Hussein Mohamed Farrah
Encyclopedia
Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid , (born August 16, 1962) is a United States Marine Corps
veteran and a former president of Somalia
. He is the son of General
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
.
, Farrah is a son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid
and is sometimes known as Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Hussein Aidid or Aidid Junior. He emigrated to the United States
when he was 17 years old, and attended Covina High School
, Covina, California
, graduating in 1981.
. Following his training, he was stationed at the Marine Corps reserve base in Pico Rivera, California
as a gunner in Battery B of the 14th Marine Regiment. He served in Somalia as a translator during Operation Restore Hope, having been chosen because he was the only United States Marine who spoke Somali. Following his discharge, he remained in the United States and became a naturalized citizen. He was a Republican
.
clan as successor to his father and returned to Somalia. Upon his father's death on August 2, 1996, Hussein was sworn in as "interim President", and became leader of the Somali National Alliance
(SNA), the same alliance his father led against the US forces. Farrah is seen by the West
as a chance of improvement for the relationships between them and Somalia.
On September 1, 1996, Mr. 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 included the following concerns:
On December 17, 1996, rival warlord Ali Mahdi Mohamed attacked his headquarters after five days of fighting that left 135 dead in Mogadishu.
On December 22, 1997, he relinquished the disputed title of President by signing the Cairo Declaration
, in Cairo
, Egypt
following a peace process between Salbalar administration and Soodare Group.
On March 30, 1998, Ali Mahdi Mohamed and Hussein Aidid formed a peace plan which shared power over Mogadishu, ending a period of seven years of fighting after the ouster of Siad Barre
.
On February 23, 1999, militiamen loyal to Aidid murdered 60 civilians in Baidoa
and Daynunay.
(TFG), accusing it of "harboring militant Islamist sympathizers." 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
." 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
."
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."
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.
On December 28, 2006, after the defeat of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Aidid was present when government forces entered Mogadishu. On January 2, 2007, Mr. Aidid was quoted as suggesting Somalis within Ethiopia
and Somalia should share a common passport, raising concerns of whether Somalia had plans to annex to 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.
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.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
veteran and a former president of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. He is the son of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
General Mohamed Ali Farrah Aidid was a controversial Somali military leader, often described as a warlord. A former general and diplomat, he was the chairman of the United Somali Congress and later led the Somali National Alliance...
.
Biography
Born in BeledweyneBeledweyne
Beledweyne is a city in central Somalia. It is the capital of the Hiraan province, and is located in the central valley of the Shebelle river near the Ogaden, some 206 miles north of Mogadishu, the nation's capital. The Shebelle river divides the town into east and west...
, Farrah is a son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid
Mohamed Farrah Aidid
General Mohamed Ali Farrah Aidid was a controversial Somali military leader, often described as a warlord. A former general and diplomat, he was the chairman of the United Somali Congress and later led the Somali National Alliance...
and is sometimes known as Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid, Hussein Aidid or Aidid Junior. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when he was 17 years old, and attended Covina High School
Covina High School
Covina High School, commonly known as Covina High or CHS to the students, is a public high school located in Covina, California, United States. Covina High School is one of three comprehensive high schools within the Covina-Valley Unified School District. Established in 1897, Covina High is...
, Covina, California
Covina, California
Covina is a small city in Los Angeles County, California about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley region. The population was 47,796 at the 2010 census, up from 46,837 at the 2000 census...
, graduating in 1981.
United States military service
In April 1987, Farrah enlisted in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. Following his training, he was stationed at the Marine Corps reserve base in Pico Rivera, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a gunner in Battery B of the 14th Marine Regiment. He served in Somalia as a translator during Operation Restore Hope, having been chosen because he was the only United States Marine who spoke Somali. Following his discharge, he remained in the United States and became a naturalized citizen. He was a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Somali National Alliance (SNA)
When he turned 30 years old, Farrah was selected by the Habar GidirHabar Gidir
The Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
clan as successor to his father and returned to Somalia. Upon his father's death on August 2, 1996, Hussein was sworn in as "interim President", and became leader of the Somali National Alliance
Somali National Alliance
The Somali National Alliance was a political alliance formed in June, 1992 with Mohamed Farrah Aidid as its head. Its constituents included Aidid's breakaway United Somali Congress faction, the Somali Patriotic Movement and other southern factions. They were one faction in the Somali Civil War...
(SNA), the same alliance his father led against the US forces. Farrah is seen by the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
as a chance of improvement for the relationships between them and Somalia.
On September 1, 1996, Mr. 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 included the following concerns:
- Resolution of threats and incidents of kidnapping UNICEFUnited Nations Children's FundUnited Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
and WHOWorld Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
international and national staff (ironically, on September 2, a local WHO staff member was kidnapped and held until September 6, after a $2,000 ransom was paid). - Looting of WHO supplies.
- Looting of UN supplies and assets in Baidoa in 1995.
On December 17, 1996, rival warlord Ali Mahdi Mohamed attacked his headquarters after five days of fighting that left 135 dead in Mogadishu.
On December 22, 1997, he relinquished the disputed title of President by signing the Cairo Declaration
Cairo Declaration
The Cairo Declaration was the outcome of the Cairo Conference in Cairo, Egypt, on November 27, 1943. President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China were present...
, in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
following a peace process between Salbalar administration and Soodare Group.
On March 30, 1998, Ali Mahdi Mohamed and Hussein Aidid formed a peace plan which shared power over Mogadishu, ending a period of seven years of fighting after the ouster of Siad Barre
Siad Barre
Mohamed Siad Barre was the military dictator and President of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991. During his rule, he styled himself as Jaalle Siyaad ....
.
On February 23, 1999, militiamen loyal to Aidid murdered 60 civilians in Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
and Daynunay.
Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC)
Hussein Aidid refused to recognize the newly forming Djibouti-backed Mogadishu-based Transitional Federal GovernmentTransitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
(TFG), accusing it of "harboring militant Islamist sympathizers." 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
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
." 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
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya
Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya or AIAI is a defunct Islamist militant group in Somalia that was added to the U.S. list of terrorist organizations on September 24, 2001...
."
Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
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."
On October 25, 2005, Aidid handed over the USC/SNA's combined 3,500 landmines to non-profit Geneva Call
Geneva Call
Geneva Call is an NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland that focuses on engaging armed non-state actors, such as guerrilla groups and liberation movements, to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law...
. He and other faction leaders had agreed to stop burying land mines as a further sign of the ending of years of civil war.
On December 28, 2006, after the defeat of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), Aidid was present when government forces entered Mogadishu. On January 2, 2007, Mr. Aidid was quoted as suggesting Somalis within Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and Somalia should share a common passport, raising concerns of whether Somalia had plans to annex to 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.
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
Asmara
Asmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
, and his accusation that Ethiopia was guilty of ‘genocide’ and calling for its withdrawal.