The Somali Patriotic Movement is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali Civil War. Commanded by Aden Abdullahi Nur Gabyow, (a defense minister under former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre,) it was based in the southwestern area of the country, and had considerable influence in the leaderless country. Members of the group supported the idea of Jubaland's secession from Somalia. The SPM thus sundered into two tribal-oriented factions: