This article examines rumors regarding U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, alleged to have committed war crimes while in the Somali military. Despite these allegations, no credible evidence supports these claims, and previous investigations affirmed his legal immigration to the U.S. The historical backdrop in Somalia during his military service complicates the narrative yet fails to provide certainty about his actions.
For several years, allegations have circulated online suggesting that U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar’s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, committed war crimes while serving in the Somali military. Limited information is available regarding Nur’s life in Somalia, prior to his death from COVID-19 in 2020, yet Omar’s memoir describes him as an “educator,” whereas his obituary identifies him as a colonel in the Somali National Army.
During the authoritarian regime of President Mohamed Siad Barre, the Somali National Army was implicated in war crimes and acts of genocide targeting the Issaq clan during the 1980s. Despite speculation, no evidence convincingly supports the claims that Nur participated in such crimes, nor does it definitively rule out that possibility. Snopes reached out to Ilhan Omar’s office for commentary but received no response.
Snopes previously investigated this allegation in 2019, affirming that Nur legally entered the U.S. as a refugee, having secured asylum status, and established that there was no credible evidence of wrongdoing on his part in Somalia. Though some sources have referenced his full name as Nur Said Mohamed Elmi, this article will refer to him as Nur Omar Mohamed for clarity.
Following Nur’s death, the Sahan Journal published an obituary characterizing him as an esteemed senior officer in the Somali National Army. It indicated that he commanded a regiment during the 1977-78 Somali-Ethiopian War, a conflict that catalyzed the accusations against him. The war led to significant atrocities and despair both during and after, eventually fuelling dissent against Barre’s regime as well.
Ilhan Omar’s memoir contextualizes her father’s background and his clan affiliations. She notes that her father hailed from the Majerteen clan, an early ally of Siad Barre. After the Somali-Ethiopian War, attempts to overthrow Barre were met with severe governmental reprisals, including the persecution of Majerteen clan leaders. Omar’s family heritage complicates the narrative, especially given her maternal grandfather’s connections to the Siad Barre regime.
The activities of Nur between 1978 and 1991 remain obscure, yet they reside within a period marked by horrific human rights violations. After the war, the Somali military targeted Issaq clan members, enacting policies that led to systemic repression and violence. By the late 1980s, the government had escalated its campaign against the Issaq, culminating in mass atrocities including bombings and extrajudicial killings.
As the Siad Barre regime fell in 1991, Omar’s family fled to Kenya amidst the ensuing chaos. Nur’s later efforts reportedly included rebuilding security forces in Puntland, where he was born and which had a history tied to the anti-Barre movement. Despite the speculations about Nur’s actions, conclusive evidence linking him to war crimes does not exist, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding his legacy during a tumultuous historical period.
The allegations regarding Nur Omar Mohamed’s involvement in war crimes remain largely speculative, lacking concrete evidence to substantiate them. While his tenure within the Somali National Army coincided with significant state-sponsored violence, there is insufficient information to draw definitive conclusions about his actions. This highlights the complexities surrounding personal histories intertwined with broader political turmoil, especially in contexts of war and displacement.
Original Source: www.snopes.com
