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The Dhulbahante ( so, Dhulbahante, ar, دلبةنتئ) is a Somali clan family, part of the Harti clan which itself belongs to the largest Somali clan-family — the
Darod The Darod ( so, Daarood, ar, دارود) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as ''Darood''. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripherie ...
. They are the traditional inhabitants of the physiographic Nugaal in its topographic sense, and its pre-independence administrative sense, which included Doollo. The clan's progenitor is buried at Badweyn. The Ali Gheri clan were the first tribe to adopt the Dervish (Daraawiish) identity.*
*
*
Colonial administrator Douglas Jardine, stated the following about Dervish demographics: The supreme Garad of the Dhulbahante is currently Garad Jama Garad Ali.


Overview

The extended formal name of Dhulbahante, the clan's forefather was ''Said Saleh Abdi
Mohamed Muhammad was an Islamic prophet and a religious and political leader who preached and established Islam. Muhammad and variations may also refer to: *Muhammad (name), a given name and surname, and list of people with the name and its variations ...
Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti'' whose resting place is Badweyn. According to Somali tradition, his mother hailed from the of
Arap The Arap or Arab ( so, Arab, ar, أرب, Full Name: ''Muḥammad ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'' ) clan is a major clan of the wider Isaaq clan family and is the twin of Garhajis (Ismail), according to the ...
clan 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. Pe ...
clan-family. This maternal connection has enticed a mutual affinity between the two clans. The primary homeland of the clan straddles the Haud region and the Nugaal Valley, hence segments of the clan who settle in either plateau are colloquially referred to as the ''Reer Hawd'' and ''Reer Nugaaled''. Currently, the clan has 13 active Garads. The most senior Garaad of these traditional leaders is Garad Jama Garad Ali who succeeded his uncle Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama. The use of the traditional hereditary title of '' Garad'' (which is most widespread among the Dhulbahante), was first inaugurated by the great ancestor Garad Shirshore who previously served as a '' Ugaas''. The clan boasts a history of anti-colonial resistance. In a bloody war against 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 post ...
the Dhulbahante along with several other clans propelled the Dervish movement to defeat the empire in a series of military expeditions. The rebellion caused the death of one-third (or 200,000) of the population of the Somaliland protectorate, most severely effecting the Dhulbahante clan with whom there was no treaty of protection. John Drysdale and Ioan M. Lewis, who had conducted research in British Somaliland in the 1950s, noted that there was not that much of an attachment of the clan to Dervish history at that time. Nevertheless, to honor the Dervish freedom fighters, the name ''Daraawiish'' is now given to almost all regional paramilitaries in Somalia.


