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 Afar may refer to: Peoples and languages *Afar language, an East Cushitic language *Afar people, an ethnic group of Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia Places Horn of Africa *Afar Desert or Danakil Desert, a desert in Ethiopia *Afar Region, a region ...

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 Dir trace their ancestry to Aqil ibn Abi Talib (),. 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 ().. 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 Pastoralist may refer to: * Pastoralism, raising livestock on natural pastures * Pastoral farming, settled farmers who grow crops to feed their livestock * People who keep or raise sheep, sheep farming Sheep farming or sheep husbandry is the r ...

clans such as the Dir, the Hawiye, 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. 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 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 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 II ...

(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, Gurgura, 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 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 ...

and used to be part of Adal Sultanate 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 The Oromo (pron. Oromo: ''Oromoo'') are a Cushitic ethnic group native to the Oromia region of Ethiopia and parts of Northern Kenya, who speak the Oromo language (also called ''Afaan Oromoo'' or ''Oromiffa''), which is part of the Cushitic br ...

took advantage and were able to penetrate through the city and settle into these areas and also assimilate some of the local Gurgura clan. The Somali Dir clan used to be the predominant inhabitants of Hararghe Highlands in the medieval times until the weakening of Adal Sultanate the opportunist

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, Gurgura, Nole, Metta, Oborra and

Bursuk The Bursuuk or also written as Barsuk or Barsuq or Barsuug (Somali: Barsuug) is a clan belonging to Madahweyne sub clan of the Dir clan family. They largely live in Ethiopia, in the Somali Region, especially around the ancient city of Harar and b ...

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 Gurgura, Issa,

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 Adal Sultanate 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 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 The Bimal Resistance also known as Bimal revolt, Bimal resistance or Merca revolt was a guerrilla war against the Italian Somaliland in southern Somalia. Named after the Bimal clan since they were the major element in the resistance. It was fough ...

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 clan, which they were victorious in.

Lineage

I.M. Lewis and many sources maintain that the Dir, a Proto-Somali, 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 Darod clan Although some sources state it was the daughter of Hawiye who Darod married. Dir clan lineages: *Madahweyne Dir - Akisho, (

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 ...

), Gurgura, Barsuug *Madaluug Dir -

*Madoobe Dir - Issa *Mahe Dir - Biimaal, 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 * Akisho * 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 ...

* Gurgura "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 *******(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 The Reer Nuur (Somali: Reer Nuur, ) also known as Nuur Yoonis (), is a noble northern Somali clan, a sub-division of the Makahiil sub-clan of the Gadabursi clan family. Overview The Reer Nuur are one of the biggest sub-divisions of the Gadabursi ...

) ******** 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 ***** Akisho *****Jaarso ***** Gurgura *****

*****Gariire *****

****Mahe *****

***** Surre *****Quranyow
Garre
***** Biimaal ******Gaadsen ******Daadoow ******Sa'ad ******Da'ud ******Suleiman (Saleiban) ******Ismiin *****Bajimal

Notable Dir figures

Ahmed Shide Ahmed Shide or Ahmed Shidde ( so, Axmed Shiide), is a Somali-Ethiopian politician and the former chair of the somali political party of the Somali regional state. He is a member of the Federal parliament and was a member of the ruling party Ethi ...

, current minister of finance of

. *

Abdi Hassan Buni Abdi Hassan Buni or Abdi Hassan Buuni ( so, Cabdi Xassan Buuni, ar, عبدي حسن بوني) was a Somali Politician, Minister under the British Somaliland Protectorate and was the first Deputy Prime Minister of the Somali Republic. He was par ...

, 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 brothe ...

, 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 Abdi Warsame Isaq (d. September 10, 2011 in London, England), or more famously known as Colonel Abdi Warsame Isaq, ( so, Cabdi Warsame Isaaq, ar, عبدي ورسمة اساق ) was the chairman of the Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM), a m ...

, chairman of the Southern Somali National Movement. *

Abdikarim Yusuf Adam General Abdikarim Yusuf Adam ( so, Cabdikariim Yuusuf Aadam, ar, عبد الكريم يوسف آدم) was a Somali military official. He was the Chief of Army until his death by gunshot on November 1, 2015. He hailed from the Surre clan one of ...

, 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 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 Foreign Affairs Minister of Somalia an economist * Abdirahman Ibbi, 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, novelist *

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

, 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,

Minister Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

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 *

Aden Robleh Awaleh Aden Robleh Awaleh ()(1941 – 31 October 2014.) was a Djiboutian politician and President of the National Democratic Party (PND).''Political Parties of the World'' (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, pages 180–181. He was a member ...

, president of the National Democratic Party. * Aden Nuriye, part of the prominent Ambassadorial Brothers, and former

Djiboutian The Djiboutians (french: Djiboutiens) are the people inhabiting or originating from Djibouti. The country is mainly composed of two ethnic groups, the Somali and the Afar. It has many languages - though Somali and Afar are the most widely spo ...

