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The Sa'ad Musa or Saad Musa (, , Full Name:'' Saad ibn Musa ibn Zubayr ibn Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash- Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') is a northern
Somali clan Somali clans (; ) are patrilineal kinship groups based on agnatic descent of the Somali people. Tradition and folklore connects the origin of the Somali population by language and way of life, and societal organisations, by customs, and by a fee ...
. Its members form a part of the
Habr Awal The Habr Awal, alternately known as the Zubeyr Awal (, , Full Name: '' Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash-Ishaaq bin Ahmed, Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad)'' is one of the largest subclans of the wider Isaaq clan family, and is further divided into eight su ...
sub-clan of the
Isaaq The Isaaq (, , ''Banu Ishaq'') is a major Somali clans, Somali clan. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. The Isaaq people claim in a traditional legend ...
clan family. The Sa'ad Musa traditionally consists of
nomadic pastoralists Nomadic pastoralism, also known as nomadic herding, is a form of pastoralism in which livestock are herded in order to seek for fresh pastures on which to graze. True nomads follow an irregular pattern of movement, in contrast with transhumance, ...
,
coastal A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...
people,
merchants A merchant is a person who trades in goods produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Merchants have been known for as long as humans have engaged in trade and commerce. Merchants and merchant networks operated i ...
and
farmers A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mi ...
. The clan inhabits
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
, including
Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh (, ), formerly known as Woqooyi Galbeed (lit. ''North West'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, To ...
,
Awdal Awdal (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in western Somaliland. It was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed and became a province in 1984 and is the most northwesterly province of Somaliland. To the e ...
and Sahil as well as
Djibouti Djibouti, 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 Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
, the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
,
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
and
Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
.


Distribution

The Sa'ad Musa clan make up a significant percentage of the population in
Maroodi Jeex Marodi Jeh (, ), formerly known as Woqooyi Galbeed (lit. ''North West'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in western Somaliland. It is the most populous region of the country. It is bordered by Awdal to the west, Sahil to the north, To ...
region, which is considered the most populous region in
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
, forming a sizeable majority of the population in the national capital
Hargeisa Hargeisa ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also th ...
as well as exclusively dominating the agricultural towns and settlements of
Gabiley Gabiley (, ), also known as Gebiley, is a city in the Maroodi Jeex region of Somaliland. Gabiley is located 58 km west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. It is in the center of the Gabiley district, bounded on the north by the Gulf of ...
,
Wajaale Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale, Wajale, Tug Wajale, Togwajaale) is a city on the border of Somaliland and Ethiopia. Tog Wajaale is the main border crossing for goods coming in and out of Somaliland, primarily from the port city of Berbera, So ...
,
Arabsiyo Arabsiyo is a town in the Gabiley district of Somaliland. The town is located about 30 km west of Hargeisa. Education Primary schools and Secondary schools are available throughout the distric"> /nowiki> Primary schools * Number of Pr ...
, Kalabaydh">/nowiki> Primary schools * Number of Pr ...
, Kalabaydh, Agabar, El Bardale">Kalabaydh, Agabar">Kalabaydh">/nowiki> Primary schools * Number of Pr ...
, Kalabaydh, Agabar, El Bardale, Faraweyne, and Allaybaday.The Sa'ad Musa are also prevalent in western Sahil region in the coastal settlements between
Ceel-Sheekh El-Sheikh () is a coastal settlement in the western edge of the Sahil region of Somaliland. History El-Sheikh was also known historically as ''Buurta Almis'' or جبل ألمس ''Jebel Amis'' after the nearby Mount Almis just south of the sett ...
and Bulhar. The Sa'ad Musa also inhabit Northeastern region of
Awdal Awdal (, ) is an administrative region (''Administrative divisions of Somaliland, gobol'') in western Somaliland. It was separated from Woqooyi Galbeed and became a province in 1984 and is the most northwesterly province of Somaliland. To the e ...
Outside of Somaliland, the Sa'ad Musa also have large settlements in the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
, specifically in Fafan Zone where they respectively make up the majority in Harshin, Hart Sheik, and
Wajaale Tog Wajaale (also known as Wajaale, Wajale, Tug Wajale, Togwajaale) is a city on the border of Somaliland and Ethiopia. Tog Wajaale is the main border crossing for goods coming in and out of Somaliland, primarily from the port city of Berbera, So ...
(Ethiopian Side) towns. They also settle in the Kebri Beyah and
Jigjiga Jijiga (, , ''Jijiga'') is the capital city of Somali Region, Ethiopia. It became the capital of the Somali Region in 1995 after it was moved from Gode. Located in the Fafan Zone with 75 km (37 mi) west of the border with Somali ...
woredas in the Fafan Zone. The Sa'ad Musa also have a large settlement in
Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
where they are known as a constituent segment of the Isahakia community. Finally they have a large presence in
Djibouti Djibouti, 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 Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
as well, forming a large percentage of the Somali population in
Djibouti Djibouti, 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 Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
and within Djibouti they have historically settled in Quartier 3, which is one of the 7 major districts in Djibouti.


