How Did Mohamed Farrah Aidid Die? The Mystery Behind the Somali Warlord’s Cause of Death

Mohamed Farrah Aidid was one of the most notorious and influential warlords in Somalia. He played a key role in overthrowing the dictatorship of Siad Barre in 1991, and then fought against the United Nations and the United States in the ensuing civil war. He was also the target of the infamous Operation Gothic Serpent, which resulted in the Battle of Mogadishu and the death of 18 American soldiers

But how did Aidid die? And what was the impact of his death on the Somali conflict? This article will explore the mystery behind the Somali warlord’s cause of death and its implications for the region.

The Rise and Fall of Aidid

Aidid was born in 1934 in Beledweyne, a town in central Somalia. He belonged to the Habr Gidir subclan of the Hawiye clan, one of the largest and most powerful clans in the country. He joined the Italian colonial police force in the 1950s, and later received military training in Rome and Moscow. He rose to the rank of brigadier general in the Somali National Army, and fought in the Ogaden War against Ethiopia in 1977

In 1989, he became the leader of the United Somali Congress (USC), a rebel group that opposed the regime of Siad Barre, who had ruled Somalia since 1969. Barre was accused of corruption, human rights violations, and favoring his own clan over others. Aidid and his USC launched a guerrilla war against Barre, and eventually captured the capital Mogadishu in January 1991. Barre fled the country, leaving behind a power vacuum and a humanitarian crisis

Aidid declared himself the president of Somalia, but his claim was not recognized by other factions or the international community. He faced opposition from his former ally, Ali Mahdi Muhammad, who also claimed to be the president. The two men belonged to different subclans of the Hawiye, and their rivalry sparked a violent clan war that divided Mogadishu and the rest of the country

In 1992, the United Nations intervened in Somalia to provide humanitarian aid and restore peace. Aidid initially welcomed the UN mission, but soon became hostile to it, accusing it of interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs and supporting his enemies. He also began to loot and divert food aid from the starving population, and attacked UN peacekeepers. In June 1993, his militia killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, prompting the UN Security Council to authorize a military operation to capture Aidid and disarm his forces

The United States, which had deployed troops to Somalia as part of the UN mission, took the lead in the hunt for Aidid. It formed a special task force, composed of elite units such as the Delta Force and the Rangers, to conduct raids and ambushes against Aidid’s hideouts and strongholds. The most famous of these operations was Operation Gothic Serpent, which took place on October 3-4, 1993. The operation aimed to capture two of Aidid’s top lieutenants, who were meeting in a building in downtown Mogadishu. However, the operation went awry, as Aidid’s militia surrounded and attacked the American forces, shooting down two Black Hawk helicopters and killing 18 soldiers. The battle lasted for 15 hours, and involved intense urban warfare and close-quarters combat. The Americans were eventually rescued by a joint force of Pakistani, Malaysian, and Somali troops. The battle was later depicted in the book and movie Black Hawk Down.

The Battle of Mogadishu was a turning point in the Somali conflict, as it exposed the limitations and risks of the US and UN intervention. It also boosted Aidid’s popularity and legitimacy among some Somalis, who saw him as a national hero and a defender of sovereignty. The US and the UN withdrew their troops from Somalia in 1994 and 1995, respectively, leaving behind a fractured and lawless country. Aidid continued to fight against his rivals, and in 1995, he declared himself the president of Somalia again.

The Death of Aidid

On July 24, 1996, Aidid was wounded in a firefight with a rival faction, led by Osman Ali Atto, a former ally and financier of Aidid. The clash occurred near the Digfer Hospital in Mogadishu, where Aidid was visiting some of his wounded fighters. According to some sources, Aidid was shot in the leg and the chest, and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

However, Aidid’s condition and whereabouts were kept secret by his loyalists, who feared that his enemies would try to finish him off or capture him. They also denied that he was injured, and claimed that he was in good health and in control of the situation. They even released a tape recording of Aidid’s voice, in which he denounced his opponents and vowed to continue the struggle.

On August 1, 1996, Aidid’s son, Hussein Farrah Aidid, announced that his father had died of a heart attack. He did not specify the date or the place of his death, but said that he had been buried in a secret location. He also declared himself the successor of his father, and the new leader of the Somali National Alliance (SNA), the political and military organization that Aidid had founded.

However, Aidid’s death was met with skepticism and controversy by many Somalis and observers, who questioned the circumstances and the timing of his demise. Some speculated that Aidid had died earlier than August 1, and that his son had delayed the announcement to consolidate his power and prevent a power struggle within the SNA. Others suggested that Aidid had died of his gunshot wounds, and that his son had lied about the heart attack to conceal the fact that his father had been killed by his enemies. Still others doubted that Aidid had died at all, and that his son had staged his death to escape the pressure and the isolation that his father had faced.

The truth about Aidid’s death remains unclear, as no independent verification or autopsy was ever conducted. His body was never shown to the public, and his grave was never revealed. His death also did not end the violence and the chaos in Somalia, as his son and his followers continued to fight against other factions and warlords, who also claimed to be the legitimate representatives of the Somali people.

The Legacy of Aidid

Aidid was one of the most influential and controversial figures in Somali history. He was a charismatic and ambitious leader, who mobilized his clan and his militia to overthrow a dictatorship and to resist foreign intervention. He was also a ruthless and divisive warlord, who plunged his country into a civil war and a humanitarian disaster, and who rejected any attempts to negotiate or reconcile with his opponents. He was admired by some Somalis as a patriot and a hero, and despised by others as a tyrant and a murderer.

Aidid’s legacy is still felt today, as Somalia remains a fragile and unstable state, with multiple factions and militias competing for power and resources. The country has not had a functioning central government since 1991, and has faced recurrent droughts, famines, and terrorist attacks. The international community has tried to support the formation of a federal government and the restoration of peace and security, but has also faced challenges and setbacks.

Aidid’s death also marked the end of an era in US and UN involvement in Somalia, and in humanitarian interventions in general. The failure and the tragedy of the Somali mission had a profound impact on the US and the UN’s willingness and ability to intervene in other conflicts and crises, such as Rwanda, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The lessons and the debates from the Somali experience continue to shape the policies and the practices of the US and the UN in the 21st century.