union made a wise choice when he was selected as one of their colony governors.

Early Life[]

Rising from the poverty and violence of the inundated streets of Hargeisa, Samatar joined the African Union’s resurgent military forces, eventually rising to the rank of Major. For three decades he served in a variety of increasingly important posts, military and civilian, rising steadily in both ability and influence. He was able to overcome lingering tribal tensions, dealing with the polyglot cultures of Africa with both reverence and common sense. Barre displayed those same diplomatic skills when negotiating with those outside the African Union, and brought to culmination several international agreements that helped propel the Union’s colonization effort before he was selected to command one of those colonies.

The Great Uncle[]

Barre proved to be just as efficient against any perceived threat to the well-being and safety of those under his protection. In dealing with nascent warlords, religious fanatics, and local dictators, he either brought about an equitable peace, or bludgeoned them into submission. Although never known as a military genius, his troops were extremely loyal to their “great uncle” and fought with abandon for his approval. Samatar Barre never lost a battle, although he took no credit for his victories and viewed them as lamentable necessities.

Verdict of History[]

Though not religious himself, he was tolerant and accepting of others' religious traditions. In the end, it was this tolerance, coupled with his intellect and personality that would shape the African Union’s colony on the new planet.