Allegations concerning U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, committing war crimes during his time in the Somali military lack evidentiary support. Despite his significant military role, the absence of documentation regarding his actions during and after the Somali-Ethiopian War, combined with claims of his affiliation with the Majerteen clan, contribute to the ongoing debate surrounding the accusations. Nur’s involvement in efforts to reform Puntland’s security forces is noted, but concrete evidence of wrongdoing is not substantiated.
For several years, unfounded online rumors have circulated alleging that U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, committed war crimes while serving as a military officer in Somalia. Detailed information about Nur’s life in Somalia remains scarce following his passing from COVID-19 in 2020. While Omar characterized him as an “educator” in her memoir, his obituary referred to him as a colonel in the Somali National Army, commanding a regiment during the Somali-Ethiopian War (1977-78).
During the authoritarian rule of President Mohamed Siad Barre, the Somali military, along with various paramilitary groups, were responsible for war crimes against the Issaq clan in the 1980s. Although no evidence explicitly confirms Nur’s involvement in these actions, there is also no evidence that he did not participate. Nonetheless, Snopes reached out to Omar’s office for comment but received no response.
When Ilhan Omar became the first Somali American and first hijab-wearing Muslim woman elected to Congress, rumors regarding her father’s past emerged. Previous investigations by Snopes indicated that Nur obtained asylum status to enter the U.S. legally, and indicated that no allegations of wrongdoing during his time in Somalia were substantiated. Furthermore, claims regarding his alternative name, Nur Said Mohamed Elmi, lack reliable support.
As an esteemed officer in the Somali National Army during the Somali-Ethiopian War, Nur’s military career came to an end in 1991 with the ousting of Siad Barre. The conflict, often referred to as the Ogaden War, prompted severe repercussions and unrest within Somalia following its end, leading to several coup attempts against Barre’s regime.
The clan system is fundamentally significant in Somali culture and has historically been a source of conflict. Omar’s memoir provides insights suggesting her father was from the Majerteen clan, which was initially allied with Barre but eventually faced persecution. Following the Somali-Ethiopian War, the Majerteen clan was targeted by the government, which led to their support for rebel armed movements against Barre.
The specific actions of Nur between the late 1970s and early 1990s remain undocumented. Omar’s family was residing in Mogadishu during this tumultuous period, although the military committed widespread atrocities, including genocides against the Issaq clan. After the war, significant human rights violations escalated against the Issaq, including systematic disenfranchisement and violent reprisal against clan members.
By 1991, the collapse of Barre’s regime resulted in Omar’s family fleeing to Kenya as refugees, coinciding with the rise of Somaliland’s independence. Legal entities have since pursued justice for human rights abuses against victims of Barre’s regime, yet no evidence has emerged linking Omar’s father to war crimes. As per his obituary, Nur was later involved in rebuilding security forces in Puntland, his region of origin, though his activities from 1978 to 1991 remain unverified.
In summation, while allegations of war crimes linked to Nur Omar Mohamed, Ilhan Omar’s father, have circulated, there is a substantial absence of evidence to support these claims. This article has detailed the complexities surrounding Nur’s military career, the broader historical context of the Somali-Ethiopian War, and the subsequent rise of human rights violations under the Barre regime without establishing a concrete link between Mohamed and war crimes. Additionally, the importance of clan dynamics in Somali society and its implications for Omar’s family position during that era are also highlighted.
Original Source: www.snopes.com