Distribution

In Somaliland, the Dhulbahante almost exclusively inhabit the Sool region. Michael Walls on the Dhulbahante and Sool says:
"The residents of Sool overwhelmingly hail from a single clan grouping in the form of the Dhulbahante .. Sool boasts a degree of kinship homogeneity that is rare even in the Somali Horn".
The clan inhabits Taleh, most of
Hudun Hudun () is a historical town in the eastern Sool region of Somaliland, and the seat of the Hudun District. Overview Located in southeast Somaliland, Hudun lies 59 kilometres north by road from the provincial capital of Las Anod. Education Ac ...
and most of Las Anod districts, in Sool, Sanaag Toghdeer regions. In a survey conducted in 2011 of Las Anod District 92.5% of the respondents identified as Dhulbahante whilst 2.5%, 1.5% and 1.3% identified as Hawiye,
Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language *Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for Nationali ...
and
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. Pe ...
respectively. In the Sanaag region the clan is only present in the Erigavo district along with the Habr Yonis and
Habr Je'lo The Habr Je'lo ( so, Habar Jeclo, ar, هبر جعلو , Full Name: ''Mūsa ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad,'' historically known as the Habr Toljaala ( so, Habar Toljeclo) is a major sub-tribe of the wider Isaaq family. Its members form ...
clans, whilst well represented in the regional capital of Erigavo. Similarly 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 ...
, the clan solely lives in the district of Buuhoodle. The district of Buuhoodle was made a region by the state of Puntland and its name was changed to Cayn in 2004. Hence, the popular abbreviation SSC which denotes the traditional Dhulbahante territories within Somaliland. In
Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constitut ...
, they inhabit the
Jubaland Jubaland ( so, Jubbaland, ar, , it, Oltregiuba), the Juba Valley ( so, Dooxada Jubba) or Azania ( so, Asaaniya, ar, ), is a Federal Member State in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo ...
state, where there is a long settled Dhulbahante trading community in the port city of Kismayo and its surrounding district, in southern Somalia. 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 Er ...
, the Dhulbahante clan settle in the
Somali Regional State 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 ...
. They are present in the Dollo Zone, specifically in the woredas of Boh, Danot and Werder, in
Ciid Ciid or 'Iid ( so, Arlo Ciideed) is an archaic native geographic name for the land between the region of Mudug and the Nugaal Valley, roughly congruous with the northern Bookh district in Ethiopia. As such, Ciid constitutes the tripoint of the fo ...
.in
Ciid Ciid or 'Iid ( so, Arlo Ciideed) is an archaic native geographic name for the land between the region of Mudug and the Nugaal Valley, roughly congruous with the northern Bookh district in Ethiopia. As such, Ciid constitutes the tripoint of the fo ...
In Kenya, there is a small but notable Dhulbahante community in the North Eastern Province. During the Darawiish era, the
Bah Udgoon Haroun, also called Fadhiweyn, and natively transliterated as Xarunta in Somali, was a government and headquarters of the Dervishes, headed by Faarax Mahmud Sugulle. According to Claude Edward Marjoribanks Dansey, the political officer in th ...
, a Qayaad division had a garesa (dervish fortification) at Qollad near modern
Galmudug Galmudug ( ar, جلمدج; it, Galmudugh), officially Galmudug State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Galmudug ee Somalia, Soomaaliya), is a States and regions of Somalia, Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. ...
. During arid soil conditions, contemporary pastoral Dhulbahante nomads likewise divagate halfway towards the Puntland coast. The Dhulbahante exclusively settle in the northern Somali cities of Las Anod and Buuhoodle. Moreover, they are well represented in the cities of Erigavo and Garowe. The
Baho Nugaaled The Baho Nugaaleed ( so, Baho Nugaaleed, ar, باهو نوغال), is a loose Somali clan confederation that is part of the Dhulbahante clan-family. The primary homeland of these clans include the regions of Sool and Togdheer in Somaliland, the L ...
, particularly the
Ugaasyo The Baho Nugaaleed ( so, Baho Nugaaleed, ar, باهو نوغال), is a loose Somali clan confederation that is part of the Dhulbahante clan-family. The primary homeland of these clans include the regions of Sool and Togdheer in Somaliland, the ...
Dhulbahante, are the most geographically dispersed, with towns such as Yoocada in Las Anod district and Bandar Salam in Middle Juba. According to Roy Irons, Dhulbahante were the largest subclan of the northern clans during the onset of colonialism. Somali academic Said Sheikh Samatar stated that the Nugaal, which is formed of the Nugaal plateau beneath the Cal range, and the Nugaal valley in the Sool province, is a Dhulbahante territory, and the site of the biggest Darawiish confrontations:
The climate of the Nugaal, a region which constitutes the heartlands of the Dulbahante, is highly suited for breeding and rearing ponies... The country of the Dulbahante is the prize of pastoral habitat: well-watered and well-pastured, the Nugaal valley provides a welcome sanc-tuary from the perennial twin scourges of Somali pastoralism, thirst and starvation... Demoralized and disorganized, the Dervishes were forced to disperse all over the Nugaal and the Haud after their resounding defeat by the British expeditionary force. Not only did they sustain heavy casualties (7,000 to 8,000 in dead and injured) but also the loss of 20,000 of their best war-horses
The pre-independence Nogal District partly corresponding with modern Sool, was described as "entirely Dolbahanta" by John Hunt. British Colonial Officer John Anthony Hunt, whose word was regarded by Berbera's colonial office as "The Koran, the Bible" described the Dhulbahante as the owners of the Nugaal, the head of the Nogal valley in Badwein being where the clan progenitor/ancestor is buried.


History


19th century

19th-century explorer C.J Cruttenden on the Dhulbahante and their Suleiman horse breed:
"The Dulbahanta are a nation who fight chiefly on horseback, their arms being two spears and a shield. Their horses are powerful and courageous; the breed descended, according to Somali tradition, from the stud of Suleiman, the son Of David, and consequently is highly valued. The Dulbahanta, as far as I have seen of them, are a fine martial race of men, second to none...either in conduct or appearance".
The clan boundary between the
Habr Je'lo The Habr Je'lo ( so, Habar Jeclo, ar, هبر جعلو , Full Name: ''Mūsa ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad,'' historically known as the Habr Toljaala ( so, Habar Toljeclo) is a major sub-tribe of the wider Isaaq family. Its members form ...
, a clan 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. Pe ...
clan-family, and the Dhulbahante clan during the 19th century was traditionally in ''Laba Garday'', situated between War Idaad and
Wadamago Wadamago ( so, Wadaamagoo) is a historic town in Aynabo District, in the Sool region of Somaliland. Etymology The name Wadamago () stems from the phrase ''Wadaamo go, meaning ''wadaan breaker'' in Somali. A wadaan is a hand made bucket that i ...
. The Dhulbahante traditionally had two adjacent kingdoms: Markus Hoehne described the 19th century existence of a northern Dhulbahante kingdom and a southern Dhulbahante kingdom as follows:


