The Dir ( so, Dir) is one of the largest and most prominent Somali clans 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), ...

. They are also considered to be the oldest Somali stock to have inhabited the region. Its members inhabit

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 ...

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 Constituti ...

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 ...

( Somali,

Harar Harar ( amh, ሐረር; Harari: ሀረር; om, Adare Biyyo; so, Herer; ar, هرر) known historically by the indigenous as Gey (Harari: ጌይ ''Gēy'', ) is a walled city in eastern Ethiopia. It is also known in Arabic as the City of Saint ...

Dire Dawa Dire Dawa ( am, ድሬዳዋ, om, Dirree Dhawaa, 3=Place of Remedy; so, Diridhaba, meaning "where Dir hit his spear into the ground" or "The true Dir", ar, ديري داوا,) is a city in eastern Ethiopia near the Oromia and Somali Re ...

Oromia Oromia (Amharic: ) ( om, Oromiyaa) is a regional state in Ethiopia and the homeland of the Oromo people. The capital of Oromia is Addis Ababa. It is bordered by the Somali Region to the east; the Amhara Region, the Afar Region and the Benish ...

and Afar regions), and northeastern

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

( North Eastern Province).Ozzonia (2010), page 7. The Quranyo section of the Garre claim descent from Dirr, who are born of the Irrir Samal.

Origins

Like the great majority of

Somali clans The demographics of Somalis encompass the demographic features of Somalia's inhabitants, including ethnicity, language, population density, education level, health, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Som ...

, the Dir trace their ancestry to

Aqil ibn Abi Talib ʿAqīl ibn Abī Ṭālib (lit. "Aqil the Son of Abu Talib"; full name , ar, أبو يزيد عقيل بن أبي طالب بن عبد المطّلب بن هاشم), , was a cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad () and an older brother of Ali ...

(),. a cousin of the prophet

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 Common Era, CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Muhammad in Islam, Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet Divine inspiration, di ...

() and an older brother of

Ali ibn Abi Talib ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...

() and

Ja'far ibn Abi Talib Jaʿfar ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, جعفر بن أبي طالب September 629), also known as Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār ( ar, جعفر الطيّار, lit=Ja'far the Flyer) was a companion and cousin of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and an older brot ...

().. They trace their lineage to Aqil through

Samaale Samaale, also spelled Samali or Samale ( so, Samaale) is traditionally considered to be the oldest common forefather of several major Somali clans and their respective sub-clans. His name is the source of the ethnonym ''Somali''.. As the purported ...

(the source of the name 'Somali'), the purported forefather of the northern pastoralist clans such as the Dir, the

Hawiye The Hawiye ( so, Hawiye, ar, بنو هوية, it, Hauija) is the largest Somali clan family. Members of this clan traditionally inhabit central and southern Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia ( Somali, Harar, Oromia and Afar regions) and the Nor ...

, and –

matrilineally Matrilineality is the tracing of kinship through the female line. It may also correlate with a social system in which each person is identified with their matriline – their mother's lineage – and which can involve the inheritance ...

through the Dir– 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 ...

and 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 ...

. Although these genealogical claims are historically untenable, they do reflect the longstanding cultural contacts between

(especially, though not exclusively, its most northern part

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

Southern Arabia South Arabia () is a historical region that consists of the southern region of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, mainly centered in what is now the Republic of Yemen, yet it has also historically included Najran, Jizan, Al-Bahah, and 'Asi ...

History

The history of Islam being practised by the Dir clan goes back 1400 years. 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 ...

, a Dir city, a mosque called

Masjid al-Qiblatayn The Masjid al-Qiblatayn ( ar, مسجد القبلتين, lit=Mosque of the Two Qiblas), also spelt Masjid al-Qiblatain, is a mosque in Medina believed by Muslims to be the place where the final Islamic prophet, Muhammad, received the command to ...

is known as the site of where early companions of the Prophet established a mosque shortly after the first

Migration to Abyssinia The migration to Abyssinia ( ar, الهجرة إلى الحبشة, translit=al-hijra ʾilā al-habaša), also known as the First Hijra ( ar, الهجرة الأولى, translit=al-hijrat al'uwlaa, label=none), was an episode in the early histor ...

