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The Habr Awal, also contemporarily known as the Subeer Awal, and alternately romanized as the Zubeyr Awal ( so, Habar Awal, ar, هبر أول, Full Name: '' Zubeyr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad)'' is a major clan of the wider
Isaaq The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak, Isaac) ( so, Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, ar, بني إسحاق, Banī Isḥāq) is a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. Per ...
clan family, and is further divided into eight sub-clans of whom the two largest and most prominent are the
Sa'ad Musa The Sa'ad Musa or Saad Musa ( so, Sacad Muuse, ar, سعد موسى, Full Name:'' Saad ibn Musa ibn Zubayr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') is a northern Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Habr Awal clan of ...
and
Issa Musa The Issa Musa or ‘Isa Musa ( so, Ciise Muuse, ar, عيسى موسى , Full Name:'' ’Isa ibn Musa ibn Zubayr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'' ) is a northern Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Habr Awal cl ...
sub-clans. Its members form a part of the Habr Magaadle confederation. The Habr Awal traditionally consists of
nomadic pastoralists Nomadic pastoralism is a form of pastoralism in which livestock are herded in order to seek for fresh pastures on which to graze. True nomads follow an irregular pattern of movement, in contrast with transhumance, where seasonal pastures are fix ...
,
coastal The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in n ...
people,
merchants A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as industry ...
and
farmers A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mi ...
. They are historically viewed as an affluent clan relative to other Somali clans. The Habr Awal are politically and economically influential in present-day
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
, and reside in strategic coastal and fertile lands.


Distribution

The Habr Awal clan make up the majority in
Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh ( so, Maroodi Jeex, ar, مرودي جيح) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, Togdheer to the eas ...
region which is considered the most populous region in
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
, forming a majority in the national capital
Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...
as well as exclusively dominating in the agricultural towns and settlements of
Gabiley Gabiley ( so, Gabiley, ar, غابيلي), also known as Gebiley, is a city in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Gabiley is located 58 km west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. It is in the center of the Gabiley district, bounded ...
,
Wajaale Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale) is a city on the border of Somaliland and Ethiopia. Tog Wajaale is the main border crossing for goods coming in and out of Somaliland, primarily from the port city of Berbera, Somaliland's main port. Demogra ...
,
Arabsiyo Arabsiyo is a town in the Gabiley district of Somaliland. The town is located about 30 km west of Hargeisa. Overview Arabsiyo has a three valleys located on the West, Central and on the Eastern of the city with a number of farming villages s ...
, and
Kalabaydh Kalabaydh is a town which is part of the Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh ( so, Maroodi Jeex, ar, مرودي جيح) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awd ...
. The Habr Awal are also prevalent in Sahil region, principally in the regional capital and port city of
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
, and the historic town of
Sheikh Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...
as well as
Daarbuduq Daar buduq ( so, Dacarbudhuq) is a town in the Marodi Jeh province of Somaliland. Situated in the Hargeisa District, it is located northeast by road from Hargeisa and southwest of Berbera. The town is inhabited by people from the Adam Issa sub ...
. The clan also partially inhabits the northern portion of the capital city of
Burao Burao, also spelt Bur'o or Bur'ao (; so, Burco, , ar, برعو) is the capital of the Togdheer region and the second largest city in Somaliland. Burao was also the third largest city of Somalia. Burao was the site of the declaration of an in ...
in
Togdheer Togdheer ( so, Togdheer, ar, تُوْجْدَيْر, Tūjdayr) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in central Somaliland. Togdheer is bordered by Maroodi Jeex to the west, Saaxil to the north, Sanaag to the northeast, Sool to the east and ...
region as well. The Habr Awal also partially inhabit the neighbouring region of
Awdal Awdal ( so, Awdal, ar, أودَل) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in western Somaliland. It was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed and became a province in 1984 and is the most northwesterly provinc ...
, namely in eastern
Lughaya Lughaya ( ar, لوغهيا) is a small coastal town in the northwestern Awdal region of Somaliland. Demographics The broader Lughaya District has a total population of 101,104 residents. The town is mainly inhabited by the Mahad 'Ase subclan of ...
. Outside of Somaliland, the Habr Awal also have large settlements in the
Somali Region The Somali Region ( so, Deegaanka Soomaalida, am, ሱማሌ ክልል, Sumalē Kilil, ar, المنطقة الصومالية), also known as Soomaali Galbeed (''Western Somalia'') and officially the Somali Regional State, is a regional state ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
, specifically in
Fafan Zone Fafan ( so, Faafan) is a zone in Somali Region of Ethiopia. It was previously known as the Jijiga zone, so named after its largest city, Jijiga. Other towns and cities in this zone include Harshin, Awbare, Derwernache, Kebri Beyah, Tuli Gulled a ...
where they respectively make up the majority in
Harshin Harshin ( so, Xarshin) is a town and the capital of the Harshin woreda, in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, near the border with Somaliland. Notable people * Eid Daahir Farah - Former president of Somali Region. He was Born in Harshin. Demogr ...
,
Hart Sheik Hart Sheik ( so, Harta Sheekh) is a town located in eastern Ethiopia, in the Somali Region. Demographics According to the 2022 census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency (Ethiopia), Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA) Hart Sh ...
, and
Wajaale Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale) is a city on the border of Somaliland and Ethiopia. Tog Wajaale is the main border crossing for goods coming in and out of Somaliland, primarily from the port city of Berbera, Somaliland's main port. Demogra ...
(Ethiopian Side) towns. They also settle and border
Kebri Beyah Kebri Beyah (also spelled ''Kebribeyah'', ''Qebri Beyah'', ''Qabribayah'', Somali: ''Qabribayax'') is a town in southeastern Ethiopia. Located in the Somali Region, 50 kilometers south east of Jijiga, it has a longitude and latitude of and an alti ...
and
Jigjiga Jijiga (, am, ጅጅጋ, ''Jijiga'') is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia. It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 70 km (37 mi) west of the border ...
in the
Fafan Zone Fafan ( so, Faafan) is a zone in Somali Region of Ethiopia. It was previously known as the Jijiga zone, so named after its largest city, Jijiga. Other towns and cities in this zone include Harshin, Awbare, Derwernache, Kebri Beyah, Tuli Gulled a ...
. They also have a large settlement in
Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...
where they are known as a constituent segment of the Isahakia community. Finally they have a large presence in
Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
as well, forming a large percentage of the Somali population in
Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
and within Djibouti they have historically settled in Quartier 3, which is one of the 7 major districts in Djibouti.


History


Lineage

Sheikh Ishaaq ibn Ahmed was one of the Arabian scholars that crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of Africa to spread Islam around 12th to 13th century. He is said to have been descended from Prophet Mohammed's daughter
Fatimah Fāṭima bint Muḥammad ( ar, فَاطِمَة ٱبْنَت مُحَمَّد}, 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fāṭima al-Zahrāʾ (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, th ...
. Hence the Sheikh belonged to the
Ashraf Sharīf ( ar, شريف, 'noble', 'highborn'), also spelled shareef or sherif, feminine sharīfa (), plural ashrāf (), shurafāʾ (), or (in the Maghreb) shurfāʾ, is a title used to designate a person descended, or claiming to be descended, fr ...
or Sada, titles given to the descendants of the prophet. He married two local women in Somaliland that left him eight sons, one of them being Abdulrahman (Awal). The descendants of those eight sons constitute the Isaaq clan-family. The grave of Zubeyr Awal, the eponymous ancestor of the Habr Awal subclan of the
Isaaq The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak, Isaac) ( so, Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, ar, بني إسحاق, Banī Isḥāq) is a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. Per ...
, is located in
Jidali Jidali ( so, Jiidali) is a town in the Sanaag region of Somaliland. Overview Jidali is located north east of the provincial capital Erigavo. The grave of Zubeyr Awal, the eponymous ancestor of the Habr Awal, is located in the town. The town i ...
in
Sanaag Sanag ( so, Sanaag, ar, سَنَاج) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in north eastern Somaliland.Ishaaq bin Ahmed Sheikh Ishaaq bin Ahmed bin Muhammad bin al-Hussein al-Hashimi, more commonly known as Sheikh Ishaaq or Sheikh Isaaq (, ) was the semi-legendary Arab forefather of the Somali Isaaq clan-family in the Horn of Africa, whose traditional territory i ...
, the founding father of the
Isaaq The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak, Isaac) ( so, Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, ar, بني إسحاق, Banī Isḥāq) is a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. Per ...
clan, whose tomb is located in the coastal town of
Maydh Maydh (also transliterated as Mait or Meit) (, ) is an ancient port city in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland. History Antiquity According to Augustus Henry Keane, Maydh represents an early center of dispersal of the Somali people. Nationa ...
.


