Ilhan Omar's Father Was Feared Somali Military Colonel, Veteran Claims
A former Somali National Army officer alleges that Nur Omar Mohamed, father of Rep. Ilhan Omar, held a high rank and was viewed with fear, contradicting descriptions of him as an educator.
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s late father was a colonel in the Somali National Army (SNA) and was “feared” by some, according to a veteran who claims to have served in the same regiment. This account contrasts with descriptions of Nur Omar Mohamed as an educator presented to Americans.
The veteran, who asked to remain anonymous citing fear of reprisals, told The Post that Nur Omar Mohamed was a “full, top colonel” who rose quickly through the ranks of the military under dictator Siad Barre. “No one gets to that position by being a nice guy,” the veteran stated, adding that some people would look away when Mohamed walked past.
Nur Omar Mohamed, who died in 2020, has been accused of not disclosing his military past when he claimed asylum with his family in the United States in 1995. Such a history could have potentially disqualified him from refugee status.
According to the veteran, Nur Omar Mohamed was a trusted figure within Barre’s regime and played a significant role in the Somali-Ethiopian War between July 1977 and March 1978. “He worked with the masterminds of the invasion and was trusted with the plans, he helped organize the troops. But a lot of people died in that war,” the former officer said.
Rep. Omar, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is currently under federal investigation for alleged immigration fraud. Investigations reportedly focus on discrepancies in her immigration paperwork, including her birth date and an alleged marriage to her brother to help him gain U.S. residency. Omar has denied all allegations of immigration fraud. Her representatives declined to comment.
Nur Omar Mohamed reportedly joined the SNA in the late 1960s, specializing in air defense before moving to the infantry. He allegedly held a key position in Barre’s army after the dictator seized power in a 1969 coup. Historians have noted his complicity in Barre’s regime, suggesting he helped the dictator maintain power.
After Barre was ousted in 1991, Nur Omar Mohamed and his family went to a refugee camp in Kenya before settling in Minneapolis. He reportedly worked as a taxi driver and postal worker. However, sources claim he remained involved in local politics and advised troops in clan wars years after arriving in the U.S.
The revelations come as federal agents reportedly seized Omar’s cellphone, passport, and other personal items during a search of her Washington residence as part of the ongoing investigation.