By the 7th century, a large-scale conversion to Islam was taking place in the Somali peninsula, first spread by the Dir clan family, to the rest of the nation. The early Adal Kingdom (9th century to 13th century) was an exclusive Dir Kingdom with its capital being

. In the 10th century, the Jarso clan a sub-division of Dir established the Dawaro Sultanate centred in Hararghe Highlands. Dir is one of the oldest clans in the Horn of Africa. According to the Muslim chronicles, two of the oldest monarchies in the northern region, the Ifat and Adal sultanates, were led by Dir. The Dir, along with the

Akisho The Akisho ( Somali: ''Akiisho'', Arabic: أكيشو) is a sub-division of the Ali Madahweyne subclan of the Dir clan family. Overview As a Dir sub-clan, the Akisho have immediate lineal ties with the Issa, the Gadabuursi, the Surre (Abdal ...

Gurgura The Gurgure, Gorgorah or Gurgura ( so, Gurgure, om, Gurgura, ar, غرغرة) is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family. Distribution The Gurgure are the majority in the Erer district in the Sitti Zone and Dire Dawa ...

, Issa and

Gadabuursi The Gadabuursi ( Somali: ''Gadabuursi'', Arabic: جادابورسي), also known as ''Samaroon'' (Arabic: ''قبيلة سَمَرُون)'', is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Dir clan family. The Gadabuursi are geographically s ...

subclans of the Dir represent the most native and indigenous Somali

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...

tree in

. The city

was originally called Dir Dhabe and used to be part of

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 ...

during the medieval times and was exclusively settled by Dir which is a major Somali tribe and after the weakening of Adal Sultanate, the Oromos took advantage and were able to penetrate through the city and settle into these areas and also assimilate some of the local

clan. The Somali Dir clan used to be the predominant inhabitants of Hararghe Highlands in the medieval times until the weakening of

the opportunist Oromos took advantage of the crippling state and decided to invade and occupy the Haraghe Highlands and assimilate the local native Somali population which were Jarso,

, Nole, Metta, Oborra and Bursuk who were all sub-clans of Dir a major Somali tribe tree and were later confederated into Oromo Ethnics, the Afran Qallo tribes . The Dir were supporters of

Imam Imam (; ar, إمام '; plural: ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a worship leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Islamic worship services, lead prayers, ser ...

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 ...

during his 16th century conquest of Abyssinia; especially the

, Issa, Bursuk and

. In his medieval ''Futuh Al-Habash'' documenting this campaign, the chronicler Shihāb al-Dīn indicates that thousands of Dir soldiers took part in Imam Ahmad's

army. The Dir clan also led a revolt against the Italians during the colonial period. This revolt was mainly led by the Biimaal section of the Dir. The

Biimaal Overview The Biimaal or Bimal, is a sub-clan of the major Dir clan family. This clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern Somalia for decades which can be compared to the war of the Sayyid in Somaliland. Th ...

clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern

.The Biimaal violently resisted the imposition of colonialism and fought against the Italian colonialists of Italian Somaliland in a twenty-year war known as the Bimal revolt in which many of their warriors assassinated several Italian governors. This revolt can be compared to the war of the Mad Mullah in

. The Biimaal mainly lives 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 ...

, which their Gaadsen sub-clan mainly inhabits and in the NEP region of

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. The Biimaal are pastoralists. They were also successful merchants and traders in the 19th century. In the 19th century they have engaged in multiple wars with the

Geledi The Geledi are a Somali clan that live predominantly in the environs of Afgooye city. They are a sub-clan of the Rahanweyn and led the Geledi sultanate during the late 17th to early 20th century. They are divided into two main lineage groups: the ...

clan, which they were victorious in.

Lineage

I.M. Lewis and many sources maintain that the Dir, a

Proto-Somali Proto-Somalis were the ancient people and ancestors of 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 hi ...

