The son of former Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre has reportedly been living in the Columbus area for years, according to a New York Post report. Ayanle Siad Barre, 61, resides in the region, which is home to one of the largest Somali communities in the United States. His sister, Deka Mohamed Siad, is also reported to be living in Ohio.
Their father ruled Somalia from 1969 until his government collapsed in 1991. His regime has been accused of mass killings that left as many as 200,000 people dead, along with torture and other human rights abuses, including atrocities carried out against the Isaaq clan. Mohamed Siad Barre died in 1995.
According to the Post, historian and Oxford University doctoral researcher Mohamed Haji Ingiriis described Ayanle as his father’s “right-hand man” and alleged he held significant power within the government. Fox News Digital, which first reported on the Post’s findings, said it has not independently verified those allegations.
Another Barre-era figure was deported
The report follows earlier Fox News Digital coverage of Yusuf Abdi Ali, another figure connected to the Barre era who had been living in the United States before his deportation. Ali, a former Somali military commander, had lived as a permanent resident in Virginia.
An immigration judge determined in 2024 that Ali personally engaged in torture while serving in the Somali National Army and ordered soldiers under his command to detain and torture civilians and assist in extrajudicial killings, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Ali was deported to Somalia in December 2024.
“The United States will not be a safe haven for those who commit human rights violations,” ICE official Russell Hott said at the time.
Business ties in Ohio
The Post reported that Ayanle established a translation-services company called Somal Global Services. His sister, Deka, and her late husband operated Vanguard Home Health Care, which received more than $1.8 million in Medicare funding, according to documents reviewed by the outlet. The Post reported that the company appeared to have operated legitimately and filed the appropriate paperwork.
Some survivors of the Barre regime are now calling on U.S. authorities to investigate members of the former dictator’s family. Human rights activist Suleiman Bolaleh called for an investigation into what Barre family members knew or did during the dictatorship, according to the Post.
These calls for an investigation do not establish wrongdoing by Ayanle or any other family member. Fox News Digital said it attempted to reach Ayanle Siad Barre for comment through publicly listed contact information but was unsuccessful. ICE, the Department of Justice and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
