General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (Somali: Maxamed Faarax Caydiid; December 15, 1934 – August 1, 1996) was a controversial Somali leader, often described as a warlord^[1]. He was the chairman of United Somali Congress (USC) and later Somali National Alliance (SNA) who drove Mohamed Siad Barre’s dictatorial regime from the capital, Mogadishu and eventually from Somalia altogether. Later he challenged the presence of United Nations and United States troops in the country. General Aidid was one of the main targets of Operation Restore Hope, the United Nations and United States military operation that came to the country to provide humanitarian aid and to break the military siege. He became president of Somalia for a short period after forcing UN forces to abandon the country in 1995. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This page contains a list of the Presidents of Somalia. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Ali Mahdi Muhammad (born 1938) was president of Somalia from January (when Mohammed Farah Aidid removed the then president Mohamed Siad Barre) to November of 1991, but was not able in that time to exert control over the country. ... Hussein Mohamed Farrah (Somali: ; born August 16, 1962 in Beledweyne, Somalia) is the son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Mudug in Somalia Mudug (Somali: Mudug; Arabic: ‎ ) is an administrative region (gobolka) in central Somalia. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. ... The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around the Habr Gidr clan (itself part of the larger Hawiye clan). ... The Somali National Alliance was a political alliance formed in June, 1992 with Mohamed Farrah Aidid as its head. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... A warlord is a person with power who has de facto military control of a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. ... The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around the Habr Gidr clan (itself part of the larger Hawiye clan). ... The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around the Habr Gidr clan (itself part of the larger Hawiye clan). ... The Somali National Alliance was a political alliance formed in June, 1992 with Mohamed Farrah Aidid as its head. ... The Somali National Alliance was a political alliance formed in June, 1992 with Mohamed Farrah Aidid as its head. ... Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Bare) (1919/1921? - January 2, 1995) was the self-proclaimed socialist president of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ... Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: ; Italian: ), is the largest city in Somalia, and its capital. ... Combatants United States United Nations Pakistan Malaysia Somalia Commanders Many Mohamed Farrah Aidid The United Nations intervention in Somalia (code-named Operation Restore Hope) was a United Nations–sanctioned United States military operation from 9 December 1992 to 4 May 1993. ... A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by force or attrition, often accompanied by an assault. ...

Biography

Aidid was born in the Habar Gidir clan of the Mudug region of Somalia. He was educated in Rome and Moscow and served in the Italian colonial police force in the 1950s. Later he rose in the military of Mohamed Siad Barre to the rank of general and served in the 1977-78 Ogaden War with Ethiopia.^[1] He also served in the Barre's government in several capacities; in the end as intelligence chief. The Habar Gedir (also Habar Gidir or Habr Gidr) is a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group. ... Location of Mudug in Somalia Mudug (Somali: Mudug; Arabic: ‎ ) is an administrative region (gobolka) in central Somalia. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Mohamed Siad Barre (Somali: Maxamed Siyaad Barre) (1919 – January 2, 1995) was the Head of State of Somalia from 1969 to 1991. ... Combatants Ethiopia Cuba South Yemen Somalia WSLF Commanders Mengistu Haile Mariam Vasily Petrov[1][2] Siad Barre Strength 217,000 Ethiopians 1,500 Soviet advisors 15,000 Cubans 2,000 South Yemenis SNA 60,000 WSLF 15,000 Casualties Unknown 20,000 killed or wounded 1/2 of the Air... An intelligence agency is a governmental organization devoted to gathering of information by means of espionage (spying), communication interception, cryptoanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public sources. ...

Somali Civil War

Barre suspected him of planning a coup d'état and had him imprisoned for six years. In 1991, the clan of General Aidid did indeed overthrow Barre, and General Aidid, as leader of the United Somali Congress, emerged as a major force in the ensuing civil war. Coup redirects here. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The United Somali Congress is a politico-military organization in Somalia based around the Habr Gidr clan (itself part of the larger Hawiye clan). ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight against each other for the control of political power. ...

Further information: Somali Revolution (1986-1992)

Combatants Somali National Army (SNA) under Siad Barre; after Barres exile and return forces later known as Somali National Front (SNF) Revolutionary groups: Somali National Movement image_flag = Flag of Somaliland. ...

Opposition to UN Intervention

As the civil war grew, with the breakdown of centralized government, and no single successor to Barre's regime emerging, the term "warlord" came into use in Somalia. The tribalism of clan-based rebel organizations, and a complex web of regional and local domination elevated warlords to be de facto rulers of the country. Aidid was considered chief amongst them.^[2] However, he was defeated by a rival, which led to the opportunity for UN peace keepers to be brought in.^[1]

