Hussein Farrah Aidid

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.

Farrah is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served during Desert Storm, serving in the US military from 1987–1995. 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.[4] During the early 2000s, he opposed the newly formed Transitional National Government (TNG) as a member of the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC). He became a member of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) that was formed in 2004, backing the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia. Aidid later defected to the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) that was fighting against the Ethiopian military occupation.

  1. ^ "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. ^ "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.