Medieval Period (Conquest of Abbysinia)

Historically the Habr Awal were part of the
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, or the Adal Empire or the ʿAdal or the Bar Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate, ''Adal ''Sultanate'') () was a medieval Sunni Muslim Empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din ...
and are mentioned in the renowned "Futuh Al-Habash" for their major contributions in the Ethiopian-Adal war as the Habr Magaadle along with the
Garhajis The Garhajis ( so, Garxajis, ar, غرحجس , Full Name: ''Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin'' ''al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'') historically known as the Habar Gerhajis () is a major clan of the wider Isa ...
, Arap and Ayub clans against the
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...
, and also for producing a historical figure known as Ahmad Girri bin Husain who was the righthand partner of
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi ( so, Axmed Ibraahim al-Qaasi or Axmed Gurey, Harari: አሕመድ ኢብራሂም አል-ጋዚ, ar, أحمد بن إبراهيم الغازي ; 1506 – 21 February 1543) was an imam and general of the Adal Sultana ...
and a chieftain for the Habr Magaadle forces during the Ethiopian–Adal war.


Sa'ad Musa

The Habr Awal have a rich mercantile history largely due to their possession of the major Somali port of
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
, which was the chief port and settlement of Habr Awal clan during the early modern period. The clan had strong ties to the
Emirate of Harar The Emirate of Harar was a Muslim kingdom founded in 1647 when the Harari people refused to accept Imām ʿUmardīn Ādan as their ruler and broke away from the Imamate of Aussa to form their own state under `Ali ibn Da`ud. Prior to its invasion ...
and Emirs would hold Habr Awal merchants in their court with high esteem with
Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...
noting their influence in Emir Ahmad III ibn Abu Bakr's court and discussions with the
Vizier A vizier (; ar, وزير, wazīr; fa, وزیر, vazīr), or wazir, is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in the near east. The Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was a ...
Mohammed.
The Habr Awal as a whole are a rich people, mainly thanks to the trade passing through the port of Berbera which lies in the territory of the Sa’ad Musa.
In this way the tribes occupying the tract of country through which the main caravan or trade routes passed accumulated a good deal of wealth, while those like the Ayal Ahmed, fortunate enough to possess a port so favored by Nature as Berbera, naturally soon became rich.
The Habr Awal merchants had extensive trade relations with Arab and Indian merchants from
Arabia The Arabian Peninsula, (; ar, شِبْهُ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّة, , "Arabian Peninsula" or , , "Island of the Arabs") or Arabia, is a peninsula of Western Asia, situated northeast of Africa on the Arabian Plate. ...
and the
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a list of the physiographic regions of the world, physiographical region in United Nations geoscheme for Asia#Southern Asia, Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian O ...
respectively. When these foreign traders arrived in
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
and
Bulhar Bulhar ( so, Bulaxaar) is a historic port town in the Sahil region of Somaliland with routes dating back to antiquity. The port was rejuvenated in the 19th century and was a rival to nearby Berbera. History Antiquity Bulhar is situated near Be ...
to conduct trade, there was a mutually beneficial arrangement based on the abban (protection) system between them and the local Reer Yunis Nuh (Ayyal Yunis) and Ahmed Nuh (Ayyal Ahmed) lineages of Sa’ad Musa, Habr Awal:
Before this, and prior to the British settlement at Aden in 1839, the Ayyal Yunis and Ayyal Ahmed lineages of the Habr Awal clan had held Berbera and jointly managed its trade, sharing in the profits on all commercial transactions as ‘protectors’ (abans) of foreign merchants from Arabia and India. When under the stimulus of developments at Aden the port's prosperity markedly increased, the numerically dominant Ayyal Yunis drove out their rival kinsmen and declared themselves commercial masters of Berbera. This led to a feud in which each side sought outside help; the defeated Ayyal Ahmed turned to Haji Shirmarke ‘Ali and his Habr Yunis clansmen for support. With this backing, they were then able to re-establish themselves and to expel the Ayyal Yunis who moved to the small roadstead of Bulhar, some miles to the west of Berbera.
Not only did the Habr Awal host foreign merchants at their ports, they also conducted trade missions on their own vessels to the Arabian ports. The majority of the Somali merchants who frequented Aden and other Southern Arabian ports hailed from the Habr Awal clan. They procured various raw goods from Harar and the interior in exchange for manufactured goods. During their stay, the Habr Awal rented their own houses and hired their own servants, whereas other Somali clans tended to stay with relatives already established across the Gulf.
Merchants. — These are generally members of the Habr Awal tribe. They bring from Harrar and the Galla country, coffee, saffron (bastard), tusks (ivory), and feathers, taking away in return zinc, brass, broad cloth, and piece goods. They remain in Aden for about twenty days at a time during the trading season, which lasts about nine months,' making four trips. During their residence they hire a house, and are accompanied by their own domestics.
In the interior, Habr Awal trade caravans (khafilas) were a frequent sight according to contemporary European accounts of the Somali Peninsula:
On leaving Hargeisa we travelled for many miles through beautiful park-like land, alive with birds and jungle fowl. We met the usual Somali khafilas rading caravansof Habr-Awal men, carrying their skins, gums, ghee, and coffee to our port at Bulhar, situated between Berbera and Zeila.
The Somalis from the deep interior, principally those from the
Ogaden Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled ''Ogadēn''; so, Ogaadeen, am, ውጋዴ/ውጋዴን) is one of the historical names given to the modern Somali Region, the territory comprising the eastern portion of Ethiopia formerly part of the Harargh ...
, also gained most of their resources from the Habr Awal merchants who they called "iidoor", an enviable pejorative meaning
merchant A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...
or trader, a reference to the mercantile nature of the Habr Awal traders at the time.Somali Poetry, Lewis & Adrzejewski, 1964, pp. 111–115 The coastal Habr Awal (mainly the Reer Ahmed Nuh) regularly acted as brokers/middlemen for the Somali clans of the interior who wished to take their goods to the ports of Berbera and Bulhar:
The custom is for the Ayal Achmet (Berbera tribe) to act as brokers, and too often most of the profits stick to the hands of the middleman. Till lately no Ogadayn ever went to the coast, but entrusted the goods to coast traders.


