The son of former Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, who led a regime infamous for its violent rule over Somalia, has reportedly been residing in Ohio for several years. Ayanle Siad Barre, now 61, is living in the Columbus area, which has a significant Somali population. His sister, Deka Mohamed Siad, is also reportedly living in Ohio.
Mohamed Siad Barre’s dictatorship lasted from 1969 until it was overthrown in 1991. His rule is associated with numerous human rights violations, including mass killings that resulted in around 200,000 deaths. He passed away in 1995.
A historian from Oxford University, Mohamed Haji Ingiriis, has characterized Ayanle as his father’s “right-hand man” and suggested that he held considerable influence within the regime. However, these claims have not been independently confirmed.
Another notable figure from the Barre regime, former military commander Yusuf Abdi Ali, lived in the U.S. until his deportation in December 2024 after an immigration judge found he had engaged in torture during his military service.
Ayanle is said to have founded a translation services company named Somal Global Services. Additionally, his sister and her late husband ran a home health care business that received over $1.8 million from Medicare. Reports suggest the company operated within legal parameters and maintained proper documentation.
Survivors of the Barre dictatorship are now urging U.S. authorities to look into the actions and involvement of the Barre family’s members during that oppressive regime. A human rights advocate has called for an inquiry to uncover what these individuals knew regarding the dictatorship’s activities.
It’s important to note that the requests for investigation do not imply any wrongdoing by Ayanle or other family members. Efforts to contact Ayanle Siad Barre for comments were unsuccessful, and government agencies have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the matter.