Dervish Period

Dervish forces mostly hailed from the Dhulbahante. The Dhulbahante in Buuhodle were particularly the first and most persistent supporters of the Dervish Movement. Höhne on the Dhulbahante and the Dervish Movement states:
"The majority of them came from the Dhulbahante clan. Members of this clan were camel herders and renown warriors (Cruttenden 1849). The British had not concluded a ‘treaty of protection’ with them, as they had done with the inhabitants of the coast, who belonged to various Isaaq or Dir clans."
Along with the Dhulbahante, the Ogaden, and segments 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. Pe ...
such as the
Habr Je'lo The Habr Je'lo ( so, Habar Jeclo, ar, هبر جعلو , Full Name: ''Mūsa ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad,'' historically known as the Habr Toljaala ( so, Habar Toljeclo) is a major sub-tribe of the wider Isaaq family. Its members form ...
and eastern sections of the Habr Yunis clan loyal to Sultan Nur were part of the Movement. The Dervish Movement resisted colonial occupation, especially the British who were aided by
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. Pe ...
troops. The Achilles heel of the British empire in the Somaliland Protectorate was the un-administered east, inhabited by the Dhubahante, Warsangali and a few sections 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. Pe ...
. In this light Douglas Jardine explains that British priority was to keep the former two clans neutral, as the British administration and its allied clans would not be able to resist them without outside aid. The British found it exceptionally difficult to administer the hinterland in the east, as Jess reports "in 1901 a joint Anglo-Ethiopian expedition of almost 17,000 men failed to accomplish anything other than to drive the Mullah temporarily across the border into the Mijertein". In later years, the British increased their engagement with the hinterland to suppress the movement, yet the previously "insignificant corner of the Empire" proved to be exasperating and costly both financially and in human life. The British consistently intended the demise and destruction of the Dhulbahante who were avid Dervishes. In this Regard, British Commissioner Eric Swayne was delighted in their slaughter of the Dhulbahante clans. Sessional Papers - Volume 69 - Page 7