Battle of Berbera

When a British vessel named the ''Mary Anne'' attempted to dock in Berbera's port in 1825 it was attacked and multiple members of the crew were massacred by the Habr Awal. In response the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
enforced a blockade and some accounts narrate a bombardment of the city. In 1827 two years later the British arrived and extended an offer to relieve the blockade which had halted Berbera's lucrative trade in exchange for indemnity. Following this initial suggestion the
Battle of Berbera 1827 The Battle of Berbera (January 10–11, 1827) was an engagement of the Royal Navy and East India Company against the Habr Awal clan. It was the culmination of previous British punitive expeditions against the Habr Awal. Background When a British v ...
would break out. After the Habr Awal defeat, 15,000
Spanish dollars The Spanish dollar, also known as the piece of eight ( es, Real de a ocho, , , or ), is a silver coin of approximately diameter worth eight Spanish reales. It was minted in the Spanish Empire following a monetary reform in 1497 with content ...
was to be paid by the Habr Awal leaders for the destruction of the ship and loss of life. The Isaaq Sultan
Farah Guled Sultan Farah Guled ( so, Faarax Guuleed, ar, فارح بن جوليد) was a Somali ruler. He was the second Grand Sultan of the Isaaq Sultanate and also a Hajji having completed pilgrimage to Mecca. Biography Son of Sultan Guled, he was among ...
and Haji Ali penned a letter to
Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (1781–1866) was the Sheikh of the Qawasim and ruler variously of the towns of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, Jazirah Al Hamra and Rams, all Trucial States in their time and now part of the United Arab Emirates. B ...
of
Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) ( ar, رَأْس ٱلْخَيْمَة, historically Julfar) is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. It is the sixth-largest city in UAE after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain ...
requesting military assistance and joint religious war against the British. This would not materialize as Sultan Saqr was incapacitated by prior
Persian Gulf campaign of 1819 The Persian Gulf campaign of 1819 was a British punitive expedition, principally against the Arab maritime force of the Al Qasimi in the Persian Gulf, which embarked from Bombay, India in November 1819 to attack Ras Al Khaimah. The campaign was ...
and was unable to send aid to Berbera. Alongside their stronghold in the Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman the Qasimi were very active both militarily and economically in the
Gulf of Aden The Gulf of Aden ( ar, خليج عدن, so, Gacanka Cadmeed 𐒅𐒖𐒐𐒕𐒌 𐒋𐒖𐒆𐒗𐒒) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channe ...
and were given to plunder and attack ships as far west as the Mocha on the
Red Sea The Red Sea ( ar, البحر الأحمر - بحر القلزم, translit=Modern: al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar, Medieval: Baḥr al-Qulzum; or ; Coptic: ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϩⲁϩ ''Phiom Enhah'' or ⲫⲓⲟⲙ ⲛ̀ϣⲁⲣⲓ ''Phiom ǹšari''; T ...
. They had numerous commercial ties with the
Somalis The Somalis ( so, Soomaalida 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒆𐒖, ar, صوماليون) are an ethnic group native to the Horn of Africa who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic Somali language is the shared ...
, leading vessels from Ras Al Khaimah and the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
to regularly attend trade fairs in the large ports of
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
and
Zeila Zeila ( so, Saylac, ar, زيلع, Zayla), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila (or Hawilah) with the Bibli ...
and were very familiar with the Isaaq. Consequently, The Habr Awal clan signed a protectorate treaty with the
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
on 14 July 1884. The Habr Awal continued to have a lucrative trading agreement with their foreign contacts, many of whom were also under British rule in their respective nations. The British established the capital of the
British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British Empire, British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Soma ...
protectorate at
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
, but later moved the capital to
Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...
in 1941.


Garaads and Sultans of the Habr Awal

The Habr Awal have a long tradition of leadership and are led by a Sultan from the Ahmed Abdalla branch - a numerous subclan of Saad Musa that mainly reside in
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
. Historically preferring to use the native term ''Garaad'' like the Warsangeli, both clans have since changed the name of the title to ''Suldaan'' although the role is identical. Habr Awal Garaads would rally men in times of war and settle large disputes with other clans filling the role as the ultimate peacemaker (''nabadoon''). The first Garaad Biniin was crowned around a similar time as the first
Habr Yunis The Habar Yoonis ( ar, هبر يونس , Full Name: '' Said ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'' ) alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the sub-clan ...
Sultan Diriiye Ainasha, with both of these large subclans breaking from the tutelage of the
Eidagale The Eidagale (Ciidagale), ar, ‎عيدَغَلي, (which translates to "army joiner"), Full Name: Da'ud ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad, is a major Somali clan and is a sub-division of the Garhajis clan of the Isaa ...
who were the wider leaders of the
Isaaq Sultanate The Isaaq Sultanate ( so, Saldanadda Isaaq, Wadaad: , ar, السلطنة الإسحاقية) was a Somali kingdom that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. It spanned the territories of the Isaaq clan in modern ...
. Following his death, the Habr Awal did not crown a new Garaad for several years as Biniin's heirs were too young, with Garaad Abdalla being crowned when he came of age. Fighting in the southern limits of Habr Awal territory to protect the clan against its enemies and fighting off raids. In one incident he narrowly avoided a
Jidwaaq The Jidwaq ( so, Jidwaaq, ar, جيدواق) is a large Somali clan, part of one of the largest Somali clans families, the Absame Darod. Overview The Jidwaq clan primarily inhabit the Somali Region of Ethiopia, (where they live in the Jigjiga ...
surprise attack with the Ahmed Abdalla rallying quickly and forcing the raiders to flee. Garaad Abdalla served for several decades and was received by travelling British officials near the southern limit of the
protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over m ...
in 1894 concerning expansion by General Ras Makonen on behalf of
Menelik II , spoken = ; ''djānhoi'', lit. ''"O steemedroyal"'' , alternative = ; ''getochu'', lit. ''"Our master"'' (pl.) Menelik II ( gez, ዳግማዊ ምኒልክ ; horse name Abba Dagnew (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው ''abba daññäw''); 17 A ...
. Garaad Abdalla alongside many other leaders in British Somaliland such as Sultan
Deria Hassan Sultan Deria Hassan ( so, Diiriye Xasan, ar, ديريه بن حسن) was a Somali people, Somali ruler. He was the fourth Grand Sultan of the Isaaq Sultanate and known as a shrewd and wise leader. Biography Sultan Deria of the Isaaq Sultanate ...
and
Sheikh Madar Madar Ahmed Shirwac, better known as Sheikh Madar ( so, Sheekh Madar) was a 19th-century Somali political/religious leader, a social reformer, merchant and a jurist that was instrumental in the modern foundation of Hargeisa. He hailed from the Yu ...
were worried about a devastating raid by the Abyssinian forces aimed at the burgeoning town
Hargeisa Hargeisa (; so, Hargeysa, ar, هرجيسا) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland. It is located in the Maroodi Jeex region of the Horn of Africa. It succeeded Burco as the capital of the British Somaliland Protector ...
and its environs. The Garaad was contacted by Makonen just two years later asking him and the Habr Awal to join the
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...
but was rebuffed. Garaad Abdalla was approached by the Sultan of
Habr Yunis The Habar Yoonis ( ar, هبر يونس , Full Name: '' Said ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'' ) alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the sub-clan ...
when they had faced a drought, the Habr Yunis requested access to Habr Awal wells to water. Abdalla granted the request but some members of his clan thought he was too generous and helping the Habr Yunis at the expense of the wellbeing of their own stock. Chief amongst these people was his 15 year old Askar. When some of the Habr Yunis party came to water, Askar stepped in between the well and the men barring them access. He was reprimanded for his foolishness and told to step aside and obey his father's wishes. Enraged Askar stabbed the man who reprimanded him and war almost broke out at this action. A wise Habr Awal bard from
Bulhar Bulhar ( so, Bulaxaar) is a historic port town in the Sahil region of Somaliland with routes dating back to antiquity. The port was rejuvenated in the 19th century and was a rival to nearby Berbera. History Antiquity Bulhar is situated near Be ...
named Aami stood and recited a '' gabay'' :''The words too many have already been spoken about Yunis' foolish words'' :''But righteous judgement pious to you according to ancient custom, bringing peace and (firmly) like a mountain'' :''Very close to you lurk people, you enemies, from primeval times their commemorating a feud'' :''If the time came when you were blinded by the quarrel, you would not respect it'' :''Without hesitation, they suddenly fell upon you'' :''All hostile tribes have heard the news of your quarrel'' :''Like vultures, they all look greedily at your flesh!'' The parties were moved by his words and mediated their dispute. Garaad Abdalla gave the hand of one of his daughters to the poet as a reward for his efforts. Following Abdalla's death, his eldest son Askar succeeded him as Garaad. Askar was a skilled horseman and fought in offensive with the southern sections of the clan against the Dervish who had begun raiding Habr Awal and other clans in the region.
Sheikh Madar Madar Ahmed Shirwac, better known as Sheikh Madar ( so, Sheekh Madar) was a 19th-century Somali political/religious leader, a social reformer, merchant and a jurist that was instrumental in the modern foundation of Hargeisa. He hailed from the Yu ...
rallied the northern sections of the Habr Awal who unlike the Ahmed Abdalla and a few others, did reside mainly inside the borders of
British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British Empire, British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Soma ...
. Following Askaar's death his younger brother Diriiye took the mantle of Garaad and unlike his brother and father was more focused on the concerns of the Habr Awal community as a period of relative peace had set in following the defeat of the Dervishes, decreasing the need for fighting. Diriiye was faced with a parallel challenger to his role as Garaad and the Habr Awal rallied behind him and rebuffed the pretender.