, together with the Hawiye trace ancestry through Irir son of Samaale., p
104
Dir is regarded as the father-in-law of Darod, the progenitor of the

clan Although some sources state it was the daughter of

who Darod married. Dir clan lineages: *Madahweyne Dir -

, (

Gurre The Gure or Gurre ( Somali: ''Gurre'') is a Somali clan, a sub-clan of the major Dir clan family. Distribution The Gurre live in Liben zone and Afder zone. They dominate the districts, Qarsadula, Gorobakaks and Guradamol, which are named af ...

, Barsuug *Madaluug Dir -

*Madoobe Dir - Issa *Mahe Dir -

, Surre,

, Quranyow-Garre According to others, Dir had a fifth son, Qaldho Dir. DNA analysis of Dir clan members inhabiting

found that all of the individuals belonged to the Y-DNA T1 paternal haplogroup.

Branches

The main subclans of the Dir today are: 1. Mahe 2. Madaluug 3. Madoobe 4. Madahweyne *

* Issa "Essa" *

Bimaal Overview The Biimaal or Bimal, is a sub-clan of the major Dir clan family. This clan is widely known for leading a resistance against the colonials in southern Somalia for decades which can be compared to the war of the Sayyid in Somaliland. Th ...

"Bimal" *

"Gadabursi" *

Jaarso The Dir ( so, Dir) is one of the largest and most prominent Somali clans in the Horn of Africa. They are also considered to be the oldest Somali stock to have inhabited the region. Its members inhabit Djibouti, Somalia, Ethiopia (Somali, Harar, ...

"Jaarso" * Surre * Quranyow of the

Garre The Garre (also Gurreh, Karre, "Binukaaf") ( Somali: ''Reer Garre'', Arabic: بنو كاف, romanized: ''Banī kāf'' ) is a major Somali clan whose origins trace back to Samaale who traces the lineage from the Arabian Peninsula through Aqiil ...

"Gurgure" * Gariire "Gerire" * Gurre "Goora" * Bajimal "Bajumal" * Barsuug "Bursuk" For the first time since several centuries the Dir clan which widely dispersed in the Horn of Africa has successfully convened a meeting with all the major Dir subclans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Suldaan Dhawal, of the Habr 'Affan

was elected the head and representative of the Dir clan in the

Clan tree

The following list is based on ''Nuova Antologia'' (1890), I.M. Lewis's book ''People of the Horn of Africa'', and a paper published in March 2002 by Ambroso Guido: ''Clanship, Conflict and Refugees: An Introduction to Somalis in the Horn of Africa.'' *Samaale **Irir ***Dir ****Mahe Dir ****Murdadle *****Madobe ****** Issa *******Eleye *******Walaldon *******Horone *******Furlabe *******Urweyn *******Wardiq ****Madaluug ***** Gadabursi/Samaron ***Ali Gadabuursi *****Gobe siciid *****Jibraacin siciid *****Samaroon Siciid *******Yuusuf Samaroon

abar Yuusuf Abar may refer to: * ''Abar'' (album), an album by Bangladeshi rock band Black *'' Abar, the First Black Superman'', a film * Abar (Queen), a Nubian queen dated to the Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt * Abar language People with the surname *Saber Ab ...

*******(Ciise Samaroon) ********cisman ciise ********Qeyr ciise *******Siciid Samaroon ******Habar Makador *******Makahil ******** Makail Dera (

Makayl-Dheere The Makayl-Dheere (English: Makail Dera, Somali: Makayldheere, Amharic: ሚካኤል ዳራ, Arabic:مكائيل ديري) also known as ''Makaahiil-Dheere (Makayldheere)'', is a northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Makahiil sub-clan of the ...

