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 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 ...

. The clan is one of the largest constituent sub-clans of the

. The majority of the Marehan live in 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 t ...

in southern

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 ...

, as well as the

Galguduud Galguduud ( so, Galgaduud, ar, جلجدود, it, Galgudud or ''Ghelgudud'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') of Galmudug state in central Somalia. Its administrative capital is Dusmareb. The largest town in the region is Abudwak, whi ...

and

Mudug Mudug ( so, Mudug; it, Mudugh) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north-central Somalia. The population of Mudug is 131,455 as of 2005. Overview Physiographically, Mudug is bordered to the west by Ethiopia,Országismertető - Szomália ...

regions in central Somalia, 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 ...

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 ...

and the North Eastern Province of

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

Overview

One of the earliest mentions of this Somali clan may be by the

Jesuit , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

Jerónimo Lobo Jerónimo Lobo (1595 – 29 January 1678) was a Portuguese Jesuit missionary. He took part in the unsuccessful efforts to convert Ethiopia from the native Ethiopian church to Roman Catholicism until the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1643. Aft ...

, who attempted to enter Ethiopia by way of the

Jubba River The Jubba River or Juba River ( so, Wabiga Jubba) is a river in southern Somalia which flows through the autonomous region of Jubaland. It begins at the border with Ethiopia, where the Dawa and Ganale Dorya rivers meet, and flows directly south ...

in 1624. He learned of an ethnic group known as the ''Maracatos'', whom C.F. Beckingham identifies as the Marehan, and whom Lobo located in the approximate location of the Somali clan. Between the 17th and 18th centuries, the Marehan were reported to have lived in an area that extended from the

Bandar Siyada Qaw ( so, Qaw), also known as Bandar Siyada, is a populated place in the northeastern Bari region of Somalia. Qaw is situated in the Bosaso District of the autonomous Puntland region. The town was founded by the Warsangali and Majeerteen. It hos ...

on the Gulf of Aden to beyond Ras el-Khail on the Indian Ocean, or much of northern Somalia. The clan are recorded as having played a significant role in

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 Ibrihim 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 Sultan ...

's campaigns against

during the 16th century. The commander of the Somali forces and the closest deputy of the Imam was a Marehan commander,

Garad Garad ( Harari: ገራድ, , , Oromo: ''Garaada'') is a term used to refer to a clan leader or regional administrator. It was used primarily by Muslims in the Horn of Africa that were associated with Islamic states, most notably the Adal Sultanate ...

Ahmed bin Hirabu. The Marehan along with the Habar Makadi/Makadur of the

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 ...

; helped push westward the enemies into the plains of

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 ...

and farther, helping destabilize the highland

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

empire. Evident in these battles were the Somali

archers Archery is the sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows.Paterson ''Encyclopaedia of Archery'' p. 17 The word comes from the Latin ''arcus'', meaning bow. Historically, archery has been used for hunting and combat. In mo ...

, namely the Marehan and the Gerri archers, through whom al-Ghazi was able to defeat the numerically superior Ethiopian Army that consisted of 16,000

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

and more than 200,000

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

. As early as 1650, the Marehan were reported to have lived in

Groups

The

Juba Valley Alliance The Juba Valley Alliance (JVA; Somali: ''Isbahaysiga Dooxada Jubba'') is a political faction of the Somali Civil War. It was the primary opponent of the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM) and the Somali Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) v ...

is a political

faction Faction or factionalism may refer to: Politics * Political faction, a group of people with a common political purpose * Free and Independent Faction, a Romanian political party * Faction (''Planescape''), a political faction in the game ''Planes ...

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 dictatorship, military junta wh ...

., and the major opponent of the

Somali Patriotic Movement The Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM, so, Dhaqdhaqaaqa Wadaniga Soomaaliyeed, ar, الحركة الوطنية الصومالية) is a political party and paramilitary organization in Somalia, and a key faction in the Somali Civil War.

. The

Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), , it, Partito Socialista Rivoluzionario Somalo was the ruling party of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1976 to 1991. History SRSP was created by the military regime of Siad Barre under S ...

was the

ruling party The ruling party or governing party in a democratic parliamentary or presidential system is the political party or coalition holding a majority of elected positions in a parliament, in the case of parliamentary systems, or holding the executive ...

of the

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 ...

from 1976 to 1991. It's 3rd president,

Mohamed Siad Barre Mohamed Siad Barre ( so, Maxamed Siyaad Barre, Osmanya script: ; ar, محمد سياد بري; c. 1910 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali head of state and general who served as the 3rd president of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 199 ...