Dervish raids on the Dhulbahante

In July 1901, the British made attempts to expel the Dervish Movement out of the Dhulbahante territory, to achieve this they devised a plan to crush "the Dhulbahante who willingly and persistently assisted" the dervishes. A British colonial Officer, Roy Irons believed the Dhulbahante joined the Dervish movement more out of fear rather than ideological devotion and in order to demonstrate British supremacy and power over these clans it was necessary to crush them. Roy Irons'','' the author of Churchill and the Mad Mullah of Somaliland notes: Sections of the Dhulbahante like the Reer Hagar of the Farah Garad and other sections inhabiting Buuhoodle fought alongside the British against the Dervishes after being raided by the Mullah's forces. Dhulbahante friendlies would also sometimes raid the Dervishes, looting their livestock as well as weapons. The book ''A Fine Chest of Medals: The Life of Jack Archer'' reports: In 1904 the Dervishes attacked the Jama Siad sub-division of the Mohamoud Garad clan. The Dervishes looted 400 camels while killing two men. ''The Parliamentary Debates (official Report).: House of Commons'' in 1913 notes: The British War Office similarly notes that apart from the Farah Garad sub-division the rest of the Dhulbahante clan joined out of fear of the Mullah or by personal gain: In 1908 the Dhulbahante once again raided the Dervish and looted their camels. Hassan sent a letter to the British Commissioner Cordeaux, requesting his camels be returned and blood money be paid. An excerpt from Hassan's letter to Cordeaux reads:
Your people, the Dolbahanta tribe, have killed fifteen of our men and looted eighty-four camels. I do not know if Abdulla Shahari reported this to you: if he did the fault lies with you; if not, I do hereby acquaint you of it. You are requested to restore to us our camels and the blood shed by your people
In 1912 the Dervish army compelled friendly segments of the Dhulbahante clan to retire to the British controlled territory to gain protection. This was after the Mullah had constantly launched raids that took a heavy toll on the clan. ''World War 1 at Sea - Contemporary Accounts'' reports: The Farah Garad subclan was also raided by the Dervishes, specifically the Ali Gheri subclan, who were set upon and attacked by Hassan and his Dervish army, forcing them to evacuate and seek refuge in
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 ...
,
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 Haud among 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. Pe ...
clans. British colonial governor Horace Byatt reported that 800 Dhulbahante refugees 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 ...
, but feared that they could not be protected nor fed properly, stating that only 300 native infantry and 200
King's African Rifles The King's African Rifles (KAR) was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from Britain's various possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions withi ...
were in Berbera and insufficient to hold off a Dervish attack. Byatt also raised concerns for the Dhulbahante refugees en route to British controlled territory and the possibility of them being looted by hostile clans, particularly the Habr Yunis. Baron Ismay in his intelligence report on the Dervish raids on the Ali Gheri and the Dolbahanta clan's of Bohotle notes:
No important move was made till November 1911, when he successfully attacked the Ali Gheri at Bohotleh. He followed this up in February 1912 with an attack on the Dolbahanta at Eildab, In this engagement our people lost all their stock and were reduced to starvation. They flocked to Berbera demanding to be supported. Yet another attack on Bohotleh in March resulted in the remaining Dolbahanta in that vicinity being looted and driven out. Bohotleh remained in Dervish hands.
In June 1913 the Farah Garad subclan suffered yet another Dervish raid on their towns at Udaweina. General Richard Corfield had in response moved out to the area with his troops to support the shaken Farah Garad, who retreated westwards towards the lands of the Habr Yunis: However, the Dhulbahante were not trusted by some British generals. For instance, the British general Eric Swayne at times regarded the clan as too untrustworthy to be enlisted as a levy: British colonial administrator Sir Douglas Jardine describing the plight of the Dhulbahante noted:
The most pitiful lot of all fell to certain sections of the Dolbahanta. Ousted from their ancestral grazing grounds by the Mullah's advance and bereft of all their stock, the remnants wandered like veritable Ishmaelites in the Ishaak country, deprived of Asylum and almost all access to the coast.'
In 1913 at the battle of Dul Madoba the Dervishes defeated the British. The Dervish forces under the leadership of Dhulbahante military commander Ismail Mire were attacked by British expeditionary forces made up of 107 rank and file and 9 extras, thus a total of 116, under the command of Richard Corfield, with 300 accompanying Dhulbahante leaving the battlefield before the first shot was fired. The Darawiish had previously looted the region between Burao and Idoweyne. The British sustained heavy casualties and Corfield was killed in battle, reportedly at the hands of Darawiish Ibraahin Xoorane and
Axmed Aarey Richard Conyngham Corfield (27 April 1882 – 9 August 1913) was a British colonial police officer who saw service in South Africa, Nigeria, India, Kenya and Somalia in the early 20th century. His death at the hands of Darawiish Ibraahin Xo ...
, and the spoils of war were distributed in Buuhoodle and Taleh. After the 1920 bombing campaign of the fortress at Taleh, and the Dervish retreat into Ethiopia, the tribal chief Haji Mohammad Bullaleh, who commanded a 3,000 strong army that was loyal to 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 post ...
and consisted of
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. Pe ...
and Dhulbahante horsemen pursued the Dervish army. They attacked Muhammad Abdallah Hassan and the Dervish army in the Ogaden region and defeated them, causing Hassan to retreat to the town of Imi. Haji and his army looted 60,000 livestock and 700 rifles from the dervishes.


