UNITAF handshake leaflet for Somalia (Operation Restore Hope, 1993)
A two-sided Somali-language leaflet. The front shows a Somali man in a white shirt and checked wrap shaking hands with a camouflaged U.S. soldier, with a Cobra helicopter and a Humvee behind them. The back sets the UN emblem and the U.S. flag beside a short text built on the repeated verb 'Caawin' (help). The tell is that the assurance is stated only as help and friendship, with no terms, limits or conditions given.
- Date
- 1993
- Period
- Contemporary
- Made by
- U.S.-led Unified Task Force (UNITAF) psychological operations, Operation Restore Hope
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Leaflet
- Issuer type
- Military
- Leader
- George H. W. Bush
- Audience
- Foreign public
- Purpose
- Reassure
- Theme
- War and the military
- Techniques
- Glittering generalities
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Wikimedia Commons (U.S. Department of Defense / NARA; psywar.org scan), retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work; Commons PD-USGov front, PD-UN-doc back)
U.S. Department of Defense (UNITAF psychological operations), 1993; via Wikimedia Commons (reverse: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_PSYOPS_leaflet_reverse_side,_Operation_Restore_Hope,_Somalia.jpg)
Text on the object
[Front: no text.] [Back:] Adoonka Ciidanka (United Nations) Waxay xagan uyimaaden in ayidin Caawiyaan dadka idin Caawinaya Somalia dad. Waxaan u isticmaalicarnaa Hubcayaga Si aanu u caawino dadka idin Caawinaya iyo ciidankayaga. Uma aan sugidoono waxgalitaan cuntada ama ciidanka waxay gabanayaan. Waxaan xagon u Joog naa in aanu idin Caawino.
[Front: no text.] [Back, literal and approximate; the printed Somali contains irregular spellings:] The troops (United Nations) have come here to help you, the people who help the Somali people. We use our weapons so that we can help the people who help you and our troops. We will not wait for [the food or the troops ...]. We are here to help you.
Back text read from the committed image; spelling and word breaks reproduced exactly as printed, including apparent irregularities. The English translation is a machine translation by Claude and is not verified by a fluent Somali reader; the clause beginning 'Uma aan sugidoono' is unclear and rendered only in part. The front carries no text.