Contemporary Era


=Migration South from the Coast to the Interior

= In the mid 19th century Hargeisa and the surrounding region was a hotbed of clan strife with raids being made on caravans attempting to pass through. Madar alongside other Sufi sheikhs established the ''Jama'a Weyn'' or ''the big congregation'' in Hargeisa. The new congregation adhered to the 900 year old
Qadiriyya The Qadiriyya (), also transliterated Qādirīyah, ''Qadri'', ''Qadriya'', ''Kadri'', ''Elkadri'', ''Elkadry'', ''Aladray'', ''Alkadrie'', ''Adray'', ''Kadray'', ''Kadiri'', ''Qadiri'', ''Quadri'' or ''Qadri'' are members of the Sunni Qadiri ta ...
order established by renowned Shaykh
Abdul Qadir Gilani ʿAbdul Qādir Gīlānī, ( ar, عبدالقادر الجيلاني, ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī; fa, ) known by admirers as Muḥyī l-Dīn Abū Muḥammad b. Abū Sāliḥ ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī al-Baḡdādī al-Ḥasanī al-Ḥusayn ...
and introduced new practices that would put Hargeisa on the trajectory to becoming the largest Somali city in
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
and the second largest Somali inhabited city to date. Hargeisa and its environs had suitable soil and ample water supply for agriculture yet the pastoralists had not been taking advantage of this fact. Madar alongside the other leaders of ''Jam'a Weyn'' introduced the cultivation of
sorghum ''Sorghum'' () is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae). Some of these species are grown as cereals for human consumption and some in pastures for animals. One species is grown for grain, while many othe ...
and the new construction of permanent housing and creating his grand mosque in 1883. The Sheikh was also responsible for leading the communal prayers supplicating to
Allah Allah (; ar, الله, translit=Allāh, ) is the common Arabic word for God. In the English language, the word generally refers to God in Islam. The word is thought to be derived by contraction from '' al- ilāh'', which means "the god", an ...
for rain in a ritual known as ''roobdoon''. Sheikh Madar and Isaaq Sultan
Deria Hassan Sultan Deria Hassan ( so, Diiriye Xasan, ar, ديريه بن حسن) was a Somali people, Somali ruler. He was the fourth Grand Sultan of the Isaaq Sultanate and known as a shrewd and wise leader. Biography Sultan Deria of the Isaaq Sultanate ...
met outside Hargeisa in 1870 to discuss issues regarding the new town and agreed that poaching and tree cutting in the vicinity should be banned. The Saad Musa branch of the Habr Awal began to settle in Hargeisa under the watch of Madar and the Sultan Deria and eagerly took up the new farming methods. The ''Jama'a'' formed a nucleus that attracted other pastoralists to come and settle in the burgeoning town. As well, clan conflicts were mitigated as the new community had managed to unify on a shared religious identity rather than aligning strictly on traditional clan basis. With the Sheikh succeeding in the task delegated to him by his master Sheikh Kabir. Religious leaders in the ''Jama'a'' took it upon themselves to place the disabled in the region under their care.


=Lobbying for

British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British Empire, British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Soma ...
Independence

= In the year 1955, Sultan Abdulrahman Garad Deria was a member of a 4 delegation team of politicians and Sultans to
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
,
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
. Their goal was to petition and pressure the British Government in returning lost treaty territory known as the 'Haud Reserve Area' ceded to
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...
during the Anglo Ethiopian treaty of 1954. In ''Imperial Policies and Nationalism in The Decolonization of Somaliland, 1954-1960'', Historian Jama Mohamed writes:
The N.U.F. campaigned for the return of the territories both in Somaliland and abroad. In March 1955, for instance, a delegation consisting of Michael Mariano, Abokor Haji Farah and Abdi Dahir went to Mogadisho to win the support and co-operation of the nationalist groups in Somalia. And in February and May 1955 another delegation consisting of two traditional Sultans (
Sultan Abdillahi Sultan Deria Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a Royal and noble ranks, position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" ...
, and Suldaan Abdulrahman Gaarad Deria), and two Western-educated moderate politicians (Michael Mariano, Abdirahman Ali Mohamed Dubeh) visited London and New York. During their tour of London, they formally met and discussed the issue with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Alan Lennox-Boyd. They told Lennox-Boyd about the 1885 Anglo-Somali treaties. Under the agreements, Michael Mariano stated, the British Government 'undertook never to cede, sell, mortgage or otherwise give for occupation, save to the British Government, any portion of the territory inhabited by them or being under their control'. But now the Somali people 'have heard that their land was being given to Ethiopia under an Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1897'. That treaty, however, was 'in conflict' with the Anglo-Somali treaties 'which took precedence in time' over the 1897 Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty The British Government had 'exceeded its powers when it concluded the 1897 Treaty and ... the 1897 Treaty was not binding on the tribes.' Sultan Abdillahi also added that the 1954 agreement was a 'great shock to the Somali people' since they had not been told about the negotiations, and since the British Government had been administering the area since 1941. The delegates requested, as Sultan Abdulrahman put it, the postponement of the implementation of the agreement to 'grant the delegation time to put up their case' in Parliament and in international organizations.


Issa Musa

Historically, the Isa Musa made use of the very valuable
caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals *Convoy, a group of veh ...
trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. An early form of trade, barter, saw the direct excha ...
in the
Horn of Africa The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
. Deriving income from arriving caravans into the markets of the coastal city of
Berbera Berbera (; so, Barbara, ar, بربرة) is the capital of the Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of the British Somaliland protectorate before Hargeisa. It ...
. The Isa Musa were able to impose a transit duty of 4 units of ana per camel loaded with merchandise.
The Isa Musa, whose pasture area is the coastal plain, also raise a transit duty of 4 anas (approx. 48 pfennigs) from the caravans for the loaded dromedar and 1 ana for each sheep and each goat, which from other tribes after the Markets to be brought from Berbera.
The Italian explorer and geographer Luigi Robecchi Brichetti had a similar remark in aspect of the valuable caravan trade, where he also mentioned the related Ayal Ahmad of Habr Awal - who reserved the title as the Abban of Berbera. According to the account of Bricchetti, the Isa Musa were able to attain revenue thanks to the busy caravan traffic entering & leaving the coastal and historical city of Berbera
They pass for skilled camel breeders and intelligent caravan organizers
yal Achmed Yal, or YAL, can mean: *Boeing YAL-1, a US Air Force test aircraft for anti-missile laser development * Yāḻ, an ancient Tamil harp *YAL, the IATA code for Alert Bay Airport in British Columbia, Canada *YAL, the National Rail code for Yalding rai ...
And such are also the different families of the Isa Musa, who live off the caravan traffic with the Ogaden, going up to Uebi
ebi Ebrahim Hamedi ( fa, اِبراهیم حامدی, also Romanized as "Ebrāhim Hāmedi"; born 1949), better known by his stage name Ebi (Persian: ), is an Iranian pop singer who first started his career in Tehran, gaining fame as part of a ban ...
along the Faf (Fafan) route.


