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NomadNetHussein Mohamed Aydiid, who succeeded his late father as head of the Somali faction controlling much of the south of the war-torn capital Mogadishu, set forth his leadership objectives Tuesday.
Hussein, who was picked for the role by members of Mohamed Farah Aydiid's Somali faction on Sunday, told a press conference near the former presidential palace: "Our first priority is to make peace throughout the country."
Officials in the late Aydiid's self-styled government unanimously chose their new "president" last Sunday. Ironically, the young Aydiid briefly served in Somalia in 1992 with the very U.S. troops his father was seeking to drive into the sea.
Aydiid junior did not mention by name his faction's archrivals - Ali Mahdi Mohamed and Osman Atto - but said he will talk to any Somali leader willing to sepak to him. "I will reconcile with the opposition factions according to the Somali style, since they are Somalis," he told reporters.
Atto, who controls part of south Mogadishu, and Ali Mahdi, based in north Mogadishu, declared a unilateral ceasefire upon the death of faction leader Mohamed Farah Aydiid last Thursday. Mahdi has since put his militiamen back on red alert, raising fears of renewed clan conflict in the capital.
Hussein, 35, tentatively reached out to the international community Tuesday, saying he welcomes any country or aid agency which is committed to support the Somali people without conditions.
"We'll guarantee their safe operation," he said. "We only want them not to intervene in the internal affairs of our country," he added, echoing his late father's warnings. The elder Aydiid battled U.S. troops and United Nations peacekeepers who came to Somalia in late 1992 to relieve a famine and halt the civil war which cost 350,000 lives. After an unsuccessful manhunt for Aydiid, Washington pulled back its troops in 1994. The last U.N. forces withdrew in March 1995, leaving the clans to battle for supremecy.
Though Aydiid was America's arch enemy during it's Somalia mission, his son Hussein was with he U.S. military and told the French News Agency (AFP) that he is still a U.S. citizen.
Hussein joined the U.S. Marines in April 1987 and qualified as an artilleryman. He served in the Gulf War against Iraq and went to Somalia as interpreter in December 1992.
Hussein Aydiid was sent back to the United States less than a month later after his identity became clear and amid worries that his presence might cause problems.
Aydiid then told superiors he needed six months leave to travel out of country and he would miss all duties during that period. He never returned. The Marines list him as absent without leave (AWOL). Hussein says he has close personal ties with the U.S. where he earned a degree in engineering in California.
Hussein has stepped quickly into his late father's shoes, and seems determined to continue his policy of trying to control Somalia, analysts say. When asked about whether he will pull his faction's forces out of the towns of Baidoa and Hoddur, Hussein said these were Somali territories and he didn't see why he should withdraw.