) ********Bahabar Abdalo ********Celi makaahiil ********Ciye makaahiil ********hassan makaahiil ahabar Xasan********muuse makaahiil ********jibriil muuse (( Afgaduud )) ********Bah sanayo ******** jibril Yūnus ******** Adan Yūnus ******** Nur Yūnus ( Reer Nuur) ******** Ali Yoonis *******Mahad 'Asse ********Reer maxamed ********Bahabr Abokr ********Bahabr Aden ********Bahabr 'Eli ********Abrayn ********Bahabar muuse ******Habar 'Affan ********muusafiin ********reer xaamud ********faroole ********xeebjire ********cali ganuun ****Madahwein *****

*****Jaarso *****

*****

*****Gariire ***** Bursuk ****Mahe *****

***** Surre *****Quranyow
Garre
*****

******Gaadsen ******Daadoow ******Sa'ad ******Da'ud ******Suleiman (Saleiban) ******Ismiin *****Bajimal

Notable Dir figures

* Ahmed Shide, current minister of finance of

. * Abdi Hassan Buni, politician, minister of British Somaliland and first deputy prime minister of the Somali Republic. *

Abdi Ismail Samatar Abdi Ismail Samatar ( so, Cabdi Ismaaciil Samatar, ar, عبدي إسماعيل ساماتار) (born 1950) is a Somali scholar, writer and professor of geography. Personal life Samatar was born in 1956 in Gabiley in Somaliland. He is the brother ...

, Somali scholar, writer and professor. * Ahmad-Naaji Ibrahim Bakal, Charge d’ Affaires a.i. of the League of Arab States in South Africa. *

Abdi Sinimo Abdi Sinimo ( so, Cabdi Siniimoo, ar, سنيمو) (born 1920, died 1967) was a Somali singer, songwriter, poet and musical innovator. He is noted for having established the Balwo genre of Somali music, which was the forerunner of the Heelo genre ...

, a Somali singer and songwriter, noted for having established the

balwo Balwo is a style of music and poetry practiced in Somalia as well as Djibouti. Its lyrical contents often deal with love and passion. The Balwo genre was founded by Abdi Sinimo. Origins The Balwo genre was founded by Abdi Sinimo, a Somali of the ...

genre of

Somali music 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 ...

. * Abdi Warsame Isaq, chairman of the Southern Somali National Movement. * Abdikarim Yusuf Adam, previous leader of Somali National Army *

Abdirahman Aw Ali Farrah Abdirahman Aw Ali Farrah, nicknamed Tolwaa ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Aw Cali Faarax, ar, عبدالرحمن أو علي فارح) is a Somali politician who was the third Vice President of Somaliland from May 1995 to February 1997. History Abdirahm ...

, first Somaliland Vice President between 1993 and 1997. * Abdirahman Beyle, former Foreign Affairs Minister of Somalia an economist *

Abdirahman Ibbi Abd al-Rahman ( ar, عبد الرحمن, translit=ʿAbd al-Raḥmān or occasionally ; DIN 31635, DMG ''ʿAbd ar-Raḥman''; also Abdul Rahman) is a male Arabic Muslim given name, and in modern usage, surname. It is built from the Arabic words '' ...

, former Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Minister of Information and is serving as Member of the Federal Parliament of Somalia. * Abdirahman Sayli'i, current vice-president of Somaliland * Abdo Hamargoodh, Djiboutian musician * Said Hamargoodh, Djiboutian musician *

Abdourahman Waberi Abdourahman A. Waberi ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Waaberi) is a novelist, essayist, poet, academic and short-story writer from Djibouti. Early life Abdourahman Waberi was born in Djibouti City in the French Somali Coast, the current Republic of Djibouti. ...

, novelist *

Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail ( so, Cabdullaahi Sheekh Ismaaciil, ar, عبد الله الشيخ إسماعيل) (died 7 May 2021) was a Somali politician. Abdulahi belongs to the Biimal clan of Dir. he worked as Translator to Somali parliament in 19 ...

