The children of former Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre have been found to be living in Columbus, Ohio, where his daughter operated a home health care business that reportedly billed and received more than $1.8 million in Medicare funds.

Mohamed Siad Barre seized power in a 1969 coup following the assassination of the former Somali president. Barre ruled Somalia until his death in 1991. His regime was responsible for widespread atrocities, including the deaths of approximately 200,000 people through ethnic cleansing, torture, and indiscriminate attacks on civilians.

Ayanle Siad Barre is Mohamed Siad Barre's son, described by historians and human rights campaigners as his father's top administrator in the regime's final years. He now lives in a modest three-bedroom house valued around $350,000 in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. He shares the home with his wife and young son.

His sister, Deka Mohamed Siad, previously ran Vanguard Home Health Care along with her husband until 2021. Her late husband, Abdikarim Ali Omar, was a former Somali ambassador. The company received substantial Medicare payments, according to a NY Post report, that totaled to $1.8 million during the company's lifetime. Vanguard Home Health Care was shut down following Omar's death in January 2021 at age 70. The family has also been involved in a translation service and charity that was named after their father.

This revelation come amid broader scrutiny of fraud in federal programs involving some immigrant-run businesses. Nick Shirley, an independent investigative journalist, went viral for his 2025 coverage on fraud at Somali-run daycare centers in Minnesota. Shirley's reporting resulted in federal investigations into the alleged fraudsters, multiple convictions, Shirley testifying before Congress, and increased scrutiny of federal programs in other states. He later found and reported on similar fraud in California.

While Initial reporting claims the health care company run by Siad was legitimate and filed proper paperwork for the received funds, many are calling for an in-depth look at financial records.

Until now, Barre's children have maintained a low profile in the United States. Columbus has around 70,000 Somali residents, one of the largest Somali diaspora communities outside Minnesota. The dictator remains honored in certain circles, including at the Somali Museum of Ohio, which refers to him as its "honorable grandfather." However, many members of the Somali community have expressed their dismay at the recent reports and called for investigations by U.S. authorities over their presence in the United States.

This is one of many developments over the last year that have prompted further questions from voters and lawmakers about immigration vetting and the resettlement of individuals connected to foreign regimes.