, was part of the Marehan. The Somali National Front (SNF) was also a

revolutionary movement A revolutionary movement (or revolutionary social movement) is a specific type of social movement dedicated to carrying out a revolution. Charles Tilly defines it as "a social movement advancing exclusive competing claims to control of the State ( ...

and armed

militia A militia () is generally an army or some other fighting organization of non-professional soldiers, citizens of a country, or subjects of a state, who may perform military service during a time of need, as opposed to a professional force of r ...

Clan tree

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is taken from the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...

's ''Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics'' from 2005 and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

's Home Office publication, ''Somalia Assessment 2001''.Worldbank,
Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics
', January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts, p.55 Figure A-1Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001, Annex B: Somali Clan Structure
, p. 43 In the Marehan clan-family, component clans are divided into two uterine divisions Marehan In

Galgaduud Galguduud ( so, Galgaduud, ar, جلجدود, it, Galgudud or ''Ghelgudud'') is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somalia, gobol'') of Galmudug state in central Somalia. Its administrative capital is Dusmareb. The largest t ...

and

Somalia the World Bank shows the following clan tree: In the World Bank shows the following Marehan clan tree. *Awsame *Owrmidig *Baalyeri **Hodonbari *Hodonbari **Gaalshireedle **Gashashoor *Gaalshireedle **Xasan *Amaanreer **Maxamed Amaanreer (Wagardhac) **Cali Amaanreer (Hawraarsame) **Talxe Amaanreer (Talxe) **Radamiir Amaanreer *Wagardhac ** Reer Gadiid wuxuu dhalay 10 ilmo gadiid ah:- ** Cismaan Gadiid ** Liibaan Gadiidb ** Faarax Gadiid ** Maxamed Gadiid ** kooshin Gadiid ** Maxamuud Gadiid ** Diiriye Gadiid ** Warfaa Gadiid ** Axmed Gadiid ** Cigaal Gadiid ** Cismaan Gadiid ayaa Dhalay ** Cali Cismaan ** Axmed Cismaan ** Maxamed Cismaan ** Guray Cismaan ** Cali Cismaan ayaa dhalay ** Cabdile Cali ** faarax Cali ** Cilmi Cali ** Warfaa Cali ** Waalid Cali ** Axmed Cismaan Ayaa dhalay ** Xoday Axmed ** Cigaal Axmed ** faarax Axmed ** Samatar Axmed ** Nuur Axmed ** Reer Wardheere ** Reer Allamagan ** Cumar Dheer ** Reer Afweyne ** Reer Rooble ** Reer Faahiye ** Reer Faatax ** Reer Qeyr ** Sirig ** Reer Ciise ** Siyaad Liiban ** Rubeec *Radamiir ** WarWaa'Jecle *WarWaa'Jecle ** Yacquub WarWaa'Jecle (Fiqi Yacquub) ** Ciise WarWaa'Jecle (Habar Ciise) ** Celi WarWaa'Jecle (Celi) ** Muuse WarWaa'Jecle *Muuse WarWaa'Jecle ** Abaadir Muuse ** Maamasame Muuse *Abaadir Muuse ** Daa'uud Abadir ** Soonfure Abaadir (Soonfure) *Daa'uud ** Boqor Maxamed Daa'uud *Boqor Maxamed Daa'uud ** Cali Maxamed (Cali Dheere) ** Cismaan Maxamed (Reer Cismaan) ** Yuusuf Maxamed (Reer Yuusuf) ** Axmed Maxamed *Axmed Maxamed ** Ciis *Ciis ** Mataan *Mataan ** Reer Garaad ** Hiraabe Mataan ** Yuusuf Mataan *Yuusuf mataan ** Nuur Yuusuf (Imam Nuur ibn Mujaahid) Ina Nur ** Xuseen Yuusuf *Xuseen Yuusuf **Bah Gareen ***Siyaad Xuseen ( Reer Siyaad Xuseen ) ***Yabar Xuseen ***Khalaf Xuseen **Bah Ismaacil ***Axmed Xuseen ( Reer Axmed ) ***Cali Xuseen *Reer Siyaad Xuseen ** Reer Rooble Siyaad ** Reer Nuur Siyaad ** Reer Buraale ** Reer Saanyar ** Reer Faarax Siyaad ** Reer Tuur ** Reer Jimca Doon ** Reer Liiban Dalal ** Reer Cadaan ** Reer Qeyr ** Reer Odowaa *Khalaf Xuseen **Samatar Khalaf **Ugaas Sharmaarke Khalaf *Ugaas Sharmaarke **Bah Dir **Bah Abasguul **Ugaas Guuleed *Ugaas Guuleed **Baho Guuleed **Faarax Ugaas *Faarax Ugaas ** Guleed Faarax ** Xersi Faarax ** Samantar Faarax ** Rooble Faarax ** Ugaas Diini Faarax (Reer Diini) *Ugaas Diini **Bah Ogaaden *** Reer Dalal *** Reer Xirsi *** Reer Maxmuud Guuled **Bah Dhulbahante ***Reer Allamagan Diini ** Bah Xawaadle *** Reer Ugaas Sharmake *** Reer Siyaad *** Reer Warsame **Bah Daraandole *** Reer Kooshin *** Reer Nuur *** Reer Warfaa Diini *** Reer Shirwac Diini *** Reer Maxmuud Diini *** Reer Faarax Diini *** Reer Qaliif Diini ( Qaliif Gawracane ) Worldbank,
Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics
', January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts, p.57 Figure A-3

