United Somali Congress
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| Somali Civil War | |
|---|---|
| United Somali Congress | |
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| Leaders | Ali Mohamed Osobleh Wardhiigley, founder[1]
Mohamed Farah Aidid, 1989-1996[1] Hussein Mohamed Farah Aidid, 1996-[1] |
| Clans/Tribes: | Hawiye (Habar Gidir, Murasade and Abgal clans) |
| Years active: | Before split: February 1, 1989—November 1991 USC Aidid: November 1991–June 1992 USC/SSA Madhi: November 1991–2001 |
| Headquarters: | Mogadishu |
| Operating Areas: | central and southern Somalia |
| Succeeded by: | Somali National Alliance (SNA, often USC/SNA) (June 1992) Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) (2001) |
| Allies: | Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) |
| Opponents: |  Somali National Army under Siad BarreSomali National Front (SNF)
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The United Somali Congress (USC) is one of the major political and paramilitary organizations of Somalia. Formed in 1989, it played a key role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre, and became a major target of the so-called Operation Restore Hope campaign in 1993. It had devolved through numerous fragmentations throughout the years but by 2004 its members and alumni would be key participants on the Transitional Federal Government.
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[edit] History
Based around Hawiye clan, its political wing was founded in Rome in January, 1989. Its military wing was formed in 1989 in Ethiopia, and led by Mohamed Farrah Aidid until his death in 1996.[1] He was succeeded by his son Hussein Mohamed Farrah, by which time the Aidid faction of the organization was also known as the Somali National Alliance (SNA), often the USC/SNA.
The clan based malitias were not partiotic to begin with. The only reason they existed was to gain power by any means necessary. Both SNM and SSDF hired tribesmen who operated in a manner of ruthless killings, rape and torture. Siad Barre who most Somalis consider a partriot, commented in comparison, that Ethiopian rebels overseas and inside the country never done anything harmful to its countrymen while Somali oppostion forces did anything and everything consequentially negative to the general life of the country. These people were mainly former government ministers and employees. One such example is now noble sounding ex-minister Ali Khalif Galaidh. [1]
Military successes by the USC would be instrumental in bringing about the ouster of the Barre government on January 26, 1991, but the USC failed to manage a political settlement with its rivals, the SNM, SPM and the SSDF, and also fragmented within its own leadership after Ali Mahdi Muhammad was declared interim President.
Upon the naming of Ali Mahdi Muhammed as President, the USC split into two. The USC/SNA emerged under Mohammed Aidid and the United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Alliance (USC/SSA) of Ali Mahdi Muhammed. The USC/SNA came under the control of Mohamed Aidid's son, Hussein Mohamed Farah Aidid after the father's death in 1996. The USC/SSA eventually came under control of the Deputy Chairman, Musa Sudi Yalahow.
Both USC factions made peace with each other in August 1998, though this caused a violent split between Yalahow and Ali Mahdi Muhammed, and fighting continued in Mogadishu. Eventually both Hussein Aidid and Yalahow reconciled and joined the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) in 2002, in opposition to the Transitional National Government (TNG). This caused a rift between the USC/SSA supporters of Yalahow and Omar Muhamoud Finnish (also known as Mahmud Muhammad Finish), who continued to support the TNG. Fighting between the two caused many deaths in Mogadishu.[2]
Hussein Aidid, Yalahow and Finish all joined the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in November 2004.
[edit] Notable personnel
- Mohamed Farrah Aidid
- Ali Mahdi Muhammad
- Mohamed Qanyar Afrax
- Musa Sudi Yalahow
- Omar Muhamoud Finnish
- Mohamed Abshir Muse (later SSDF)
[edit] Timeline of the USC
- 1989–1991 USC foundation to the overthrow of Siad Barre
- 1991–1992 Mohammed Aidid (USC Aidid) vs. Ali Mahdi Mohammed (USC Mahdi) until the foundation of the USC/SNA
- 1992–1995 USC/SNA and USC/SSA during the UN interventions
- 1995–1998 USC/SNA vs. USC/SSA after the UN departure until the reconciliation
- 1998–2001 USC/SSA infighting between Ali Mahdi Mohammed and Musa Sudi Yalahow
- 2001–2003 USC/SSA infighting between Musa Sudi Yalahow (SRRC) vs. Omar Muhamoud Finnish (TNG)
- 2004–present USC in context of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)
By 2004, whatever had been known as the USC initially had devolved greatly into the hands of individual warlords such as Musa Sudi Yalahow and Omar Finish.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d “Appendix A (Main Events in Somalia's History)”, United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Somalia, Geneva: OCHA, 1998
- ^ "SOMALIA: At least 12 killed in Mogadishu fighting", IRIN, 2002-02-26. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- World Travel Guide - History and Government of Somalia
- Dagne, Ted (2002). "Africa and the War on Terrorism". CRS Report for Congress, Washington (DC):Library of Congress.