, former Somali Ambassador to Russian federation and former foreign minister * Abdusalam Hadliye, Foreign Affairs Minister of Somalia; former Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia *

Aden Isaq Ahmed Aden Isaq Ahmed or Aden Isaaq Ahmed ( so, Aden Isaaq Axmed ama Aden Isxaaq Axmed, ar, أدن اساق أحمد), was a Somali politician of the former Somali Republic. Known for being Statesman, Minister and Politician of the former Somali Repu ...

, Minister and

Politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

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 o ...

* Aden Robleh Awaleh, president of the National Democratic Party. * Aden Nuriye, part of the prominent Ambassadorial Brothers, and former Djiboutian ambassador and current adviser to the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

* Ahmed Gerri of the Habar Maqdi (Makadi)/Makadur of the Conquest of Abyssinia * Ahmed Boulaleh, Djiboutian politician * Ahmed Gabobe, Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs of Somalia. * Ahmed Ismail Samatar, Somali writer, professor and former dean of the ''Institute for Global Citizenship'' at Macalester College. Editor of ''Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies'' *

Ato Hussein Ismail Hussein Ismail or Husein ismail ( so, Xuseen Ismaaciil, ar, حسين إسماعيل, ) also known as Ato Hussein Ismail was a Somali Ethiopian politician who held several spots in the Ethiopian government. He is the first Somali to be promote ...

. Ethiopian long-serving

Statesman A statesman or stateswoman typically is a politician who has had a long and respected political career at the national or international level. Statesman or Statesmen may also refer to: Newspapers United States * ''The Statesman'' (Oregon), a n ...

and first Somali to become member of the

Ethiopian Parliament The Federal Parliamentary Assembly ( am, የፌዴራል ፓርላማ ምክር ቤት, Ye-Fēdēralawī Parilama Mikir Bēt) is Ethiopia's federal legislature. It consists of two chambers: *The House of Federation (upper chamber) *The Hou ...

Ato Shemsedin ATO may refer to: Technology * Abort to Orbit, an intact abort procedure for Space Shuttle launches *Arsenic trioxide a potent chemotherapeutic agent for acute promyelocytic leukemia * ATO fuse * Automatic train operation *Assisted take off Mili ...

, Somali Ethiopian Politician, previous Ethiopian ambassador to Djibouti, Kenya, Deputy Minister of Mining and Energy and first Vice Chairman and one of the founders of ESDL * Ayanleh Souleiman, Djiboutian athlete * Barkhad Awale Adan, Somali journalist and director of Radio Hurma *

Daher Ahmed Farah Daher Ahmed Farah, ( so, Daahir Axmed Faarax) also known as DAF, is a Djiboutian politician and writer, who was born in 1962 in Dikhil. Biography Training In 1983 Farah was an Inter-African admission to the annual entry competition at the Ecole ...

, Djiboutian politician *

Dahir Riyale Kahin Dahir Riyale Kahin ( so, Daahir Riyaale Kaahin, ar, ظاهر ريالي كاهن) (born 12 March 1952) is a Somaliland politician who was President of Somaliland from 2002 to 2010. He previously served as a senior officer in the National Secur ...

, third President of Somaliland * Djama Ali Moussa. First Senator of

French Somaliland French Somaliland (french: Côte française des Somalis, lit= French Coast of the Somalis so, Xeebta Soomaaliyeed ee Faransiiska) was a French colony in the Horn of Africa. It existed between 1884 and 1967, at which time it became the French Ter ...

* Djama Rabile, a Somali

statesman A statesman or stateswoman typically is a politician who has had a long and respected political career at the national or international level. Statesman or Statesmen may also refer to: Newspapers United States * ''The Statesman'' (Oregon), a n ...

of the former

and

Somali Democratic Republic The Somali Democratic Republic ( so, Jamhuuriyadda Dimuqraadiya Soomaaliyeed; ar, الجمهورية الديمقراطية الصومالية, ; it, Repubblica Democratica Somala) was the name that the socialist military government gave to Som ...

. * Haji Ibrahim Nur, minister, merchant and politician of former British Somaliland Protectorate *

Hassan Gouled Aptidon Hassan Gouled Aptidon ( so, Xasan Guuleed Abtidoon; ar, حسن جوليد أبتيدون) (October 15, 1916 – November 21, 2006) was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999. Biography He was born in the small village of Gerisa in t ...

