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Hussein Farrah Aidid

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Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid
حسين محمد فرح عيديد
Xuseen Maxamed Faarax Caydiid
Personal details
Born (1962-08-16) August 16, 1962 (age 62)
Mudug Region, Somalia
NationalitySomali
American
Political partySomali National Alliance (SNA)
AwardsMarine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Military service
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1987–1995
RankCorporal
UnitBattery B, 14th Marine Regiment
2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment
Battles/warsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Restore Hope

Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Somali: Xuseen Maxamed Faarax Caydiid, Arabic: حسين محمد فارح عيديد) (born August 16, 1962) is the son of General Mohamed Farrah Aidid. His father was leader of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), the faction that fought UNOSOM II and US forces during 1993.

For several weeks during 1992–1993 he served as a translator for the UNITAF forces commander in Somalia.[1] Farrah succeeded his father as leader of the SNA, and two days after his father's death, the SNA declared Farrah as the new President, although he too was not internationally recognized as such.[2][3] Farrah relinquished his claim as president in December 1997, by signing the Cairo Declaration, a significant step toward peace in Somalia.[4]

Farrah is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served during Desert Storm, serving in the US military from 1987–1995.

Early life

Born in Galkacyo, Farrah is a son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid and is sometimes known as Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Hussein Aidid[5] or Aidid Junior.[6] He emigrated to the United States when he was 17 years old,[7] and attended Covina High School, Covina, California, graduating in 1981.[8]

In 1987 he went to Citrus College in Glendora, California, and three years after University of California at Long Beach to study civil engineering.[8]

United States military service

In April 1987, Farrah enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an artilleryman.[1] Following his training, he was assigned to the FDC, Fire Direction Control center, of Battery B of the 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment at the Marine Corps reserve training center in Pico Rivera, California.[9] He served during Operation Desert Storm when B 1/14 was mobilized in support of that war.[10] During an engineering class, two Marine officers had interrupted a lecture to inform him he was urgently needed in Somalia.[8]

At the end of 1992, US forces deployed to Somalia. Farrah, at the time one of the few available Somali language translator with the Marines, was attached to UNITAF forces commander Lt. Gen. Robert B. Johnston.[1] Farrah was the only person in Marine Corp who was fluent in speaking Somali. On account of this, UNITAF force commander Johnson designated Farrah his personal translator.[11] Farrah was only in Somalia for several weeks during the operation.[12] He served from 18 December 1992 to 5 January 1993 before returning home to the United States the next day.[1] During this period he served as a liaison between US forces and his father, Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Farrah later recounted about his service to the Associated Press:[8]

''I always wanted to be a marine...You know how it is watching Marine soldiers. I'm proud of my background and military discipline. Once a marine, always a marine.''

After the Battle of Mogadishu several months later, Farrah was working for the a local government in California. According to Farrah a Marine colonel had asked him to "beg his father to release a captured American pilot".[12]

Somali National Alliance (SNA)

When he turned 30 years old, Farrah was selected by the Habar Gidir clan as successor to his father and returned to Somalia.[13][unreliable source?] In the second half of the 1990s, different faction leaders vied for the Presidency, with none receiving international recognition. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid claimed to be President from June 15, 1995 to his death on August 1, 1996. Following this Hussein was sworn in as "interim President",[3] and became leader of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), the same alliance his father led against the US forces. Farrah was seen by the West as a chance of improvement for the relationships between them and Somalia.

On September 1, 1996, Aidid met with UN representatives for the first time, to deal with issues left over as legacies of his father's administration. Issues addressed at the meeting which needed to be resolved before the return of UN workers and the resumption of UN assistance.[14]

On December 17, 1996, rival warlord Ali Mahdi Mohamed attacked his headquarters, leaving 135 dead after five days of fighting in Mogadishu.[15]

On December 22, 1997, he relinquished the disputed title of President by signing the Cairo Declaration, in Cairo, Egypt following a peace process between the Salbalar administration and the Soodare Group.[16]

On March 30, 1998, Ali Mahdi Mohamed and Hussein Aidid signed a peace treaty in which they agreed to share power over Mogadishu, ending seven years of fighting following the ousting of Siad Barre.[15]

On February 23, 1999, militiamen loyal to Aidid murdered 60 civilians in Baidoa and Daynunay.[15]

Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC)

Further information: Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council

Hussein Aidid refused to recognize the newly forming Djibouti-backed Mogadishu-based Transitional Federal Government (TFG),[17] accusing it of "harboring militant Islamist sympathizers."[18] Instead he formed the rival Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) in early 2001.