Establishment of Issa Musa Sultanate

With Diriiye's eventual death, his son Abdulrahman was crowned and the first Habr Awal leader to style himself as 'Sultan' rather than Garaad. Abdulrahman was very much like his father however was much more active in protectorate affairs. When the Eidagale attempted to raid the Issa Musa, a son of the Habr Yunis Sultan joined the raid and when the raiders were pursued he was killed. The Sultan of the Habr Yunis approached Abdulrahman to resolve the dispute and wanted him to compel the Issa Musa to pay ''
mag Mag, MAG or mags may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''MAG'' (video game), 2010 * ''Mag'' (Slovenian magazine), 1995–2010 * '' The Mag'', a British music magazine Businesses and organisations * MacKenzie Art Gallery, in Regina, Sask ...
'' for the Sultan's son. According to traditional Somali ''
xeer ''Xeer'' (pronounced ) is the traditional legal system of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Somali Region, and the North Eastern Province in Kenya. One of the three systems from which formal Somali law draws its inspiration, the others being civil ...
'' restitution is not paid when one is killed in self defense. So the Issa Musa refused and banged their shields in disproval of Abdulrahman's judgement. Cismaan Haariyey a poet stood and recited the following '' geeraar'' reaffirming his respect but disagreeing with Sultan Abdulrahman. After this the Issa Musa would leave and go on to crown their first Sultan, Sultan Koshin in 1949 marking their independence from their larger Saad Musa brethren.


Contemporary Era

The Issa Musse have produced many prominent Somali figures with the Undersecretary General of the United Nations
Abdulrahim Abby Farah Abdulrahim Abby Farah ( so, Cabdiraxiim Caabbi Faarax, ar, عبد الرحيم آبي فرح; October 22, 1919 – May 14, 2018) was a Welsh-born Somali diplomat and politician. He was Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations 1979-1990. He ...
, and most prominently the first
Somali Prime Minister This is a list of prime ministers of Somalia. The prime minister of Somalia ( so, Ra'iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya) is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first p ...
& second
President of Somaliland The president of Somaliland ( so, Madaxweynaha Somaliland; ar, رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of ...
Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal ( so, Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal, ar, محمد الحاج ابراهيم عقال; August 15, 1928 – May 3, 2002) was a Somali politician who served as the President of Somaliland from 1993 to his death in 2002. H ...
, who led the former
British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate ( so, Dhulka Maxmiyada Soomaalida ee Biritishka), was a British Empire, British protectorate in present-day Somaliland. During its existence, the territory was bordered by Italian Soma ...
protectorate to independence in July 1960 to form the
Somali Republic The Somali Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliyeed; it, Repubblica Somala; ar, الجمهورية الصومالية, Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmālīyyah) was a sovereign state composed of Somalia and Somaliland, following the unification o ...
. To date,
Egal Egal or Égal may refer to: People * Ali Sugule Egal (1936–2016), Somali composer, poet and playwright * Fabienne Égal (born 1954), French announcer and television host * Liban Abdi Egal, Somali entrepreneur * Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928– ...
has been the only
Isaaq The Isaaq (also Isaq, Ishaak, Isaac) ( so, Reer Sheekh Isxaaq, ar, بني إسحاق, Banī Isḥāq) is a Somali clan. It is one of the major Somali clans in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. Per ...
Prime Minister of Somalia This is a list of prime ministers of Somalia. The prime minister of Somalia ( so, Ra'iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya) is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first p ...
. On 26 June 1960 Egal was Prime minister of the newly independent
State of Somaliland The State of Somaliland (, ) was a short-lived independent country in the territory of present-day unilaterally declared Republic of Somaliland. It existed on the territory of former British Somaliland for five days between 26 June 1960 and 1 ...
, which merged five days later with the former
Trust Territory of Somalia The Trust Territory of Somaliland, officially the "Trust Territory of Somaliland under Italian administration" ( it, Amministrazione fiduciaria italiana della Somalia), was a United Nations Trust Territory situated in present-day Somalia. Its ca ...
to form the
Somali Republic The Somali Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliyeed; it, Repubblica Somala; ar, الجمهورية الصومالية, Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmālīyyah) was a sovereign state composed of Somalia and Somaliland, following the unification o ...
on July 1, 1960. Most prominently,
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
's political institutions were essentially from the ground up under the consequential rule of
Egal Egal or Égal may refer to: People * Ali Sugule Egal (1936–2016), Somali composer, poet and playwright * Fabienne Égal (born 1954), French announcer and television host * Liban Abdi Egal, Somali entrepreneur * Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal (1928– ...
. During his 9-year tenure as
President of Somaliland The president of Somaliland ( so, Madaxweynaha Somaliland; ar, رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of ...
, Egal managed to disarm local rebel groups, stabilized the northwestern Somaliland region's economy, and established informal trade ties with foreign countries. He also introduced the
Somaliland shilling The Somaliland shilling ( so, Shillin Somaliland, ar, شلن صوماليلاندي; abbreviation: SLS; symbol: /-, sometimes prefixed Sl.Sh.) is the official currency of the Republic of Somaliland. Overview The shilling has been the curren ...
, passport and a newly redesigned
flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...
. In addition, Egal created the
Somaliland Armed Forces The Somaliland National Armed Forces ( so, Ciidamada Qalabka Sida ee Soomaaliland; ar, القوات المسلحة الصوماليلاندية, alquaat almusalahat alsuwmalilandia) are the military services of Republic of Somaliland. The Somal ...
, the most effective Somali armed forces since the disbandment of the
Somali National Army The Somali National Army ( Somali: ''Xooga Dalka Soomaaliyeed,'' lit. ''"Somali Ground Forces"'') is the ground forces component of the Somali Armed Forces, and is the largest out of the three service branches that make up the majority of the A ...
in 1991.


Somali Civil War and the Somali National Movement

The
Somali National Movement The Somali National Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Wadaniga Soomaaliyeed, ar, الحركة الوطنية الصومالية) was one of the first and most important organized guerilla groups opposed to the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 19 ...
(SNM) was a 1980s–1990s rebel group. The SNM at 1981 founding in
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
it elected
Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid ( so, Axmed Maxamed Guuleed) aka Ahmed Jimaleh was the first chairman of Somali National Movement (SNM). Gulaid belonged to the Sa'ad Muse sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan. Somali National Movement (SNM) Ahmed Moh ...
from the Habr Awal clan as its first chairman, who stated that the group's explicit purpose was to overthrow the
Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...
military regime A military dictatorship is a dictatorship in which the military exerts complete or substantial control over political authority, and the dictator is often a high-ranked military officer. The reverse situation is to have civilian control of the m ...
.
Helen Chapin Metz Helen Chapin Metz (April 12, 1928 – May 13, 2011) was an American editor and Middle East analyst. Life Helen Chapin was born on April 12, 1928, in Peking, China. She was the daughter of diplomat Selden Chapin and Mary Paul Noyes. Her brother, ...
, ed., ''Somalia: a country study'', Volume 550, Issues 86-993, (The Division: 1993), p.xxviii.
The SNM gathered its main base of support from members of the Isaaq clan, who formed and supported the movement in response to years of systematic discrimination by the Siad Barre government. As commander of the 99th division, General
Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi General Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi ( so, Maxamed Xasan Cabdullaahi) also known as "Jidhif" was a chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces. He hails from the Jibril Abokor, a Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan that predominantly ...
(Jidhif) also established a
Somali National Movement The Somali National Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Wadaniga Soomaaliyeed, ar, الحركة الوطنية الصومالية) was one of the first and most important organized guerilla groups opposed to the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 19 ...
military base in
Zeila Zeila ( so, Saylac, ar, زيلع, Zayla), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila (or Hawilah) with the Bibli ...
where the SNM occupied the Awdal region for 4 years and successfully defeated attempts by USF militia forces loyal to
Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
who tried to take advantage of the fall of Siad Barre's
Military Junta A military junta () is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the national and local junta organized by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon's invasion of Spain in ...
in 1991 and annex the city of
Zeila Zeila ( so, Saylac, ar, زيلع, Zayla), also known as Zaila or Zayla, is a historical port town in the western Awdal region of Somaliland. In the Middle Ages, the Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela identified Zeila (or Hawilah) with the Bibli ...
. List of prominent Habr Awal SNM Commanders (
Mujahids ''Mujahideen'', or ''Mujahidin'' ( ar, مُجَاهِدِين, mujāhidīn), is the plural form of ''mujahid'' ( ar, مجاهد, mujāhid, strugglers or strivers or justice, right conduct, Godly rule, etc. doers of jihād), an Arabic term t ...
). * Colonel Abdilahi Askar Barkhad * Abdikarim Hashi Elmi * Adan Dhamah * Adan Shiine * Ahmed Jama Sabban (Janan Oogo) *
Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid ( so, Axmed Maxamed Guuleed) aka Ahmed Jimaleh was the first chairman of Somali National Movement (SNM). Gulaid belonged to the Sa'ad Muse sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan. Somali National Movement (SNM) Ahmed Moh ...
* Ahmed Dhagah * Ahmed Ibrahim (Raage Bidaar) * Ahmed Golhaye * Ahmed Mohamed Hasan (Ahmed Japan) * Ali Gurey * General Ali Hussein Abdi * Boobe Yusuf Dualeh * General Hassan Yonis Habane * Haybe Ahmed Gure (Haybe Laambad) * Hamud Ibrahim Ismail * Professor Ibrahim Meygaag Samatar * Ibrahim Dhagahweyne * Sheikh Ibrahim Madar * Mohamed Elmi Samatar Galan * General
Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi General Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi ( so, Maxamed Xasan Cabdullaahi) also known as "Jidhif" was a chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces. He hails from the Jibril Abokor, a Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan that predominantly ...
(Jidhif) * Mohamed Hashi Elmi * Mohamed Hasan (Gacmo Dheere) * Mahdi Ali Farah * Colonel
Muse Bihi Abdi Musa Bihi Abdi ( so, Muuse Biixi Cabdi, ar, موسى بيحي عبدي) (born 1948 in Hargeisa, British Somaliland, now Somaliland) is a Somaliland politician and former military officer who has been President of Somaliland since December 2017. ...
* Sheikh Yusuf Ali Sheikh Madar * Yahya Haji Ibrahim