Lineage

Sheikh Ishaaq ibn Ahmed was one of the
Hashemite The Hashemites (), also House of Hashim, are the Dynasty, royal family of Jordan, which they have ruled since 1921, and were the royal family of the kingdoms of Kingdom of Hejaz, Hejaz (1916–1925), Arab Kingdom of Syria, Syria (1920), and Kingd ...
scholars that crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of
Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
to spread Islam around 12th to 13th century. Sheikh Isxaaq married two local women in Somaliland that left him eight sons, one of them being Abdulrahman (Awal). The descendants of those eight sons constitute the Isaaq clan-family. The grave of Zubeyr Awal, the eponymous ancestor of the Sa'ad Musa and Issa Musa of the Habar Awal, is located in Jidali in
Sanaag Sanag (, ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in north eastern Somaliland.Regions of Somalia
 Sa ...
. The town is about 100 km east of the tomb of his grandfather Sheikh Ishaaq Bin Ahmed, the founding father of the
Isaaq The Isaaq (, , ''Banu Ishaq'') is a major Somali clans, Somali clan. It is one of the largest Somali clan families in the Horn of Africa, with a large and densely populated traditional territory. The Isaaq people claim in a traditional legend ...
clan family, whose tomb is located in the coastal town of
Maydh Maydh (also transliterated as Maedh, Mette, Mait or Meit) (, ) is an ancient port city in the eastern Sanaag region of Somaliland. History Antiquity According to Augustus Henry Keane, Maydh represents an early center of dispersal of the Somali ...
.


History


Medieval Period (Conquest of Abbysinia)

Historically as part of the Habr Awal clan the Sa'ad Musa were part of the
Adal Sultanate The Adal Sultanate, also known as the Adal Empire or Barr 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 III on th ...
and are mentioned in the renowned "Futuh Al-Habash" for their major contributions in the Ethiopian-Adal war as the Habr Magaadle along with the
Garhajis The Habr Garhajis also contemporarily known as the Garhajis (, , Full Nasab: ''Ismā'īl al Qadhi ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. They are the traditional holders of the ...
,
Arap The Arap or Arab (, , Full Name: ''Muḥammad ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'') clan is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. The Arap predominantly live on the middle and southwest side ...
and Ayub clans against the
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day territories of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak a ...
, and also for producing a historical figure known as Ahmad Gurey bin Husain who was the righthand partner of
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (, Harari: አሕመድ ኢብራሂም አል-ጋዚ, ; 21 July 1506 – 10 February 1543) was the Imam of the Adal Sultanate from 1527 to 1543. Commonly named Ahmed ''Gragn'' in Amharic and ''Gurey'' in Somali, ...
and a chieftain for the Habr Magaadle forces during the Ethiopian–Adal war.