Politics


Assassination of Garad Ali

During the colonial period, the Chief of the Dhulbahante clan, Garad Ali Garad Mohamoud, did not want to be under British occupation nor under Dervish authority, instead he wanted to retain his autonomy as clan chief. The Garad and Sayyid
Mohamed Abdullah Hassan Sayid Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan ( so, Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan; 1856–1920) was a Somali religious and military leader of the Dervish movement, which led a two-decade long confrontation with various colonial empires including the British, ...
had a heated altercation which concluded with Garad Ali supposedly saying:
"I am the Ruler of Nugaal and its people, their management is mine and I expect everybody to respect it".
Subsequently, Hassan ordered the assassination of the Garad. As Douglas Jardine reports, Hassan took this action after the Garad reassured the British that their relations remained unchanged, although owing to the influence of Hassan his clan no longer obeyed his orders. Issa-Salwe says news of the assassination stunned the Somali clans, consequently Dervishes were only left with the ''Bah Ali Geri'' of the Dhulbahante. According to
John William Carnegie Kirk John William Carnegie Kirk (1878-1962) was a British Army officer, and botanist working in South Africa and author of ''A British Garden Flora''. Biography Kirk was commissioned a second lieutenant in The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on 18 ...
, most Dhulbahante clans sided with the Dervishes, expect the three sub-clans of Rer Hagar, Rer Wais Adan and Ba Idris among others who were considered friendly by the British. In 1959,
Garad Ali Garad Ali Garad Jama was the 19th garad of the Dhulbahante Garadate, from 1966 until 1985, although he was the effective supreme Garad of the Dhulbahante The Dhulbahante ( so, Dhulbahante, ar, دلبةنتئ) is a Somali clan family, part of th ...
of Dhulbahante led the foundation of the United Somali Party which forged a political coalition of the non-
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. Pe ...
clans of the British Somaliland protectorate. The party won 12 of 33 seats in the House of Representatives in the 1960 general elections. After the unification of 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 ...
the party united with the Somali Youth League. Later in the aftermath of the
Somali Civil War The Somali Civil War ( so, Dagaalkii Sokeeye ee Soomaaliya; ar, الحرب الأهلية الصومالية ) is an ongoing civil war that is taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta which was led by Siad Ba ...
in the 1990s the party re-emerged under the leadership of
Mohamed Abdi Hashi Mohamed Abdi Hashi ( so, Maxamed Cabdi Xaashi, ar, محمد عبدي هاشي; died 12 July 2020) was a Somali politician, who served as the president of USP during the 1990s. He hailed from the Dhulbahante clan, Qayaad sub clan. He was the ...
this time with a mission to unify the Harti clans under
Puntland Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
. During Mohamed Siad Barre's regime, the clan was part of an alliance of
Darod The Darod ( so, Daarood, ar, دارود) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as ''Darood''. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripherie ...
clans that was presumed to dominate state authority in Somalia. The acronym MOD was used to refer to the alliance which was composed of the
Marehan The Marehan ( so, Mareexaan, ar, مريحان) is a Somali sub-clan, which is part of one of the largest Somali clan families, the Darod. The clan is one of the largest constituent sub-clans of the Darod. The majority of the Marehan live in the ...
, Ogaden and Dhulbahante. In early 1993, the Dhulbahante held a conference in Boocame while Somaliland's second national conference was underway in Borama. The result of the conference was the establishment of a 33-member council ''(Khusuusi)'' which would administer the Sool, Sanaag, and
Cayn Cayn or Ayn is an administrative region that Puntland declared to be founded in the 2000s. However, the administrative division of Somaliland defines it as Buhoodle District in Togdheer, and Somaliland effectively controls it with the exceptio ...
regions in the absence of a central government in
Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constitut ...
.


State formations

In 1998, the Dhulbahante established the State of
Puntland Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
with other Harti clans due to common kinship. Hence, based on this ethnic composition and clan ties to Puntland, voters in Sanaag and especially Sool were decidedly less supportive of Somaliland's 2001 referendum on the constitution and independence. Although the Dhulbahante community was split over the 2007 conflict, with some aligning with Somaliland and its troops in the area of Las Anod, in the Bo'ame Declaration of 2007 all Dhulbahante clan chiefs rejected Somaliland's secessionist agenda and demanded the withdrawal of its militia from the clans traditional territory. In aftermath of Somaliland taking control of Las Anod in 2007, the clan became disillusioned with
Puntland Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
, consequently the SSC Movement which aimed to remove Somaliland from Dhulbahante territories emerged. The movement was called the Unity and Salvation Authority of the SSC Regions of Somalia ''( so, Hogaanka Badbaadada iyo midaynta SSC (HBM-SSC))'', and it was spearheaded by
Saleban Essa Ahmed Saleban Essa Ahmed "Haglotosiye" ( so, Saleeban Ciise Axmed “Xaglatoosiye”), is a prominent Somali politician who was the leader of the SSC Movement and served as Somaliland's Minister of Health. Haglotosiye has had an elaborate career i ...
and founded in 2009. The most important traditional leaders who lent their support to the SSC Movement were Garad Jama Garad Ali, Garad Jama Garad Ismail, and Garad Ali Burale Hassan. In the Kalshale Conflict, Somaliland forces and SSC militia clashed in the Ayn region in 2011, whilst more clashes were reported to have occurred in 2012. In 2012, the SSC movement was replaced by Khatumo State after the Khaatumo II conference held at Taleh. The conference was a development with up to 5,000 people from the Dhulbahante community gathering in the town. Under the leadership of Ali Khalif Galaydh, Khatumo State commenced peace talks with Somaliland and subsequently the two entities reached an agreement at the town of Aynabo in October 2017 with Khatumo joining Somaliland, ceasing to exist. Nonetheless, the Dhulbahante still seek a united
Somalia Somalia, , Osmanya script: 𐒈𐒝𐒑𐒛𐒐𐒘𐒕𐒖; ar, الصومال, aṣ-Ṣūmāl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constitut ...
and overwhelming oppose Somaliland's independence aspirations.