Clan Tree and Lineage

In the Isaaq clan-family, component clans are divided into two uterine divisions, as shown in the genealogy. The first division is between those lineages descended from sons of Sheikh Ishaaq by a Harari woman – the Habr Habuusheed – and those descended from sons of Sheikh Ishaaq by a Somali woman of the Magaadle sub-clan of the Dir – the Habr Magaadle. Indeed, most of the largest clans of the clan-family are in fact uterine alliances hence the matronymic "Habr" which in archaic Somali means "mother". This is illustrated in the following clan structure.I. M. Lewis, ''A pastoral democracy: a study of pastoralism and politics among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa'', (LIT Verlag Münster: 1999), p. 157. DNA analysis of Habr Awal clan members inhabiting Djibouti found that all of the individuals belonged to the EV32 subclade of the Y-DNA
E1b1b E-M215, also known as E1b1b and formerly E3b, is a major human Y-chromosome DNA haplogroup. It is a division of the macro-haplogroup E-M96, which is defined by the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) mutation M215. In other words, it is one of ...
paternal haplogroup. A summarized clan family tree of major Habr Awal subclans is presented below. *Sheikh Ishaaq Bin Ahmed Al Hashimi (Sheikh Ishaaq) ** ''Habr Habuusheed'' *** Ahmed (Tol-Ja’lo) *** Muuse (Habr Jeclo) *** Ibrahiim (Sanbuur) *** Muhammad (‘Ibraan) ** ''Habr Magaadle'' *** Ismail (Garhajis) *** Ayub *** Muhammad (Arap) *** Abdirahman (Habr Awal) ****Sa'ad Muuse *****Abdirahman Sa'ad *****Abdalla Sa'ad *****Hassan Sa'ad ******Abdalla Hassan *****Isaaq Sa'ad ******Makahil *******Nux Makahil *******Abokor Makahil *******Cumar Makahil *******Mohammed Makahil *******Hassan Makahil ********Ali Hassan ********Jibril Hassan ********Rooble Hassan ********Osman Hassan ******Mohammed Isaaq (Abbas) ******Isse Isaaq (Ciise Carab) ******Musa (Ase) Isaaq ******Yeesif Isaaq ******Abokor Isaaq *******Ugaadh Abokor (Ugaadhyahan) *******Abdalla Abokor *******Hussein Abokor ********Osman Hussein (Cismaannada) ********Jibril Hussein *********Ismail Jibril **********Nuh Ismail ***********Yunis Nuh (Reer Yunis Nuh) ************Shirdoon Yonis (Reer Shirdoon) ************Hoosh Yonis (Reer Hoosh) ************Gadid Yonis (Reer Gadid) ************Mohammed Yonis ***********Ahmed Nuh (Reer Ahmed Nuh) **********Said Ismail ***********Abdalla Said ************Samatar Abdalla (Reer Samatar) ************Abane Abdalla (Reer Abane) ************Ahmed Abdalla (Reer Ahmed Abdalla); The Sultan of Habr Awal's Royal Lineage **********Abdalla Ismail **********Ali Ismail **********Idris Ismail (Bah Gobo) **********Muhumed Ismail (Waran'ad) **********Yonis Ismail (Bah Gobo) **********Yusuf Ismail *******Jibril Abokor ********Adan Jibril (Bahaabar Adan) ********Ali Jibril *********Omar Ali **********Abeeb Omar (Baha Omar) **********Abtidon Omar (Baha Omar) **********Adan Omar **********Hussein Qawa Omar (Baha Omar) **********Sahal Omar (Baha Omar) **********Yonis Omar (Dugeh) **********Ismail Omar ***********Barre Ismail ************Hareed Barre (Reer Hareed) ***********Dalal Ismail (Reer Dalal) ***********Geedi Ismail 'Gheedi Shide' (Baha Omar) ***********Hoosh Ismail (Baha Omar) ***********Higgis Ismail ***********Idris Ismail ***********Ollow Ismail ***********Samatar Ismail ***********Qayaad Ismail (Baha Omar) ********Hassan Jibril ********Mohamed Jibril (Deriyahan) ********Yonis Jibril (Reer Yonis) *********Muuse Yonis **********Cabdi Muse Yonis *********Caraale yonis *********Caynaashe Yonis *********Urkurag Yonis **********Adan Urkurag ***********Omar Adan ***********Ali Adan ***********Ahmed Adan ****Issa Muuse *****Adan Issa ******Jibril Adan *******Mohamoud Jibril *******Hassan Jibril *******Ibrahim Jibril *******Ismail Jibril *****Abokor Issa ******Hassan Abokor *******Balle Hassan (Reer Baale) *******Musa Hassan *****Idarys Issa *****Mohamed Issa ******Mukhtar Mohamed ******Hassan Mohamed ******Jibril Mohamed *******Omar Jibril *******Abokor Jibril *******Yonis Jibril *******Muuse Jibril ********Ali Muuse *********Sahal Ali (Reer Sahal) *********Wa'ays Ali (Reer Wa'ays) *********Abane Ali (Reer Abane) *********Had Ali (Reer Had) *********Hildid Ali (Reer Hildid) *******Abdirahman Muuse *******Abdulle Muuse ********Abdalle Abdulle (Abdalle Qoyan) ********Hassan Abdulle *********Ahmed Hassan (Dhogori) *********Deriyahan Hassan ****Abdalla Muuse ****Afgab Muuse(Abdi Muse) ****Egalle Muuse ****Eli Muuse ****Omar Muuse