(1916-2006), first

President of Djibouti This is a list of presidents of Djibouti. Since the establishment of the office of president in 1977, there have been two presidents. The president is both head of state and head of government of Djibouti and the commander-in-chief of the Djibo ...

from 1977 to 1999. *

Hassan Mead Hassan Mead ( Somali: Xassan Miicaad, ar, حسن ميد; born June 28, 1989) is a Somali-American long-distance runner. He was a cross country and track athlete for the University of Minnesota. An eight-time All-American in his Minnesota care ...

, American distance runner * Hassan Sheikh Mumin, author of ''Shabeel Naagood'' or (''Leopard among the Women'') *

Hibo Nura Hibo Mohamed Nur, more famously known as Hibo Nura (Somali: Hibo Nuura, Hibo Maxamed Nuur, is one of the most prominent Somali singers born in 1954. History Hibo Mohamed Hudon, known as Hibo Nuura was born in Dilla, Somalia in 1954. Nuura began ...

, a Somali singer *

Hussein Ahmed Salah Hussein Ahmed Salah ( ar, حسين أحمد صلاح, so, Xuseen Axmed Saalax) is a Djiboutian former long-distance runner, best known for winning a bronze medal in the marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He also won silver medals in this eve ...

, Djiboutian marathon runner. *

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh Ismaïl Omar Guelleh ( so, Ismaaciil Cumar Geelle ar, إسماعيل عمر جليه) (born 27 November 1947) is the current President of Djibouti. He has been in office since 1999, making him one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa. He is ...

, current President of Djibouti * Ismail Nuriye, part of the prominent Ambassadorial Brothers, and former

n ambassador *

Khadija Qalanjo Khadija Qalanjo ( so, Khadiija Qalanjo, ar, خديجة قالانجو) is a popular Somali singer and folklore dancer in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the first miss Somalia. Qalanjo was the singer that started the modernization and enhancemen ...

, a popular Somali singer *

Mahmoud Harbi Mahamoud Harbi Farah ( ar, محمود الحربي, so, Maxamuud Xarbi Faarax) (1921 – 29 September 1960) was a Djiboutian politician of Somali ethnicity. A pan-Somalist, he was the Vice President of the Government Council of French Somal ...

, vice-president of the Government Council of

. * Ahmed Goumane-Roble: Djiboutian Politician *

Mawlid Hayir Mawlid Hayir—more fully, in Somali language, Somali, Mudane Mawliid Haayir Xassan, meaning the Honorable Mawlid Hayir Hassan—is the regional vice-president of one of the nine Regions of Ethiopia, divisions (''kililoch'') of Ethiopia: the Somali ...

, current vice-president and minister of education and former governor of

Jigjiga 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 ...

of the Somali region of Ethiopia. * Mohamed Fourchette, Djiboutian musician * Lula Ali Ismaïl, Djiboutian-Canadian film director * Aden Farah Samatar, Djiboutian Musician *

Moumina Houssein Darar Moumina Houssein Darar ( so, Muumina Xuseen Darar; Arabic: مؤمنة حسين درار), is a Djiboutian Anti-Terrorism police investigator. She was recognised as a Woman of Courage by the American Secretary of State in 2019. Life Moumina Ho ...

, Djiboutian Anti-Terrorism police investigator. * Aden Farah, Speaker of House of Federation -

Fadumo Ahmed Dhimbiil Fadumo Ahmed Dhimbiil ( so, Faadumo Axmed Dhimbiil; 1948 – May 24, 2018) was a Djiboutian poet, singer, and songwriter. Biography Fadumo Ahmed Dhimbiil was born in 1948 in Djibouti, French Somaliland. She lived with her family in Quartier 6, ...

, Djiboutian Musician * Xabiiba Cabdilaahi, Djiboutian Musician * Mohamed Dubad, Somali politician, served as member of

parliament and Charge D'Affaires in the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...