Notable people

* Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, the ninth

President of Somalia The president of Somalia ( so, Madaxaweynaha Soomaaliya) is the head of state of Somalia. The president is also commander-in-chief of the Somali Armed Forces. The president represents the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Republic of Somal ...

. *

, one of the former presidents of Somalia. *

Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed ( so, Cabdiweli Sheekh Axmed, ar, عبدالولي الشيخ أحمد; born 1959), also known as Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohammad, is a Somali economist and politician. He previously worked in the Somali military governmen ...

, one of the former prime ministers of Somalia. *

Mohamud Ali Magan Mohamud Ali Magan is a Somali politician. He was the Minister of Planning of Somalia, having been appointed to the position on 12 January 2015 by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, and in March 2017 succeeded by Jamal Mohamed Hassan in ...

, the former Minister of Planning, *

Abdi Farah Shirdon Abdi Farah Shirdon ( so, Cabdi Faarax Shirdoon; ar, عبدي فارح شردون; born 1958) is a Somali businessman, economist and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Somalia between October 2012 and December 2013. Shirdon is credited ...

, a former Prime Minister of Somalia. * Mohamed Ali, the director for the

Kismayo Kismayo ( so, Kismaayo, Maay Maay, Maay: ''Kismanyy'', ar, كيسمايو, ; it, Chisimaio) is a port city in the southern Lower Juba (Jubbada Hoose) province of Somalia. It is the commercial capital of the autonomous Jubaland region. The cit ...

Regional Islamic Courts under the government of the

. *

Abdiwahid Gonjeh Abdiwahid Elmi Gonjeh ( so, Cabdiwaahid Elmi Goonjeex, ar, وحيد عبدي علمي غونجاه), popularly known as Abdiwahid Gonjeh, is a Somali politician. He is currently a Senator of upper house of the Federal Parliament representing Galm ...

, a former Prime Minister of Somalia. *

Abdirahman Jama Barre Abdirahman Jama Barre ( so, Cabdiraxmaan Jaamac Barre, ar, عبد الرحمن جامع بري) (1937 – 15 August 2017) was a Somali politician. He twice served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Somali Democratic Republic, and later as ...

, the first

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

. *

Shire Jama Ahmed ; 1936-1999) was a Somali linguist and a scholar. He is notable for his contribution to the creation of the modern Latin script for transcribing the Somali language. Early years Shire was born in the Dusamareeb region of Somalia to a Marehan fam ...

, a linguist who implemented the modern Somali Latin script. *General

Yusuf Osman Dhumal General Yusuf Osman "Dhumal" ( so, Yuusuf Cusmaan "Duumaal", ar, يوسف عثمان الدومال), also known as Yusuf Hussein "Dhumaal", is a Somali military official. Career Dhumal hails from the Marehan sub-clan of the Rer Ahmed. He start ...

, a former Head Commander of Somali Military Forces. *

Farah Hussein Sharmarke Farah Hussein Sharmarke (Af Soomaali: Faarax Xuseen Sharmaaarke, Arabic:فارح حسين شر ماركئ ) was a Somalian poet who composed poems during the 1940s and early 1950s whilst living in Isiolo, Kenya. Biography Farah was born in 1926 ...

, a philosopher and poet. * Omar Haji Massale, a former Minister of Defence and Health of Somalia *

Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid Ahmed Abdullahi Gulleid ( so, Axmed Cabdullaahi Guuleed, ar, احمد عبد الله جوليد) (born 1953), also known as "Aag", is a Somali people, Somali writer and researcher. Gulleid was born in the town of Garbahaarreey in the southern Ged ...