Boocame declaration

An historic summit was convened in Boocame from November 15 – November 23 of 2007, by the traditional leaders of the Dulbahante (Dhulbahante) sub-clan of the clan. The Dulbahante traditional chiefs issued an official communiqué on October 15, 2007, regarding the secessionist Somaliland region's militias’ aggression and occupation of
Laascaanood Las Anod ( so, Laascaanood; ar, لاسعانود) is the administrative capital of the Sool region of Somaliland. Territorial dispute The city is disputed by Puntland and Somaliland. The former bases its claim due to the kinship ties betwee ...
(LasAnod), the regional capital of Sool, Sanaag and Cayn regions of Somaliland. All 14 major traditional chiefs of the Dulbahante clan attended this summit. In addition to the traditional chiefs, there were many intellectuals (women & men), students and civic organizations from outside and inside of the country attending the summit. All chiefs unanimously signed declaration communiqué on November 22, 2007. The communiqué states that the Dulbahante clan is not part of (and was never part of) and does not recognize the administration that calls itself "Somaliland" and that there are no agreements between Dulbahante clan and "Somaliland", in the past or the present. The communiqué also calls for an immediate end of hostility, return of customary peaceful co-existences among clans and an unconditional removal of the Somaliland militia from their territory. Finally, chiefs declared that the Dulbahante clan stands for the Somali unity. In the anniversary of their historic summit in Boocame in November 2007, the Dulbahante Traditional Chiefs (SSC Traditional Leaders Council) reiterated their previous declaration (above) that they are not part of the Somaliland separatist movement. The council sent its pronouncement to the European Union, United Nations Agencies and all NGOs that operate within Somalia.


Architecture


Dhulbahante garesa

In the official Dervish-written letter's description of the 1920 air, sea and land campaign and the fall of Taleh in February 1920, in an April 1920 letter transcribed from the original Arabic script into Italian by the incumbent ''Governatori della Somalia'', the airstriked fortresses were described as twenty-seven ''Dhulbahante garesas'' the British captured from the Dhulbahante clan:Ferro e Fuoco in Somalia, da Francesco Saverio Caroselli, Rome, 1931; p. 272. "i Dulbohanta nella maggior parte si sono arresi agli inglesi e han loro consegnato ventisette garese (case) ricolme di fucili, munizioni e danaro." (English: "the Dhulbahante surrendered for the most part to the British and handed twenty-seven ''garesas'' (houses) full of guns, ammunition and money over to them
viewable link
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Contemporary

Khatumo was responsible for building two airports in the 2010s, initially at Taleh, and subsequently at Buuhoodle. Hass Petroleum, owned by a Dhulbahante is co-developing the Pinnacle Towers project in Nairobi along with ''White Lotus Group'', a Dubai-based investment firm.


Sub-clans

The clan is divided into two major sub-clans: Mohamoud Garad and Farah Garad. The other sub-clans amalgamate in a loose political and social clan confederation referred to as
Baho Nugaaled The Baho Nugaaleed ( so, Baho Nugaaleed, ar, باهو نوغال), is a loose Somali clan confederation that is part of the Dhulbahante clan-family. The primary homeland of these clans include the regions of Sool and Togdheer in Somaliland, the L ...
. The Dhulbahante has a varying assortment of political subdivisions which in order of size include the highest-level segmentations such as Mohamoud Garad, disparate Dhulbahante political alliances such as Shiikhyaale and Dharbash, ''xeer groups'' or ''chief caaqil'' groups such as ''Bah Cali Geri'' (including Farah Adan & Odala Samakab) or Ararsame (including Wacays Adan and Reer Hagar), and the smallest, the dia-paying groups, such as Rikhaaye subclan of Naleeye Ahmed, the Farah Hagar subclan of Ararsame, or Ebirar subclan of Baho Nugaaleed. The ''gaashaanbuur xeer group'' or ''chief caaqil group'' is smaller with a lower level agnation than ''garaad guud'' (supreme garaad) group, although larger and a higher level agnation that the typical dia group. Of these three levels of segmentation, only the chief caaqil group is simultaneously tied to a xeer (heer) group. For example, heer laws presented to the Nugal district commissioner in 1947 by various ''gaashaanbuur xeer groups'' or ''chief caaqil'' groups were as disparate as disavowing endogamy, regarding insults at a ''shir'' (council) as liable to a payment of a 150 shilling fine, and ingraining patriarchal norms. Pre-independence, the Farah Garad had three chief caaqils, including the Baharsame, which likewise represented Yasin Garad, the Ararsame chief caaqil (Reer Hagar), which likewise represented Wacays Adan, and the ''Bah Cali Gheri'' chief Caaqil, which likewise represented a oneling segmentation: The Ararsame chief caaqil represents the Ararsame twin duo (Hagar and Wacays Adan), whilst the Bah Cali Geri chief caaqil is a oneling segmentation.