Pre-colonial era

The Sa'ad Musa have a rich mercantile history largely due to their possession of the major Somali port of
Berbera Berbera (; , ) is the capital of the Sahil, Somaliland, Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country, located approximately 160 km from the national capital, Hargeisa. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of t ...
, which was the chief port and settlement of the wider Habr Awal clan during the early modern period. The clan had strong ties to the
Emirate of Harar The Emirate of Harar was a Muslim kingdom founded in 1647 when the Harari people refused to accept Imām ʿUmardīn Ādam as their ruler and broke away from the Imamate of Aussa to form their own state under `Ali ibn Da`ud. The Harar, city of Ha ...
and Emirs would hold Habr Awal merchants in their court with high esteem with
Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...
noting their influence in Emir Ahmad III ibn Abu Bakr's court and discussions with the
Vizier A vizier (; ; ) is a high-ranking political advisor or Minister (government), minister in the Near East. The Abbasids, Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was at first merely a help ...
Mohammed.
The Sa'ad Musa as a whole are a rich people, mainly thanks to the trade passing through the port of Berbera which lies in the territory of the Sa’ad Musa.
In this way the tribes occupying the tract of country through which the main caravan or trade routes passed accumulated a good deal of wealth, while those like the Ayal Ahmed, fortunate enough to possess a port so favored by Nature as Berbera, naturally soon became rich.
The Habr Awal merchants had extensive trade relations with Arab and Indian merchants from
Arabia The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...
and the
Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...
respectively. When these foreign traders arrived in
Berbera Berbera (; , ) is the capital of the Sahil, Somaliland, Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country, located approximately 160 km from the national capital, Hargeisa. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of t ...
and Bulhar to conduct trade, there was a mutually beneficial arrangement based on the abban (protection) system between them and the local Reer Yunis Nuh (Ayyal Yunis) and Ahmed Nuh (Ayyal Ahmed) lineages of the Sa’ad Musa:
Before this, and prior to the British settlement at Aden in 1839, the Ayyal Yunis and Ayyal Ahmed lineages of the Habr Awal clan had held Berbera and jointly managed its trade, sharing in the profits on all commercial transactions as ‘protectors’ (abans) of foreign merchants from Arabia and India. When under the stimulus of developments at Aden the port's prosperity markedly increased, the numerically dominant Ayyal Yunis drove out their rival kinsmen and declared themselves commercial masters of Berbera. This led to a feud in which each side sought outside help; the defeated Ayyal Ahmed turned to Haji Shirmarke ‘Ali and his Habr Yunis clansmen for support. With this backing, they were then able to re-establish themselves and to expel the Ayyal Yunis who moved to the small roadstead of Bulhar, some miles to the west of Berbera.
Not only did the Sa'ad Musa host foreign merchants at their ports, they also conducted trade missions on their own vessels to the Arabian ports. The majority of the Somali merchants who frequented Aden and other Southern Arabian ports hailed from the Sa'ad Musa clan. They procured various raw goods from Harar and the interior in exchange for manufactured goods. During their stay, the Sa'ad Musa rented their own houses and hired their own servants, whereas other Somali clans tended to stay with relatives already established across the Gulf.
Merchants. — These are generally members of the Sa'ad Musa tribe. They bring from Harrar and the Galla country, coffee, saffron (bastard), tusks (ivory), and feathers, taking away in return zinc, brass, broad cloth, and piece goods. They remain in Aden for about twenty days at a time during the trading season, which lasts about nine months,' making four trips. During their residence they hire a house, and are accompanied by their own domestics.
In the interior, Sa'ad Musa trade caravans (khafilas) were a frequent sight according to contemporary European accounts of the Somali Peninsula:
On leaving Hargeisa we travelled for many miles through beautiful park-like land, alive with birds and jungle fowl. We met the usual Somali khafilas rading caravansof Habr-Awal men, carrying their skins, gums, ghee, and coffee to our port at Bulhar, situated between Berbera and Zeila.
The Somalis from the deep interior, principally those from the
Ogaden Ogaden (pronounced and often spelled ''Ogadēn''; , ) is one of the historical names used for the modern Somali Region. It is also natively referred to as Soomaali Galbeed (). The region forms the eastern portion of Ethiopia and borders Somalia ...
, also gained most of their resources from the Sa'ad Musa merchants who they called "iidoor", an enviable pejorative meaning
merchant A merchant is a person who trades in goods produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Merchants have been known for as long as humans have engaged in trade and commerce. Merchants and merchant networks operated i ...
or trader, a reference to the mercantile nature of the Sa'ad Musa traders at the time.Somali Poetry, Lewis & Adrzejewski, 1964, pp. 111–115 The coastal Sa'ad Musa (mainly of the Reer Ahmed Nuh sub-division) regularly acted as brokers/middlemen for the Somali clans of the interior who wished to take their goods to the ports of Berbera and Bulhar:
The custom is for the Ayal Achmet (Berbera tribe) to act as brokers, and too often most of the profits stick to the hands of the middleman. Till lately no Ogadayn ever went to the coast, but entrusted the goods to coast traders.


