Mohammed Farah Aidid was a Somalian general, diplomat and infamous warlord who led the United Somali Congress, (USC) and later the Somali National Alliance (SNC) which started a civil war that eventually saw president Mohammed Siad Barre fleeing the country. In 1992, his armed militia engaged US peace keeping troops in a bloody gun battle that was to end in disaster and withdrawal for the Americans. At the time Barre seized power in a coup in 1969, Aidid was the serving Chief of Army Staff. He was put in detention and released after six years. He served in Barres government and was even at one time, Somali ambassador to India and later intelligence chief. However, Barres increasing totalitarianism led to the rise of resistance groups that were determined to force him out of power. Aidids USC was one of such groups and the splinter factions within the group battled one another to gain control of the capital city Mogadishu as a civil war broke out in 1991. The US led United Nations Peacekeeping force known as the United Nations Operations In Somalia II, (UNOSOM II) began operations in Somalia in 1993 that was to last two years. Aidid went on to declare himself president in 1995 after the withdrawing UNOSOM but he did not get the recognition he desired and fighting was to continue. During one of such gun battles in July 1996, Aidid suffered gunshot wounds and died of a heart attack on August 1, while his injuries were being treated.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:34:24 +0000
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