* Mohamed Nuriye, part of the prominent Ambassadorial Brothers, and former ambassador for

. * Moumin Bahdon, Djiboutian politician. *

Mumin Gala Mumin Booqora Gala or (Moumin Guelleh) ( so, Muumin Geele) (born 6 September 1986 in Djibouti City, Djibouti) is a Djiboutian runner. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 5000m event and placed thirteenth. Running career In 2011, he ...

, Djiboutian athlete * Col. Muse Rabile Ghod, a Somali military leader and

of the

. *

Nima Djama Nima Djama ( so, Nimco Jaamac; born 1948) is a composer and singer from Djibouti. In 1976, Nima Djama sang a famous patriotic tune for Djibouti independence. She is also heavily involved in Djiboutian politics. Biography Nima Djama was born in 1 ...

, Djiboutian musician *

, Djiboutian marathon runner. * Omar Farah Iltireh, Djiboutian politician * Omar Osman Rabe, Somali scholar, writer, professor, politician and pan-Somalist. *

Roble Olhaye Roble Olhaye (24 April 1944 – 22 July 2015) was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations for the Republic of Djibouti. He was the Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States from 1988 ...

, permanent representative to the United Nations for the Republic of Djibouti. * Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Ibrahim, * Sheikh Yusuf Direed, Central Somalia Religious Leader * Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gafle, famous religious leader and warrior * Sheikh 'Abdurahman Sh. Nur, religious leader, qādi and the inventor of the

Borama script The Gadabuursi script also known as the Borama alphabet (Borama: ), is a writing script for the Somali language. It was devised around 1933 by Sheikh Abdurahman Sh. Nur of the Gadabuursi clan. History Though not as widely known as Osmanya, ...

. *

Suleiman Ahmed Guleid Suleiman Ahmed Gulaid ( so, Saleebaan Axmed Guuleed, ar, سليمان احمد جوليد) is a Somali educator and the president of Amoud University Amoud University ( so, Jaamacada Camuud) is a comprehensive public university, located in t ...

– President of

Amoud University Amoud University ( so, Jaamacada Camuud) is a comprehensive public university, located in the city of Borama in Somaliland. The university started in 1998 with 66 students in two faculties (Education and Business Administration), and three tea ...

* Sultan Dideh, sultan of Zeila, prosperous merchant and built first mosque in Djibouti. He also proposed the name "Cote francaise des Somalis" to the French *

Ughaz 'Elmi Warfa Ughaz 'Elmi Roble Warfa or Ughaz 'Elmi Roble Warfa ( so, italic=yes, Ugaas Cilmi Rooble Warfaa. Cilmi Dheere , ar, سلطان علمي روبل ورفا ) also known as Elmi Warfa'' was a Gadabuursi, Gadabursi King''.'' his other nicknames we ...

, 13th Malak (King) of the Gadabursi. * Ughaz Nur II, 11th Malak (King) of the Gadabursi. * Yacin Bouh, Djiboutian politician. * Yussur Abrar, former governor of the

Central Bank of Somalia The Central Bank of Somalia (CBS) ( so, Bankiga Dhexe ee Soomaaliya, ar, البنك المركزي الصومالي) is the monetary authority of Somalia. Somalia has struggled to reestablish a functioning state since the collapse of an autho ...

. * Yusuf Tallan, previous leader of Somali National Army *

Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn ( ar, يوسف بن أحمد الكونين) (b. 10th century), popularly known as Aw Barkhadle ("Blessed Father")Abdullahi, p.13 or Yusuf Al Kownayn, was a Muslim scholar and traveler. Based on reference to Yusuf Al Ka ...

Historical publications

*Bughyaat al-amaal fii taariikh as-Soomaal, published in Mogadishu, Shariif 'Aydaruus Shariif 'Ali * Political History of Lower Shabelle, Dr. Mohamed Abukar Mahad (Gaetano)

Notes

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dir (Clan) Somali clans Somali clans in Ethiopia