Where are Somali dictator Siad Barre’s children? Ayanle and Deka Mohamed residing in Ohio amid public outcry
Siad Barre’s Children Face Scrutiny in Ohio
Bharatmorningnews.com – Where are Somali dictator Siad Barre’s children living today? His son, Ayanle Mohamed Siad, and daughter, Deka Mohamed Siad, have resided in Ohio, where their presence has drawn anger from some members of the state’s Somali community. For survivors and families affected by Siad Barre’s rule, the issue has revived painful memories of violence, displacement and loss.
Siad Barre led Somalia through a military dictatorship for 21 years before being removed from power in 1991. His government has been blamed for widespread abuses, including the campaign against Isaaq civilians in northern Somalia that survivors and many observers describe as the Isaaq Genocide.
Ayanle, 61, and Deka, 69, moved to the United States after their father’s fall from power. They have maintained relatively low public profiles, but their links to the former Somali leader remain deeply sensitive for people who fled his government or lost relatives during its rule.
Why Siad Barre’s legacy remains painful
During Barre’s final years in office, government forces carried out a destructive campaign in northern Somalia, an area now known as self-governing Somaliland. Cities were heavily damaged in aerial attacks, water supplies were reportedly contaminated and large areas of grazing land were mined.
Families were killed, displaced or separated as the military campaign expanded. The Barre government has been blamed for an estimated 200,000 deaths, and many survivors say the absence of accountability continues to shape how they view the former ruler’s family.
Ali-Guban Mohamed, an Ohio resident whose relatives were affected by the violence, said his family members were gathered in Agabur, executed and thrown into a well. He said Ayanle’s ability to take part freely in local religious life has been particularly upsetting.
“It was a 21-year military dictatorship, one man rule and a bunch of his men. Siad Barre dictated where you could go, where you could live, where you can travel.”
Mohamed said he believes the historical suffering associated with Barre’s government has never received sufficient accountability.
“It feels very bad to know Ayanle is here. Others are scared to speak out but I don’t care. People need to know the truth.”
Where Ayanle Mohamed Siad lives and works
Ayanle Mohamed Siad lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and young son. Columbus has one of the largest Somali communities in the United States, second only to Minnesota, which has an estimated Somali population of about 70,000.
His current employment status is unclear. He previously started a translation company, Somal Global Services, and has been linked to Halwa Kismay Coffee, a café serving traditional Somali sweets. In 2004, he appeared to establish a nonprofit called Somali Immigrants Achieving Democracy.
Online images have shown Ayanle traveling outside the United States, including visits to London, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. For some Ohio residents who associate his father’s name with persecution and displacement, those images have intensified resentment.
Faisah Abdullahi, another Ohio resident, said the experience of living near people who celebrate Barre’s legacy is emotionally difficult.
“I find it very shameful to live in the same state as anyone who can celebrate an evil person who tried to wipe out my lineage.”
“He’s treated like a hero but he is a war criminal and we have to live through the trauma.”
Deka Mohamed Siad’s Ohio business connections
Deka Mohamed Siad also lived in Ohio with her husband, former Somali ambassador Abdikarim Ali Omar. The couple operated Vanguard Home Health Care, a Medicare-supported business that received more than $1.8 million in funding before Omar died in January 2021 at age 70.
The business appears to have filed required paperwork and stopped operating after Omar’s death. The family also benefited from translation-related work and a charitable organization established in Siad Barre’s name.
These details have led some Somali community members to call for US authorities to examine the family’s history. Their concerns stem from the legacy of Siad Barre’s government, rather than from any publicly established finding that Ayanle or Deka committed crimes connected to their father’s rule.
FAQ: Siad Barre’s Children in Ohio
Where are Somali dictator Siad Barre’s children residing?
Ayanle Mohamed Siad and Deka Mohamed Siad have lived in Ohio. Ayanle is associated with Columbus, a city with a large Somali-American population.
Why has their presence caused public outcry?
Some Somali residents, particularly survivors and relatives of victims of Barre-era violence, say living in the same community as the former ruler’s children brings back trauma connected to the Isaaq Genocide and other abuses under his government.
Were Siad Barre’s children accused of crimes?
The reported concerns focus on their family connection to Siad Barre and the legacy of his government. The available information does not establish that Ayanle Mohamed Siad or Deka Mohamed Siad committed crimes related to their father’s rule.