At some time during late 2001, he advised US President George W. Bush that a money transfer and telecommunications company, Al Barakaat, "had ties to terrorists and that there were terrorists in Somalia sympathetic to Osama bin Laden."[15] He also "warned that militant Islamist Pakistani proselytizers were active in Mogadishu and other Somali cities and that they have strong links to Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya."[18]

Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

Further information: Transitional Federal Government

Offices held:

  • Deputy Prime Minister (2005 – May 13, 2007)
  • Minister of the Interior (2005 – February 7, 2007)
  • Minister of Public Works and Housing (February 7, 2007 – December 2008)

In July 2003, at the Somali National Reconciliation Conference, the SRRC and TNG leadership reached key compromises: "The TNG accepted the number of parliamentarians proposed by the SRRC while the latter approved the inclusion of politicians as requested by the TNG."[19]

On October 25, 2005, Aidid handed over the USC/SNA's combined 3,500 landmines to non-profit Geneva Call. He and other faction leaders had agreed to stop burying land mines as a further sign of the ending of years of civil war.[6]

On December 28, 2006, after the defeat of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Aidid was present when government forces entered Mogadishu.[20] On January 2, 2007, Aidid was quoted as suggesting Somalis in Ethiopia and Somalia should share a common passport, raising concerns of whether Somalia had plans to annex the Somali Region of Ethiopia.

On February 7, 2007, as part of Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi's cabinet reshuffling, he was moved from Minister of the Interior to Minister of Public Works and Housing.[21]

On May 13, 2007, he was sacked from the position of deputy prime minister, with the reason being given that he was inactive in his duties. This followed Aidid's defection to Asmara, Eritrea, and his accusation that Ethiopia was guilty of "genocide" and calling for its withdrawal.[22]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "SON OF AIDEED IS A U.S. MARINE". Washington Post. Reuters. January 4, 2024. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Kampeas, Ron (November 2, 2002). "From Marine to warlord: The strange journey of Hussein Farrah Aidid". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
  3. ^ a b "Death of a Warlord: The succession". Archived from the original on November 18, 2006. Retrieved January 30, 2007.
  4. ^ "SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES RESULTS OF SOMALI LEADERS' MEETINGS IN CAIRO". Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Somalia's thoughtful 'warlord' Archived December 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine BBC
  6. ^ a b Somalia: Somali faction hands over thousands of landmines Archived March 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine SomaliNet
  7. ^ "From Marine to warlord: The strange journey of Hussein Farrah Aidid". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2006.
  8. ^ a b c d Jr, James C. McKinley (August 12, 1996). "How a U.S. Marine Became Leader of Somalia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  9. ^ Ricks, Thomas (1997). Making The Corps. New York: Scribner. p. 219. ISBN 9780684831091.
  10. ^ "Boston.com / Fighting Terrorism". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2006.
  11. ^ "AN IMPRESSIVE-YET TROUBLING-MARINE ON DUTY IN SOMALIA". Chicago Tribune. January 8, 1993. Cpl. Hussen Farah, the only person in the entire U.S. Marine Corps who speaks fluent Somali,
  12. ^ a b Winter, Deena (August 21, 2023). "Former Somali warlord spoke at Minneapolis City Council candidate's fundraiser • Minnesota Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Hussein Farrah Aydiid Archived December 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine Dictator for Hire
  14. ^ Somalia: Humanitarian Situation Report, September 1996 UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative for Somalia
  15. ^ a b c d Timeline Somalia Archived June 2, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Timelines.ws
  16. ^ "Somali Factions Sign Peace Agreement". CNN. December 22, 1997. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2007.
  17. ^ Somali warlords form unity council Archived June 2, 2021, at the Wayback Machine BBC
  18. ^ a b Africa Policy E-Journal, December 2002 Archived December 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Africa Action
  19. ^ Weekly Sitrep no. 20 (Covering from 05th to July 11, 2003) Archived March 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine NOVIB SOMALIA Somali National Reconciliation Conference
  20. ^ Somali PM enters Mogadishu amid protests Archived February 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Mustafa Haji Abdinur, Middle East Online
  21. ^ "Somalia: PM reshuffles cabinet". SomaliNet. February 7, 2007. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
  22. ^ "SomaliNet News: Somalia: Former defense minister welcomes the loss of his cabinet post : SomaliNet > Somali > Somalia and Somalinad". Archived from the original on May 16, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
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