United Somali Congress (USC), 1989–2003

In short

The United Somali Congress was the last of the four main armed movements against the military government, and the one that took Mogadishu. Its part in the fall of the government is told in The armed movements against military rule, 1978–1991. This page follows the USC itself, through its split and its two wings, up to 2003.

Founding, 1989

The Library of Congress records that Hawiye leaders who had worked with the Somali National Movement formed the USC in 1989 (Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study). Wikipedia gives its founding place as Rome, on 7 January 1989, and names Ali Mohamed Osoble "Wardhigley", a former SNM vice-chairman, as its founder (Wikipedia, United Somali Congress).

Its military wing was formed in late 1989 at Mustahil in Ethiopia under General Mohamed Farah Aidid, a member of the Habar Gidir; ACCORD's study of Somali militias gives the same year (ACCORD, Conflict Trends 2016/2; Wikipedia). See Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

The disputed chairmanship, 1990

In June 1990 a USC congress elected Aidid chairman. Members based in Rome and Mogadishu, including Ali Mahdi Mohamed, rejected the vote (Wikipedia, citing John Drysdale, Whatever Happened to Somalia?, 1994). In October 1990 the SNM, SPM and Aidid's USC agreed to hold no talks with the government until it fell (same source).

Taking Mogadishu, December 1990–January 1991

USC fighters entered Mogadishu in December 1990 and fought the government's forces there. Siad Barre left the capital on 26–27 January 1991 (Library of Congress; Wikipedia). The USC then named Ali Mahdi Mohamed interim president. The SNM, SSDF and SPM said they had not been consulted (Library of Congress). See Ali Mahdi Muhammad.

The split and the war for Mogadishu, 1991–1992

The Library of Congress describes the USC as drawn mainly from the Hawiye, divided between an Abgaal wing around Ali Mahdi and a Habar Gidir wing around Aidid. Their fighters clashed in the summer of 1991 and fought openly from September. By the end of 1991 Aidid's forces held south Mogadishu, with the port and airport, and Ali Mahdi's held the north (Library of Congress).

The same study estimates Aidid's forces at about 10,000 fighters and Ali Mahdi's at about 5,000. A UN-mediated ceasefire took effect in March 1992 but did not end the division. It records that fighters on both sides looted food meant for famine relief in 1991–92 (same source).

Two wings: USC/SNA and USC/SSA

• USC/SNA. Aidid's wing joined allies, including the SPM of Ahmed Omar Jess, to form the Somali National Alliance in August 1992. After Aidid's death in 1996 his son Hussein Mohamed Farah Aidid led it (Wikipedia; Wikipedia, Somali Patriotic Movement).
• USC/SSA. Ali Mahdi's wing joined the Somali Salvation Alliance. Its deputy chairman Musa Sudi Yalahow later led it (Wikipedia).

Both wings were in conflict with the UN operation from 1992 to 1995 (same source). That period is covered in the history of the collapse, 1991–2000.

Peace between the wings and after, 1997–2003

The two wings made peace in June 1997. After the Transitional National Government was formed at Arta in 2000, Hussein Aidid and Musa Sudi Yalahow joined the opposing Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), while other USC commanders backed the new government. In 2003 several USC commanders disarmed and some joined the interim institutions (Wikipedia).

Sources differ

• Founding year. 1989 in the Library of Congress and most accounts; some sources give 1987.
• The 1990 election. Aidid's supporters treated it as valid; Ali Mahdi's did not.
• Numbers. Fighter estimates for 1991–92 are rough and come from outside observers.

Read the primary sources yourself

• Library of Congress, Somalia: A Country Study (1993): Opposition movements, Reconciliation, Succession, Disintegration.
• ACCORD, "Understanding civil militia groups in Somalia" (2016): article.