, a columnist, writer and researcher. * Mohamed Hashi Abdi, the former Vice President of the

Galmudug State Galmudug ( ar, جلمدج; it, Galmudugh), officially Galmudug State of Somalia ( so, Dowlad Goboleedka Galmudug ee Soomaaliya), is a Federal Member State in central Somalia, with its capital at Dhusamareb. It is bordered to the north by the ...

. * Dr. Mohamed Said Samatar, the founder of the Somali National Front. *Emir

Nur ibn Mujahid Nur ibn Mujahid ibn ‘Ali ibn ‘Abdullah al Dhuhi Suha ( Harari: ኑር ኢብን ሙጃሂድ, so, Nuur ibn Mujaahid, ar, نور بن مجاهد; died 1567) was a Muslim Emir of Harar who ruled Sultanate of Harar. He was the primary reason fo ...

, the second conqueror of Ethiopia and the Patron Saint of Harar was one of rulers of parts of the Horn of Africa. *

Fatimo Isaak Bihi Fatimo Isaak Bihi is a Somali former diplomat. She was the first ever female ambassador (Ambassador to Switzerland). Bihi is also the former Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as being a former Perm ...

, the first Somali female ambassador. *

Khalif Farah Hayir Khaliif Faarax Xayir (Af Soomaali: Khaliif Faarax Xayir) is a young Somalia, Somali poet who uses Geeraar style of poetry. Hayir or ''Khaliif Xayir'', as he is known in AF Somali often creates patriotic poems as well as poems addressing various ...

, a poet who mainly creates patriotic poems as well as poems that address Somali social issues. *

Ahmed Warsame General Ahmed Warsame was the Head of the former Somali Military Academy and Somali National Front The ''Somali National Front (SNF)'' (Somali: ''Dhaqdhaqaaqa Jabhada Soomaliyeed'') was a politico-military organization that operated in southern ...

, the former Head of the Somali Military Academy. * Aden Ibrahim Aw Hirsi, an author and politician – helped with planning of the Jubaland State and the current Minister of State for Environment & Climate Change of Somalia. * Abdullahi Anod, a former Head Commander of the Somali Military Forces. * Colonel Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale, a former Minister of Defence of Somalia, head of the Jubba Valley Alliance. *

Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini General Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini ( so, Cabdulkaadir Sheekh Diini, ar, عبد القادر الشيخ ضئنئ) is a Somali politician and military official. He served as Chief of Army from March 2011 to March 2013, under both the Transitional Fed ...

, a former Minister of Defence of Somalia. * Abdi Shire Warsame, a former Somali Ambassador to Kenya and China and a former Foreign Affairs State Minister in the Transitional National Government. *

Abdulahi Sheik Ismael Fara-Tag Colonel Abdulahi Sheik Ismael (Fara-Tag) ( so, Cabdullaahi Sheekh Ismaaciil arataag}) is a commander in the army of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of the Republic of Somalia. He was militia chief commander of the Juba Valley Alliance ...

, the former head of the Juba Valley Alliance. *

Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Ahmed Mohamed Hassan (born 1945.) is a Djiboutian politician. He is a member of the People's Rally for Progress (RPP) and has served in the National Assembly of Djibouti as well as the Pan-African Parliament. Political career At the roundtable ta ...

, a member of the Pan-African Parliament. *General Dr. Ali Nur. *General Mohammed Hashi ''Gaani'', a former Head Commander of the Somali Military Forces as well as being the former head of the SNF. *

Ahmed bin Hirabu. * Ahmed 'Idaaja'' Farah Ali, a Somali literary scholar and publisher of written folklore. * Mohamed Aden Sheikh, a medical doctor and held posts at the Ministry of Health,

Education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

and

Information Information is an abstract concept that refers to that which has the power to inform. At the most fundamental level information pertains to the interpretation of that which may be sensed. Any natural process that is not completely random ...

. * Abdulkadir 'Yamyam'' Hersi Siyad was a Somali

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

. *

Ali Matan Hashi Ali Matan Hashi (1927–1978; so, Cali Mataan Xashi, ar, علي متان حاشي), also known as Ali Matan, was a Somali senior military official and politician. He was the first Somali pilot, and a prominent member of the Supreme Revolutiona ...

, a Somali pilot and Commander of the Somali Air Force between 1959 to 1978. * Ahmed Sheikh Ali Ahmed.

References

Sources

* {{Somali clans Darod Somali clans Somali clans in Ethiopia