Battle of Berbera

When a British vessel named the ''Mary Anne'' attempted to dock in Berbera's port in 1825 it was attacked and multiple members of the crew were massacred by the Habr Awal, including the Sa'ad Musa. In response the
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
enforced a blockade and some accounts narrate a bombardment of the city. In 1827 two years later the British arrived and extended an offer to relieve the blockade which had halted Berbera's lucrative trade in exchange for indemnity. Following this initial suggestion the Battle of Berbera 1827 would break out. After the Habr Awal defeat, 15,000 Spanish dollars was to be paid by the Habr Awal leaders for the destruction of the ship and loss of life. The Isaaq Sultan
Farah Guled Farah Guled (, ) was a Somali ruler. He was the second Grand Sultan of the Isaaq Sultanate and also a Hajji having completed pilgrimage to Mecca. Biography Son of Sultan Guled, he was amongst the first generation of the Ba Ambaro branch of the e ...
and Haji Ali penned a letter to
Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi (1781–1866) was the Sheikh of the Qawasim and ruled the towns of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Jazirah Al Hamra and Rams; all within the then Trucial States and now part of the United Arab Emirates. Briefly a ...
of
Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah (; ), often referred to its initials RAK, is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E. The city had a population of 191,753 in 2025, and is the sixth-most populous city in UAE after Dubai, Abu ...
requesting military assistance and joint religious war against the British. This would not materialize as Sultan Saqr was incapacitated by prior
Persian Gulf campaign of 1819 The Persian Gulf campaign of 1819 was a British punitive expedition, principally against the Arab maritime force of the Qawasim in the Persian Gulf, which embarked from Bombay, India in November 1819 to attack Ras Al Khaimah. The campaign wa ...
and was unable to send aid to Berbera. Alongside their stronghold in the Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman the Qasimi were very active both militarily and economically in the
Gulf of Aden The Gulf of Aden (; ) is a deepwater gulf of the Indian Ocean between Yemen to the north, the Arabian Sea to the east, Djibouti to the west, and the Guardafui Channel, the Socotra Archipelago, Puntland in Somalia and Somaliland to the south. ...
and were given to plunder and attack ships as far west as the Mocha on the
Red Sea The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...
. They had numerous commercial ties with the
Somalis The Somali people (, Wadaad's writing, Wadaad: , Arabic: ) are a Cushitic peoples, Cushitic ethnic group and nation native to the Somali Peninsula. who share a common ancestry, culture and history. The Lowland East Cushitic languages, East ...
, leading vessels from Ras Al Khaimah and the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...
to regularly attend trade fairs in the large ports of
Berbera Berbera (; , ) is the capital of the Sahil, Somaliland, Sahil region of Somaliland and is the main sea port of the country, located approximately 160 km from the national capital, Hargeisa. Berbera is a coastal city and was the former capital of t ...
and
Zeila Zeila (, ), 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 with the Biblical location of Havilah. Most modern schola ...
and were very familiar with the Saad Muuse.