Segmentation

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. Within the Dhulbahante clan, according to the anthropologist I.M. Lewis, the Dhulbahante are divided into 50 groups which pay '' diyya'' (or blood money for their members). These are gathered into four lineages of unequal size: the Muuse Si'iid, who made up the majority of the clan ''circa'' 1960, and in turn is highly segmented into numerous lineages; the Ahmed Si'id also known as ''Hayaag'', which Lewis estimated to number 1,000 male members at the time, and the Mohamed Si'iid, and the Yuunis Si'iid, which he described as "small, insignificant, and incapable of independent political action." The following summarized clan tree presented below is taken from John Hunt's ''A general survey of the Somaliland Protectorate (1944-1950)'': * Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (
Darod The Darod ( so, Daarood, ar, دارود) is a Somali clan. The forefather of this clan was Sheikh Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, more commonly known as ''Darood''. The clan primarily settles the apex of the Horn of Africa and its peripherie ...
) ** Mohamed Abdirahman (Kabalalah) *** Abdi Mohamed (Kombe) ****Salah Abdi ( Harti) *****Said Abdi (Dhulbahante)


Notable figures


Dynasties

* ''Soofe dynasty'' of the ''Bah Ali Gheri'' * ''Bulay dynsaty'' of the ''Barkad'' * ''Amey dynasty'' or ''Kooreeye dynasty'' of Ararsame * ''Shirshoore dynasty'' of Baharsame and Dhulbahante in general * ''Ali Xaram dynasty'' of the ''
Maxamuud Garaad The Mohamoud Garad ( so, Maxamuud Garaad, ar, محمود جراد, Full Name:'' ’Mohamoud Shirshore Habarwa Abdullah Muse Said Saleh Abdi Mohamed Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti'' ) is a Somali clan. Its members form a part of the Dhulba ...
''


Dynasts

* Garad Abdiqani Garad Jama, Former Garad of the Dhulbahante and the first delegate to table the case for Somaliland's secession at the Burao Grand Conference of 1991 * Garad
Jama Garad Ali Garad Jama Garad Ali ( so, Garaad Jaamac Garaad Cali, ar, (جراد جامع جراد علي is the supreme traditional clan chief ( Garad) of the Dhulbahante. On May 22, 2006 he was crowned in Las Anod in the presences of a large crowd, includ ...
, Garad of the Dhulbahante Clan. * Xasan Deyl, chief caaqil of Bah Cali Gheri during independence * Garaad Abdulahi Garaad Soofe, first chief caaqil of Bah Cali Gheri in the 21st century * Yuusuf Kooreeye, chief caaqil of Ararsame during and prior to independence * Omar Amey, the chief caaqil of Ararsame during colonialism *
Maxamed Cali Bulay The Dhulbahante Garadship is presumed to have began in the 16th century with Garad Shishore assuming the royal title in approximately 1530. During the 19th century, the Dhulbahante garadate morphed into a dual monarchy. The current Garad, Ga ...
, chief caaqil of Barkad during colonialism


Prime ministers

* Ali Khalif Galaydh, Ex-Prime minister of Somalia and Khaatumo President. *
Xaashi Suni Fooyaan Xaashi Suni Fooyaan was a Darawiish politician who is described as a Qusuusi (counsellor) in native Somali sources, and as peace-time Darawiish prime minister in colonial sources. Biography The majority of attributions ascribed to Xaashi Suni F ...
, Dervish peace-time prime minister


Presidents

* Abdihakim Amey, former Puntland vice-president. * Abdisamad Ali Shire, former Puntland vice-president. * Ahmed Elmi Osman, Former President of Khaatumo and Incumbent Vice President of
Puntland Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
. *
Mohamed Yusuf Jama Mohamed Yusuf Jama () commonly called Indhosheel is a Somali politician. He was governor of Mudug and the president of Khatumo State. On 18 March 2014, he arrived in Mogadishu to break off Khatumo's relationship with the Federal Government of S ...
, former Khatumo president. *
Mohamed Abdi Hashi Mohamed Abdi Hashi ( so, Maxamed Cabdi Xaashi, ar, محمد عبدي هاشي; died 12 July 2020) was a Somali politician, who served as the president of USP during the 1990s. He hailed from the Dhulbahante clan, Qayaad sub clan. He was the ...
, President of
Puntland Puntland ( so, Puntland, ar, أرض البنط, it, Terra di Punt or ''Paese di Punt''), officially the Puntland State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Puntland ee Soomaaliya, ar, ولاية أرض البنط الصومالية), is a F ...
.