General Aidid hindered international U.N. peacekeeping forces in 1992. As a result, the US put a $25,000 bounty on his head and attempted to arrest and try him for war crimes. On October 3, 1993 a force of United States Army Rangers and Delta Force operators set out to capture several officials of Aidid's militia in an area of the Somali capital city of Mogadishu, controlled by him. Although technically successful, with the capture of several "tier-one personalities", the operation did not completely go as planned, and between 500 and 1500 Somalis, as well as 19 American soldiers, died as a result in the First Battle of Mogadishu. Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The 75th Ranger Regiment—also known as the United States Army Rangers—is an elite light infantry special operations force of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) headquartered in Fort Benning, Georgia. ... The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) — commonly known as Delta in the U.S. Army, Delta Force by civilians, and Combat Applications Group by the Department of Defense — is a Special Operations Force (SOF) and an integral element of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). ... A Mogadishu boy straddles the remains of a US Black Hawk helicopter during the 1992-1995 UN peacekeeping operation Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho) is a city in eastern Africa, on the Indian Ocean. ... Combatants USSOF, UNOSOM II, Frontier Force Regiment Somali National Alliance-affiliated militias Commanders William F. Garrison Mohamed Farrah Aidid Strength 160 5,000-10,000 Casualties U.S. 18 killed 73 wounded 1 captured Malaysia 1 killed 7 wounded Pakistan 2 wounded Militia and civilians At least 3,000[1...

The United States withdrew its forces soon afterwards and the United Nations left Somalia in 1995. Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ...

Further information: Operation Restore Hope, Operation Provide Relief, UNOSOM I, UNITAF, and UNOSOM II

Combatants United States United Nations Pakistan Malaysia Somalia Commanders Many Mohamed Farrah Aidid The United Nations intervention in Somalia (code-named Operation Restore Hope) was a United Nations–sanctioned United States military operation from 9 December 1992 to 4 May 1993. ... Operation Provide Relief (UNOSOM I) was a United Nation (UN) sponsored effort to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Somalia who were facing a severe famine, initiated and exacerbated by the ongoing Somoli civil war. ... Operation Provide Relief (UNOSOM I) was a United Nation (UN) sponsored effort to provide humanitarian relief for the people of Somalia who were facing a severe famine, initiated and exacerbated by the ongoing Somoli civil war. ... On December 3, 1992 the UN Security Council Resolution 794 was unanimously passed, creating the Unified Task Force (UNITAF), which was to work in coordination with UNOSOM. This was an unprecedented resolution because it authorized Member States to “use all necessary means to establish as soon as possible a secure... Operation Restore Hope was an American military operation with the support of the United Nations which was formed to deliver humanitarian aid and restore order to the African nation of Somalia which was suffering from a severe famine, general anarchy, and domination by a number of warlords following the collapse...

President of Somalia

Aidid then declared himself President of Somalia in June 1995,^[3] but his government was not internationally recognized. Indeed within Somalia, and even within Mogadishu, his control was fiercely fought over, especially by Ali Mahdi Muhammad. Ali Mahdi Muhammad (born 1938) was president of Somalia from January (when Mohammed Farah Aidid removed the then president Mohamed Siad Barre) to November of 1991, but was not able in that time to exert control over the country. ...

Aidid died on August 2, 1996 as a result of gunshot wounds sustained a week earlier in a fight with competing factions. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

There have been persistent rumors (including articles in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today), that US Special Operations forces, or CIA Special Activities Division officers, were directly or indirectly involved with General Aidid's death. This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Heir

Hussein Mohamed Farrah, son of General Aidid, migrated to the United States when he was 16 years old. He stayed 16 years in the nation and became a naturalized citizen, and later a United States Marine who served in Somalia. Two days after his father's death, the Somali National Alliance selected him to become the new president of the Republic of Somalia. Hussein Mohamed Farrah (Somali: ; born August 16, 1962 in Beledweyne, Somalia) is the son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ... Naturalization is the process whereby a person becomes a national of a nation, or a citizen of a country, other than the one of his birth. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... Somalia (Somali: Soomaaliya; Arabic: الصومال, As-Sumal), formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic, is an African country that exists solely in a de jure capacity. ...

He resigned his position in Cairo, Egypt following a peace process between the Salbalar administration and Soodare Group. Hussein Mohammed Farrah is seen by the West as a chance of improvement for the relationships between them and Somalia. When asked about his Marine days, he replied: "Once a Marine, always a Marine."^[4] For other uses, see Cairo (disambiguation). ...

Ali Mahdi Muhammad (Somali: ; born 1938) was president of Somalia from January (when Mohammed Farah Aidid removed the then president Mohamed Siad Barre) to November of 1991, but was not able in that time to exert control over the country. ... This page contains a list of the Presidents of Somalia. ... is the 166th day of the year (167th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Hussein Mohamed Farrah (Somali: ; born August 16, 1962 in Beledweyne, Somalia) is the son of Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ...

Footnotes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• Binney, Michael. Joint Close Air Support in the Low Intensity Conflict (thesis). Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School. June 2003.
• Bowden, Mark. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. Berkeley, California: Atlantic Monthly Press. March 1999.
• "Somali faction leader Aidid dies", CNN, August 2, 1996. 
• Lutz, David. Hannover Institute of Philosophical Research. The Ethics of American Military Policy in Africa (research paper). Front Royal, Virginia: Joint Services Conference on Professional Ethics. 2000.
• McKinley, James. How a U.S. Marine Became a Warlord in Somalia. New York: The New York Times. August 16, 1996.

v • d • e Presidents of Somalia
Daar • Shermarke • Mukhtar* • Barre • Muhammad* • vacant, 1991-95 • M. Aidid* • H. Aidid* • vacant, 1997-2000 • Abdiqasim • Ahmed * interim