The suppression of insurgents and reprisals carried out by Emperor Haile Selassie's government resulted in a rapid decline in Ethio-Somali relations.

The conflict was characterized by intense fighting around various border posts and villages, such as Dolow, and aerial bombardments by the vastly superior Ethiopian Air Force on major urban centers in Somalia such as Hargeisa and Galkayo.

Despite the continuing hostilities, both nations participated in diplomatic negotiations in Khartoum, Sudan, at the request of various African heads of state and the war eventually concluded in early April 1964.

SNA officers of the Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) ran the country's ministerial and administrative posts, while the rank and file of the army was involved more deeply in civic action programs such as sand dune stabilization, road construction and refugee resettlement.

[3] Following the end of the Ogaden War and coup attempt in 1978, the state of the SNA began to decline,[1] Since 2019, Eritrea has been helping the reestablishment of the Somali National Army.

[6] The following were the Somali National Army's major weapons in 1981:[7] Prior arms acquisitions included the following equipment, much of which was unserviceable as of June 1989:[8] 293 main battle tanks (30 Centurion from Kuwait,[9] 123 M47 Patton, 30 T-34, 110 T-54/55 from various sources).

Other armoured fighting vehicles included 10 M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks, 30 BRDM-2 and 15 Panhard AML-90 armored cars (formerly owned by Saudi Arabia).