Dervishes

* Ali Suji, highest ranked Shiikhyaale general in 1903 * Ismail Mire, latter Shiikhyaale supreme commander, poet. * Ibraahin Xoorane, assassinator of Richard Corfield


Enterprisers

* Abdinasir Ali Hassan, Chairman of Hass petroleum. * Hodan Nalayeh, Somali-Canadian journalist. *
Abdi Holland The Music of the Somali people () is music following the musical styles, techniques and sounds of the Somali people. Overview Traditional Somali music Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore. Soma ...
, Somali artist. * Aw Jama, Somali scholar, historian and collector of oral literature of Somalia. He wrote the first authoritative study of Dervishes. * Saado Ali Warsame, singer-songwriter and former MP in the Federal Parliament of Somalia. * Ali Dhuh, retorting poet. * Amina Mohamed, former Chairman of the INM and the WTO's General Council, and the current Secretary for Foreign Affairs of
Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...
. * Abdi Bile, Somalia's most decorated athlete with the most Somali national records. *
Mohamed Suleiman Mohammad Ahmed Suleiman ( ar, محمد أحمد سليمان; born 23 November 1969) is a Qatari middle-distance runner of Somali descent that won Qatar its first Olympic medal ever. Career Suleiman was born in Buuhoodle, Somalia to a noble line ...
, first ethnic Somali to win an Olympic medal.


Security

*
Mohamed Adam Ahmed General Mohamed Adam Ahmed (born 1950) was the Chief Staff of Somali Armed Forces. He took charge on 24 September 2015 after a major reshuffle in Somali force leaders including police. He served until April 2017, where he was replaced when Pres ...
, former Chief of Staff of the Somali Armed Forces. *
Abdi Hassan Mohamed Abdi Hassan Mohamed "Hijaar" ( so, Cabdi Xasan Maxamed Xijaar, ar, عبدي حسن محمد حجار) is a Somali police chief and former Army officer. He is the current Police Commissioner of the Somali Police Force. Career Hijar was born in ...
, Incumbent Police Commissioner of the Somali Police Force. *
Mohamed Isse Lacle Eng. Mohamed Isse Ali ( so, Maxamed Ciise Cali, ar, محمد عيسى علي) (born in 1956), also known as Col. Mohamed Isse Ganaje, is a Somali engineer, Navy commander, and politician. Lacle has extensive experience in naval warfare, electric ...
, Colonel in the Somali Navy and Former Deputy Minister of Ministry of Ports in Somaliland. *
Saleban Essa Ahmed Saleban Essa Ahmed "Haglotosiye" ( so, Saleeban Ciise Axmed “Xaglatoosiye”), is a prominent Somali politician who was the leader of the SSC Movement and served as Somaliland's Minister of Health. Haglotosiye has had an elaborate career i ...
, SSC Leader.


Politicians

*
Bashe Mohamed Farah Bashe Mohamed Farah ( so, Baashe Maxamed Faarax, Arabic: باشى محمد فارح) is a Somali politician who was the speaker of the House of Representatives of Somaliland The House of Representatives ( so, Golaha Wakiilada, ar, مجلس ...
, Speaker of Somaliland House of Representative. * Faisal Hassan, Canadian politician. * Ibraahim Guure, natural resources minister of Khatumo * Ali Jangali Somalia's minister of foreign affairs. *
Ahmed Gacmayare Ahmed Gacmayare is a Somali politician who was from 2008 until 2012 the spokesperson for the SSC movement, and in 2012 became the minister for information and culture. See also *Politics of Somalia The politics of Somalia takes place in a f ...
, former Information Minister for Khaatumo State. * Yasin Haji Mohamoud, Foreign Minister of Somaliland. *
Abdiqani Mohamoud Jidhe Abdiqani Mohamoud Jidhe ( so, Cabdiqani Maxamuud Jiidhe) is a Somali politician, who is currently serving as the Governor of Gebiley region of Somaliland since November 2021. He was also the former Governor of Sool region of Somaliland assumed of ...
, Somaliland appointed Governor of Sool. *
Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi Hashi Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi Hashi ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Cabdi Xaashi, is a Somali politician, former minister of fisheries and marine resources in the Federal Government of Somalia. Hashi is the son of co-founder and the former president of ...
, Former Somali Minister of Fisheries. *
Mohamoud Diriye Abdi Joof Mohamoud Diriye Abdi Joof is a Somali politician who served as the minister of social services for Khatumo State from 2012 to 2016. See also *Politics of Somalia The politics of Somalia takes place in a framework of federal parliamentary ...
, former Khaatumo Minister.


Notes


References

{{Somali clans Somali clans Somali clans in Ethiopia