Garaads and Sultans of the Sacad Muuse

The Sa'ad Musa have a long tradition of leadership and are led by a Sultan from the Ahmed Abdalla branch - a numerous subclan of Saad Musa that mainly reside in
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
. The Sa'ad Mus are the traditional holders of the Habr Awal Sultanate since the 18th century. Historically preferring to use the native term ''
Garad Garad ( Harari: ገራድ, , , Oromo: ''Garaada'') is a term used to refer to a king, Sultan or regional administrator. It was used primarily by Muslims in the Horn of Africa that were associated with Islamic states, most notably the Adal Sultanat ...
'' like the
Warsangeli The Warsangali (, ), alternatively the Mohamoud Harti, are a major Somalis#Clans, Somali sub clan, part of the larger Harti branch, which belongs to the Darod clan, one of the largest Somali tribe families. In the Somali language, the name Warsan ...
, both clans have since changed the name of the title to ''Suldaan'' although the role is identical. Habr Awal Garaads would rally men in times of war and settle large disputes with other clans filling the role as the ultimate peacemaker (''nabadoon''). The first Garaad Biniin was crowned around a similar time as the first
Habr Yunis The Habar Yoonis (, full Nasab: '' Said ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the Garhajis . As descendants of Ismail bin Ishaaq bin Ahmed, Sheikh Isaaq, it ...
Sultan Diriiye Ainasha, with both of these large subclans breaking from the tutelage of the
Eidagale The Eidagalle (; ) is a major Somali clan of the Isaaq clan family. Members of this clan are concentrated in Somaliland and the Somali region. They are the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century. As descendants of Is ...
who were the wider leaders of the
Isaaq Sultanate The Isaaq Sultanate (, Wadaad's writing, Wadaad: , ) was a Muslims, Muslim sultanate that ruled parts of the Horn of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. The kingdom spanned the territories of the Isaaq clan in modern-day Somaliland and Ethiopi ...
. Following his death, the Habr Awal did not crown a new Garaad for several years as Biniin's heirs were too young, with Garaad Abdalla being crowned to succeed his father when he came of age. Fighting in the southern limits of Habr Awal territory to protect the clan against its enemies and fighting off raids. In one incident he narrowly avoided a Jidwaaq surprise attack with the Ahmed Abdalla rallying quickly and forcing the raiders to flee. Garaad Abdalla served for several decades and was received by travelling British officials near the southern limit of the
protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over ...
in 1894 concerning expansion by General Ras Makonen on behalf of
Menelik II Menelik II ( ; horse name Aba Dagnew (Amharic: አባ ዳኘው ''abba daññäw''); 17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913), baptised as Sahle Maryam (ሣህለ ማርያም ''sahlä maryam'') was king of Shewa from 1866 to 1889 and Emperor of Et ...
. Garaad Abdalla alongside many other leaders in British Somaliland such as Sultan Deria Hassan and Sheikh Madar were worried about a devastating raid by the Abyssinian forces aimed at the burgeoning town
Hargeisa Hargeisa ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also th ...
and its environs. The Garaad was contacted by Makonen just two years later asking him and the Habr Awal to join the
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day territories of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak a ...
but was rebuffed. Garaad Abdalla was approached by the Sultan of
Habr Yunis The Habar Yoonis (, full Nasab: '' Said ibn Al-Qādhī Ismā'īl ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') alternatively spelled as Habr Yunis is a major clan part of the Garhajis . As descendants of Ismail bin Ishaaq bin Ahmed, Sheikh Isaaq, it ...
when they had faced a drought, the Habr Yunis requested access to Habr Awal wells to water. Abdalla granted the request but some members of his clan thought he was too generous and helping the Habr Yunis at the expense of the wellbeing of their own stock. Chief amongst these people was his 15 year old Askar. When some of the Habr Yunis party came to water, Askar stepped in between the well and the men barring them access. He was reprimanded for his foolishness and told to step aside and obey his father's wishes. Enraged Askar stabbed the man who reprimanded him and war almost broke out at this action. A wise Habr Awal bard from Bulhar named Aami stood and recited a '' gabay'' :''The words too many have already been spoken about Yunis' foolish words'' :''But righteous judgement pious to you according to ancient custom, bringing peace and (firmly) like a mountain'' :''Very close to you lurk people, you enemies, from primeval times their commemorating a feud'' :''If the time came when you were blinded by the quarrel, you would not respect it'' :''Without hesitation, they suddenly fell upon you'' :''All hostile tribes have heard the news of your quarrel'' :''Like vultures, they all look greedily at your flesh!'' The parties were moved by his words and mediated their dispute. Garaad Abdalla gave the hand of one of his daughters to the poet as a reward for his efforts. Following Abdalla's death, his eldest son Askar succeeded him as Garaad. Askar was a skilled horseman and fought in offensive with the southern sections of the clan against the Dervish who had begun raiding Habr Awal and other clans in the region. Sheikh Madar rallied the northern sections of the Habr Awal who unlike the Ahmed Abdalla and a few others, did reside mainly inside the borders of