Prominent and Influential figures

The clan has produced some of the most prominent and influential Somali figures in history, who are listed below: *
Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed "Timacadde" ( so, Cabdilaahi Suldaan Maxamed, ar, عبد الله سلطان محمد) was a Somali poet. He was among the most prominent bards of his day. Biography Timacade was born in 1920 in the small town of Galoo ...
, known as "Timacade", a famous poet during the pre- and post-colonial periods * ''Suldaan'' Abdulrahman ''Gaarad'' Deria, 1st
Sultan Sultan (; ar, سلطان ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it ...
& 5th leader of the Habr Awal * Sheikh Madar Ahmed Shirwac, credited with the early growth of and as the founding father of modern Hargeisa *
Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Madar Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Madar () (died on 23 July 2004) served as the elected chairman of the SNM in January 1982 and later served as the Guurti leader in the Somaliland Parliament from 1993 until his death. Madar belongs to the Sa'a ...
, served as the elected chairman of the SNM in January 1982 and later served as the Guurti leader in the Somaliland Parliament. He is the grandson of the famous
Sheikh Madar Madar Ahmed Shirwac, better known as Sheikh Madar ( so, Sheekh Madar) was a 19th-century Somali political/religious leader, a social reformer, merchant and a jurist that was instrumental in the modern foundation of Hargeisa. He hailed from the Yu ...
. *
Abdulrahim Abby Farah Abdulrahim Abby Farah ( so, Cabdiraxiim Caabbi Faarax, ar, عبد الرحيم آبي فرح; October 22, 1919 – May 14, 2018) was a Welsh-born Somali diplomat and politician. He was Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations 1979-1990. He ...
,
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...
1979–1990 and Permanent Representative of
Somali Republic The Somali Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliyeed; it, Repubblica Somala; ar, الجمهورية الصومالية, Jumhūriyyat aṣ-Ṣūmālīyyah) was a sovereign state composed of Somalia and Somaliland, following the unification o ...
to the United Nations 1965–1972. * Abdurrahman Mahmoud Aidiid, the former
Mayor of Hargeisa The Mayor of Hargeisa is the chief executive of the city of Hargeisa, the capital and largest city of Somaliland. The current mayor is Abdikarim Ahmed Mooge, who took office on 17 June 2021.https://www.somalilandcurrent.com/2021/06/17/somaliland- ...
, the capital of the Republic of
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
. *
Abdishakur Iddin Abdishakur Mohamoud Hassan Iddin ( so, Cabdishakuur Maxamuud Xasan Ciddin, ar, عبدي شكور) is a Somaliland politician who is the current Mayor of Berbera, Somaliland. Iddin belongs to the Issa Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq ...
, the current
Mayor of Berbera The Mayor of Berbera is the executive of the municipal government in Berbera City and the surrounding city's territory administration. The current mayor is Abdishakur Mohamoud Hassan, who took office on 20 December 2012. List of mayors Se ...
, the capital of Sahil Region. *
Abdul Majid Hussein Dr Abdul Majid Hussein ( so, Cabdulmajiid Xuseen; ar, عبد المجيد حسين; ) born 1944), also called የማሰብ ችሎታ ያለው አንበሳ (The Intelligent Lion), is an Ethiopian politician, who was the Permanent Representative o ...
, Economist, Former Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, 2001–2004. Leader of
Ethiopian Somali Democratic League The Ethiopian Somali Democratic League (ESDL) was a political party in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. It was the ruling EPRDF's regional partner from 1994 to 1998. Overview The ESDL was formed in 1994 through the merger of ten clan-based politi ...
(ESDL) party in the
Somali Region The Somali Region ( so, Deegaanka Soomaalida, am, ሱማሌ ክልል, Sumalē Kilil, ar, المنطقة الصومالية), also known as Soomaali Galbeed (''Western Somalia'') and officially the Somali Regional State, is a regional state ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
from 1995 to 2001. *
Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid ( so, Axmed Maxamed Guuleed) aka Ahmed Jimaleh was the first chairman of Somali National Movement (SNM). Gulaid belonged to the Sa'ad Muse sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan. Somali National Movement (SNM) Ahmed Moh ...
, one of the founding members of the
Somali National Movement The Somali National Movement ( so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Wadaniga Soomaaliyeed, ar, الحركة الوطنية الصومالية) was one of the first and most important organized guerilla groups opposed to the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 19 ...
and the first to be elected as the chairman of the organization in October 1981. * Ahmad Girri bin Husain, Advisor to Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi ( Ahmed Guray) and a high ranking
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, or the Adal Empire or the ʿAdal or the Bar Saʿad dīn (alt. spelling ''Adel Sultanate, ''Adal ''Sultanate'') () was a medieval Sunni Muslim Empire which was located in the Horn of Africa. It was founded by Sabr ad-Din ...
general who led a large army against the
Abyssinian empire The Ethiopian Empire (), also formerly known by the exonym Abyssinia, or just simply known as Ethiopia (; Amharic and Tigrinya: ኢትዮጵያ , , Oromo: Itoophiyaa, Somali: Itoobiya, Afar: ''Itiyoophiyaa''), was an empire that historical ...
. *
Ahmed Hassan Awke Ahmed Hassan Awke (1943 16 November 2015) ( so, Axmed Xasan Cawke) ( ar, احمد حسن عوكة) was a veteran Somali journalist, who spent most of his life in the media industry. Awke who is often considered to be one of the best Somali journ ...
, Legendary Somali journalist and broadcaster. He was a veteran of the
BBC World Service The BBC World Service is an international broadcasting, international broadcaster owned and operated by the BBC, with funding from the Government of the United Kingdom, British Government through the Foreign Secretary, Foreign Secretary's o ...
, the
Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...
,
Somaliland National TV Somaliland National Television (SLNTV) is a Somali television channel. It is the official public service station of the government of Somaliland. Founded in 2005, it broadcasts from the country's capital of Hargeisa via terrestrial transmission, ...
,
Horn Cable Television Horn Cable TV (HCTV) is a Somali news-based private television channel. Overview Founded in 2003, Horn Cable TV broadcasts in Somali from its headquarters in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. The station also has studios in Mogadishu and Lond ...
,
Radio Mogadishu Radio Mogadishu ( so, Radio Muqdisho, ar, راديو مقديشو) is the federal government-run radio station of Somalia.
and
Universal TV Universal TV, formerly Universal Channel, is an international pay television network specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by NBCUniversal International Netwo ...
among also being the presidential spokesman of
Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...
during his
Military Junta A military junta () is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the national and local junta organized by the Spanish resistance to Napoleon's invasion of Spain in ...
. *
Ahmed Yusuf Yasin Ahmed Yusuf Yasin ( so, Axmed Yuusuf Yaasiin) (born 1957) is a Somaliland politician and lawyer who was Vice President of Somaliland, from 2002 until 2010 and he was the second chairman of UDUB party. He hails from the Issa Musa (Adan Issa) s ...
, the Vice-President of Somaliland from 2002 until 2010, and The Second Chairman of UDUB party. *
Ali Abdi Farah Ali Abdi Farah () (born 1947). is a politician in Djibouti. He belongs to the Habr Awal subclan of the Isaaq. Farah served as diplomatic attaché to the President of the Republic, as head of general administration and consular affairs at the Mi ...
, Former Minister of Communication and Culture in
Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
*
Ali Feiruz Ali Abdi Feiruz, known as Ali Feiruz, ( so, Cali Fayruus) was a prominent Somali musician. He belonged to the Habr Awal clan of the Isaaq clan family. Biography Feiruz was born in 1931 in Djibouti. He later moved to Hargeisa, Somaliland in the ...
, celebrated Somali musician in
Djibouti Djibouti, ar, جيبوتي ', french: link=no, Djibouti, so, Jabuuti officially the Republic of Djibouti, is a country in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Somalia to the south, Ethiopia to the southwest, Eritrea in the north, and the Red ...
and
Somaliland Somaliland,; ar, صوماليلاند ', ' officially the Republic of Somaliland,, ar, جمهورية صوماليلاند, link=no ''Jumhūrīyat Ṣūmālīlānd'' is a ''de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still conside ...
*
Gaarriye Mohamed Hashi Dhamac ( so, Maxamed Xaashi Dhamac, 1949 – 30 September 2012) better known as Gaarriye, was a Somali poet and political activist. He belonged to the Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan. Biography Gaariye was born in ...