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 Ahmed Ismail Samatar ( so, Axmed Ismaaciil Samatar, ar, أحمد إسماعيل سمتر) is a Somali writer, professor and former dean of the ''Institute for Global Citizenship'' at Macalester College. He is the editor of ''Bildhaan: An Interna ...

, 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 House ...

* Ato Shemsedin, 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 Ayanleh Souleiman (born 3 December 1992), also known as ''Hassan Ayanleh'' ( so, Xasan Ayaanle Saleebaan) is a Djiboutian middle distance runner who specialises in the 1500 metres. He is the Djiboutian record holder for the distance, with his be ...

, Djiboutian athlete *

Barkhad Awale Adan Barkhad Awale Adan, also spelled Burkhat, ( so, Barkhad Cawaale Aadan) was a Somali journalist. He was the Director of Radio Hurma, based in Mogadishu, Somalia. He was killed in 2010 by a stray bullet during intensive fighting between Al-Shabaa ...

, 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 Speci ...

, Djiboutian politician * Dahir Riyale Kahin, third President of Somaliland *

Djama Ali Moussa Djama Ali Moussa Zayli'i ( so, Jaamac Cali Muuse Saylici, ar, جمة علي موسي) was a Somali politician. He was a politician of the former French Somaliland, currently known as Djibouti. Born in Awdal, he became one of the first Sena ...

. 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 Somali Republic 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 th ...

(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 caree ...

, American distance runner *

Hassan Sheikh Mumin Hassan Sheikh Mumin ( so, Xasan Sheekh Muumiin, ar, حسن الشيخ مؤمن) (1931 – 16 January 2008) was a Somali poet, playwright, broadcaster, actor and composer. Biography Mumin was born in 1931 in the northwestern town of Zelia, ...

, author of ''Shabeel Naagood'' or (''Leopard among the Women'') * Hibo Nura, 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, vice-president of the Government Council of

. *

Ahmed Goumane-Roble Ahmed Goumane Roble ( so, Axmed Guman Rooble) (5 January 1923 – 20 February 2013) was a Djiboutian politician who was elected to the French Senate The Senate (french: Sénat, ) is the upper house of the French Parliament, with the lower hous ...

: Djiboutian Politician * Mawlid Hayir, 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 Lula Ali Ismaïl ( so, Luula Cali Ismaaciil) is a Djibouti-Canadian film director and screenwriter. She is the first woman from Djibouti to produce a film, earning her the nickname of "the first lady of the Djibouti cinema." The directed the 27-mi ...

, Djiboutian-Canadian film director * Aden Farah Samatar, Djiboutian Musician * Moumina Houssein Darar, 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 Xabiiba Balbalaaf ( so, Xabiiba Cabdilaahi), (8 July 1961 – 23 June 2020) was a prominent Djiboutian singer. Biography Habiba Abdillah Waberi was born on the 8 July 1961 in Djibouti, French Somaliland. She lived with her family in Quartier 6, ...

, 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, 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 Omar Farah Iltireh ( so, Cumar Faarax Ciiltire) (born 1933 in Ali-Sabieh, Djibouti) is a politician of the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas (TAFI) became the Republic of Djibouti in 1977. He died in France on May 6, 2008. Career He beg ...

, Djiboutian politician *

Omar Osman Rabe Omar Osman Rabe ( so, Cumar Cismaan Raabi) was a Somali scholar, writer, politician and pan-Somalist of the former Cote Francaise des Somalis or French Somaliland and the Republic of Djibouti. He was born in Dembel in the Shinile region of Eth ...

, 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 Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliteration of Arabic, transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonl ...

, Central Somalia Religious Leader *

Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gafle Sheikh Abdi Abukar Gaafle, Somali: (Sheekh Cabdi Gaafle), was a leader of the Biimaal Revolt against Italian occupation of southern Somalia. Born in Armadow (Ceelwareegow) near Marka District, Somalia in 1852, he died in 1922 in Laantabuur, Raaxo ...

, 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, t ...

. * Suleiman Ahmed Guleid – President of Amoud University *

Sultan Dideh 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 ...

, 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 Gadabursi King''.'' his other nicknames were Elmi D ...

, 13th Malak (King) of the Gadabursi. *

Ughaz Nur II Ughaz Nur II' or Ugas Nur II' ( so, Ugaas Nuur Ugaas Rooble , ar, سلطان نور سلطان روبلي ) also known as ''Ughaz'' ''Nur Robleh'' (1835–1898), was a famous Somali King and poet of the Gadabuursi tribe. History The 11th in lin ...

, 11th Malak (King) of the Gadabursi. * Yacin Bouh, Djiboutian politician. * Yussur Abrar, former governor of the Central Bank of Somalia. * 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