United Somali Congress

The United Somali Congress (USC) was one of the major paramilitary organizations in Somalia. Formed in 1987, it played a key role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre in 1991, and became a target of the Unified Task Force campaign in 1993. Following infighting, the USC later splintered into smaller groups. By 2004, with the establishment of a Transitional National Government (TNG), a process of disarmament was put in motion and some moderate ex-USC leaders were incorporated into the new interim administration.

History
With its base centered on the Hawiye clan, the United Somali Congress' political wing was founded in Rome in January, 1987. Its military wing was formed in late 1987 in Ethiopia, and led by General Mohamed Farrah Aidid until his death in 1996. 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 USC was formed in response to brutal aggression against the Hawiye tribe by the military dictatorship of Mohamed Siyaad Barre. During the period of 1987 to 1991, Ex-President Barre launched massive crack downs and carnage against the Hawiye in their homeland in Southern and Central Somalia. The most notable incidents were in Central Somalia in the area near Galkacyo in November 1989 which resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians at the hands of the Somali National Army. These massacres were deeply shocking and resulted in the future USC Chairman, General Mohammed Farah Aidid to quit his post as Somali Ambassador to India and joined the USC training camps in Mustahiil, Ethiopia.

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.

In 2001, Hussein Aidid founded the Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), a new armed opposition group. Growing out of the Somali National Alliance, it was originally formed to oppose the nascent Transitional National Government (TNG) and the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA) in the 2001-2004 period. However, it eventually settled its differences with the government in 2004, with some moderate leaders incorporated into the new interim administration.

Notable personnel

 * Mohamed Farrah Aidid
 * Ali Mahdi Muhammad
 * Mohamed Afrah Qanyare
 * Musa Sudi Yalahow
 * Omar Muhamoud Finnish

Timeline of the USC

 * 1987–1991 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 former USC commanders disarmed; some incorporated into nascent interim government