(born Mohamed Hashi Dhama), Famous poet who composed one of the best known Somali language poems on the theme of reconciliation, "Hagarlaawe" (The Charitable). * Jaamac Yusuf Tamiinlaaye, mentioned in the Geoffrey Archer's 1916 important members of Darawiish haroun list *
Hussain Bisad Hussain Mahamed Ahmed, more commonly known as Hussain Bisad (born 1975) () is one of the tallest people in the world, at . He held the record for the largest hands of anyone alive until Sultan Kosen took the record. His hands are 10.59 inches or ...
, one of the tallest men in the world, at 2.32 m (7 ft 7 1⁄2 in). He has the largest hand span of anyone alive. *
Ibrahim Dheere Ibrahim ( ar, إبراهيم, links=no ') is the Arabic name for Abraham, a Biblical patriarch and prophet in Islam. For the Islamic view of Ibrahim, see Abraham in Islam. Ibrahim may also refer to: * Ibrahim (name), a name (and list of people w ...
, Considered to be the first Somali billionaire and richest Somali person in the world with an estimated net worth of 1.8 billion US Dollars. * Ismail Ahmed, owner and CEO of
WorldRemit WorldRemit is a digital cross border remittance business that provides international money transfer and remittance services in more than 130 countries and over 70 currencies. It was founded in 2010 by Ismail Ahmed, Catherine Wines, and Richard I ...
which is one of the fastest growing money transfer company in the world and he's considered 7th most influential man in Britain. *
Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal Mohamed Haji Ibrahim Egal ( so, Maxamed Xaaji Ibraahim Cigaal, ar, محمد الحاج ابراهيم عقال; August 15, 1928 – May 3, 2002) was a Somali politician who served as the President of Somaliland from 1993 to his death in 2002. H ...
, Legendary Somali politician. First
Prime Minister of Somalia This is a list of prime ministers of Somalia. The prime minister of Somalia ( so, Ra'iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya) is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first p ...
: 1960, 1967–1969.
President of Somaliland The president of Somaliland ( so, Madaxweynaha Somaliland; ar, رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of ...
, 1993–2002. * Mohammed Abdillahi Kahin 'Ogsadey', A Somali business tycoon based in Ethiopia, where he established MAO Harar Horse, the first African corporation to export coffee and amassed a net worth of approximately $3 Billion
Ethiopian Birr The birr ( am, ብር) is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. It is subdivided into 100 ''santim''. In 1931, Emperor Haile Selassie I formally requested that the international community use the name ''Ethiopia'' (as it had already been known inte ...
. *
Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar ( so, Maxamed Cabdullahi Omaar, ar, محمد عبدالله أومار) is a Somali politician and diplomat. He twice served as the Foreign Minister of Somalia. Biography He is the elder son of businessman Abdullahi Oma ...
, former Foreign Minister of Somalia *
Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi General Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi ( so, Maxamed Xasan Cabdullaahi) also known as "Jidhif" was a chief of staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces. He hails from the Jibril Abokor, a Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan that predominantly ...
, former Chief of Staff of
Somaliland Armed Forces The Somaliland National Armed Forces ( so, Ciidamada Qalabka Sida ee Soomaaliland; ar, القوات المسلحة الصوماليلاندية, alquaat almusalahat alsuwmalilandia) are the military services of Republic of Somaliland. The Somal ...
*
Mo Farah Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah (born Hussein Abdi Kahin; 23 March 1983) is a British long-distance runner. His ten global championship gold medals (four Olympic and six World titles) make him the most successful male track distance runner ever ...
, British four-time Olympic gold medalist and the most decorated athlete in British athletics history. He's also considered to be the best marathon runner in the world. * Abdi Haybe Laampad Veteran Somali comedian and one of the best Somali comedian of all time. *
Mohamed Omar Arte Mohamed Omar Arte ( so, Maxamed Cumar Carte, ar, محمد عمر عرتي) is a Somali people, Somali politician. He is the former Vice President of Somalia. Personal life Arte hails from the Sacad Muuse , Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Aw ...
, former Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia. * Muhammad Hawadle Madar, former
Prime Minister of Somalia This is a list of prime ministers of Somalia. The prime minister of Somalia ( so, Ra'iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya) is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first p ...
from September 3, 1990, to January 24, 1991. *
Muse Bihi Abdi Musa Bihi Abdi ( so, Muuse Biixi Cabdi, ar, موسى بيحي عبدي) (born 1948 in Hargeisa, British Somaliland, now Somaliland) is a Somaliland politician and former military officer who has been President of Somaliland since December 2017. ...
, Current
President of Somaliland The president of Somaliland ( so, Madaxweynaha Somaliland; ar, رئيس جمهورية أرض الصومال, Rayiys jumhuriat 'ard alsuwmal) is the head of state and head of government of Somaliland. The president is also commander-in-chief of ...
since December 2017, and former military officer served as a
Somali Air Force "Lean Together" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment = , equipment_l ...
pilot. *
Nuh Ismail Tani General Nuh Ismail Tani is the Chief of Staff of Somaliland Armed Forces. He hails from the Jibril Abokor, a Sa'ad Musa sub-division of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan that predominantly inhabits the Gabiley region. Chief of Staff He was appointed as ...
, current Chief of Staff of
Somaliland Armed Forces The Somaliland National Armed Forces ( so, Ciidamada Qalabka Sida ee Soomaaliland; ar, القوات المسلحة الصوماليلاندية, alquaat almusalahat alsuwmalilandia) are the military services of Republic of Somaliland. The Somal ...
*
Rageh Omaar Rageh Omaar (; so, Raage Oomaar; ar, راجح أومار; born 19 July 1967) is a Somali-born British journalist and writer. He was a BBC world affairs correspondent, where he made his name reporting from Iraq. In September 2006, he moved to ...
, Somali-British journalist and writer; former
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board ex ...
world affairs correspondent; moved to a new post at
Al Jazeera English Al Jazeera English (AJE; ar, الجزيرة‎, translit=al-jazīrah, , literally "The Peninsula", referring to the Qatar Peninsula) is an international 24-hour English-language news channel owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network, which is own ...
in 2006; as of 2017 is with
ITV News ITV News is the branding of news programmes on the British television network ITV. ITV has a long tradition of television news. Independent Television News (ITN) was founded to provide news bulletins for the network in 1955, and has since conti ...
*
Umar Arteh Ghalib Umar Arteh Ghalib or Omer Carte Qalib ( so, Cumar Carte Qaalib, ar, عمر عرتي غالب) (1930 – 18 November 2020) was a Somali politician. He was Prime Minister of the Somali Democratic Republic from January 24, 1991 to May 1993. Previous ...
, former
Prime Minister of Somalia This is a list of prime ministers of Somalia. The prime minister of Somalia ( so, Ra'iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya) is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first p ...
, 1991–1993; brought Somalia into the
Arab League The Arab League ( ar, الجامعة العربية, ' ), formally the League of Arab States ( ar, جامعة الدول العربية, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world, which is located in Northern Africa, Western Africa, E ...
in 1974 during his term as Foreign Minister of Somalia, 1969–1977; former president of UN Security Council; teacher and poet * Dr. Saad Ali Shire, British-Somali politician, agronomist and economist, who is currently serving as the Minister of Finance of Somaliland. Shire formerly served as the Foreign Minister of Somaliland. He also served as the Minister of Planning and National Development of Somaliland. *
Sultan Osman Sultan Ali Koshin Sultan Osman Sultan Ali Koshin ( so, Suldaan Cismaan Suldaan Cali Kooshin), is the current general sultan of the Issa Musse clans. His family were the traditional holders of the Issa Musse Sultanate This article includes a list of successive Is ...
, the current Grand sultan of the
Issa Musse The Issa Musa or ‘Isa Musa ( so, Ciise Muuse, ar, عيسى موسى , Full Name:'' ’Isa ibn Musa ibn Zubayr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'' ) is a northern Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Habr Awal cl ...
clans.


References

{{Somali clans Somali clans in Ethiopia Ethnic groups in Djibouti Society of Somaliland Isaaq Sultanate