British Somaliland British Somaliland, officially the Somaliland Protectorate (), was a protectorate of the United Kingdom in modern Somaliland. It was bordered by Italian Somalia, French Somali Coast and Ethiopian Empire, Abyssinia (Italian Ethiopia from 1936 ...
. Following Askar's death his younger brother Deria took the mantle of Garaad and unlike his brother and father was more focused on the concerns of the Habr Awal community as a period of relative peace had set in following the defeat of the Dervishes, decreasing the need for fighting. Diriiye was faced with a parallel challenger to his role as Garaad and the Habr Awal rallied behind him and rebuffed the pretender. With Deria's eventual death, his son Abdulrahman was crowned and the first Habr Awal leader to style himself as 'Sultan' rather than Garaad. Abdulrahman was very much like his father however was much more active in protectorate affairs. In the year 1955, Sultan
Abdulrahman Deria Abdulrahman Garad Deria (; 1910 – early 1970s) was the Sultan of the Habr Awal Isaaq clan and second Habr Awal leader to adopt the Sultan title rather than '' Garaad''. An influential figure that was heavily involved in advocating for the peopl ...
was a member of a four delegation team of politicians and Sultans to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
,
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. Their goal was to petition and pressure the British Government in returning lost treaty territory known as the 'Haud Reserve Area' ceded to
Ethiopian Empire The Ethiopian Empire, historically known as Abyssinia or simply Ethiopia, was a sovereign state that encompassed the present-day territories of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It existed from the establishment of the Solomonic dynasty by Yekuno Amlak a ...
during the Anglo Ethiopian treaty of 1954. In ''Imperial Policies and Nationalism in The Decolonization of Somaliland, 1954-1960'', Historian Jama Mohamed writes:
The N.U.F. campaigned for the return of the territories both in Somaliland and abroad. In March 1955, for instance, a delegation consisting of Michael Mariano, Abokor Haji Farah and Abdi Dahir went to Mogadisho to win the support and co-operation of the nationalist groups in Somalia. And in February and May 1955 another delegation consisting of two traditional Sultans (
Sultan Abdillahi Sultan Deria Sultan (; ', ) is a Royal and noble ranks, position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". La ...
, and Sultan Abdulrahman Sultan Deria), and two Western-educated moderate politicians (
Michael Mariano Michael Mariano () (1914-1987) was a Somali politician and businessman best remembered for leading a delegation to UN Headquarters in New York City and advocating for the return of the Somali inhabited Haud reserved area to Somali administration ...
, Abdirahman Ali Mohamed Dubeh) visited London and New York. During their tour of London, they formally met and discussed the issue with the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Alan Lennox-Boyd. They told Lennox-Boyd about the 1885 Anglo-Somali treaties. Under the agreements, Michael Mariano stated, the British Government 'undertook never to cede, sell, mortgage or otherwise give for occupation, save to the British Government, any portion of the territory inhabited by them or being under their control'. But now the Somali people 'have heard that their land was being given to Ethiopia under an Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1897'. That treaty, however, was 'in conflict' with the Anglo-Somali treaties 'which took precedence in time' over the 1897 Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty The British Government had 'exceeded its powers when it concluded the 1897 Treaty and ... the 1897 Treaty was not binding on the tribes.' Sultan Abdillahi also added that the 1954 agreement was a 'great shock to the Somali people' since they had not been told about the negotiations, and since the British Government had been administering the area since 1941. The delegates requested, as Sultan Abdulrahman put it, the postponement of the implementation of the agreement to 'grant the delegation time to put up their case' in Parliament and in international organizations.


