Hussein Farrah Aidid
Hussein Mohamed Farrah Aidid حسين محمد فرح عيديد Xuseen Maxamed Faarax Caydiid | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 16, 1962 Mudug Region, Somalia |
| Nationality | Somali American |
| Political party | Somali National Alliance (SNA) |
| Parent | Mohamed Farrah Aidid |
| Awards | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1987–1995 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Battery B, 14th Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Operation 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 two weeks he served as a translator for the UNITAF forces commander in Somalia. 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.
Farrah relinquished his claim as president in December 1997 by signing the Cairo Declaration. 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.