Clans

In the Isaaq clan-family, component clans are divided into two uterine divisions, as shown in the genealogy. The first division is between those lineages descended from sons of Sheikh Ishaaq by a Harari woman – the Habr Habuusheed – and those descended from sons of Sheikh Ishaaq by a Somali woman of the Magaadle sub-clan of the Dir – the Habr Magaadle. A summarized clan family tree of major Sa'ad Musa subclans is presented below. *Sheikh Isaaq Bin Ahmed (
Sheikh Isaaq Ishaaq bin Ahmad bin Muhammad , more commonly known as Sheikh Ishaaq or Sheikh Isaaq (, ) is a prominent figure in the oral traditions of the Somali Isaaq clan-family. According to these traditions, which were also preserved in several Arabic Ha ...
) **Habar Habuusheed'' (
Habr Je'lo The Habr Je'lo (), , Full Name: ''Mūsa ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad,'' historically known as the Habr Toljaala () is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq family. Its members form the Habr Habusheed () confederation along with t ...
) ***Ahmed (Tol-Ja'lo) *** Muuse *** Ibrahiim (Sanbuur) *** Muhammad ('Ibraan) ** ''Habar Magaadle'' *** Ismail (
Garhajis The Habr Garhajis also contemporarily known as the Garhajis (, , Full Nasab: ''Ismā'īl al Qadhi ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad'') is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. They are the traditional holders of the ...
) *** Muhammad (
Arap The Arap or Arab (, , Full Name: ''Muḥammad ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy'') clan is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family. The Arap predominantly live on the middle and southwest side ...
) *** Ayub *** Abdirahman (
Habr Awal The Habr Awal, alternately known as the Zubeyr Awal (, , Full Name: '' Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash-Ishaaq bin Ahmed, Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad)'' is one of the largest subclans of the wider Isaaq clan family, and is further divided into eight su ...
) ****Sa'ad Muuse *****Abdirahman Sa'ad *****Abdalla Sa'ad *****Hassan Sa'ad ******Abdalla Hassan *****Isaaq Sa'ad ******Makahil *******Nux Makahil *******Abokor Makahil *******Cumar Makahil *******Mohammed Makahil *******Hassan Makahil ********Ali Hassan ********Jibril Hassan ********Rooble Hassan ********Osman Hassan *********Yonis Osman *********Mohamoud Osman *********Sugaal Osman *********Wacays Osman *********Liibaan Osman *********cabdalle Osman **********Guuleed Cabdlle *********Ahmed Osman ********** Cabanne Ahmed ********** Cabdalle Ahmed **********Samakaab Ahmed ***********Aden Samakaab ***********Cigaal Samakaab *********Abokor Osman **********Ali Obokor ***********Naleye Ali ***********Samater Ali ***********Mohamed Ali ******Mohammed Isaaq (Abbas) ***Xasan Maxamed ***Rooble Maxamed ***Xasan Maxamed ****Barre Xasan (Bare dalab) **** Baale Xasan (Reer Baale) **** Waceys Xasan ***Rooble Maxamed **** Alamagan Rooble (Reer Naaleeye) **** Boqore Rooble (reer Geedi) **** Ahmed Rooble (reer Foodcade) ******Isse Isaaq (Ciise Carab) ******Musa (Ase) Isaaq ******Yeesif Isaaq ****** ******ABOKOR ISAAQ ******Abdalla Abokor *****cigaal Cabdalle (Warancas)   *****Xasan Cabdalle    (Bahabar xasan) *****Axmed Cabdalle  (Bahabar Axmad) *****Yusuf Cabdalle    (Curadka) ***** Maxamed Cabdalle (Robsuge) *****Rooble Maxamed ( Reer Roble) *****Xaamud  Maxamed (rer xaamud) *****Aden  Maxamed. *****Cabdalla Aden *****Abokor Cabdalle *****Xuseen Abokor  ( reer xuseen) *****Cadaawe Abokor *****Geedi Cadawe  (rer gedicadawe) *****XILDIID ABOKOR *****Reer Cigaal xildiid *****Reer Bare Xildiid *****Reer Geedi Xildiid *****Galool Xildiid( Reer Gaool) ***** *****Ismaaciil Xildiid *****Cumar ismaaciil( Reer Cumar) *****Xoosh Ismaacil( Reer Xoosh *****Cali Ismaaciil (basheesho) *****Guleed ismaaciil(basheesho) *****Maax Ismaaciil(basheekho) *****Samatar Ismaaciil(basheesho) *****Geele Ismaaciil  ( Reer Geele) *****Faarax Geele *****Samatar Geele *****Shirwac Geel  ( Reer Shirwac) ***** *******Hussein Abokor ********Osman Hussein (Cismaannada) ********Reer Looge ********Reer Xaamud ********Reer Yuusuf ********Hadhiye ********Jibril Hussein Cali Jibril ..Cisman Cali .. Aboker Cali *********Ismail Jibril **********Nuh Ismail ***********Yunis Nuh (Reer Yunis Nuh ***********Shirdoon Yonis (Reer Shirdoon) ***********Hoosh Yonis (Reer Hoosh) ***********Gadid Yonis (Reer Gadid) ***********Mohammed Yonis ***********Ahmed Nuh (Reer Ahmed Nuh **********Said Ismail ***********Abdalla Said ***********Samatar Abdalla (Reer Samatar) ***********Abane Abdalla (Reer Abane) ***********Ahmed Abdalla *Biniin Ahmed *Sheikhdoon Ahmed *Cismaan Ahmed *Sahal Ahmed *Buraale Ahmed *Kuul Ahmed (Reer Ahmed Abdalla); The Sultan of Habr Awal's Royal Lineage **********Abdalla Ismail **********Ali Ismail **********Idris Ismail (Bah Gobo) **********Muhumed Ismail (Waran'ad) **********Yonis Ismail (Bah Gobo) **********Yusuf Ismail *******Jibril Abokor ********Adan Jibril (Bahaabar Adan) ********Ali Jibril *********Omar Ali **********Abeeb Omar (Baha Omar) **********Abtidon Omar (Baha Omar) **********Adan Omar **********Hussein Qawa Omar (Baha Omar) **********Sahal Omar (Baha Omar) **********Yonis Omar (Dugeh) **********Ismail Omar ***********Barre Ismail ************Hareed Barre (Reer Hareed) ***********Dalal Ismail (Reer Dalal) ***********Geedi Ismail 'Gheedi Shide' (Baha Omar) ***********Hoosh Ismail (Baha Omar) ***********Higgis Ismail ***********Idris Ismail ***********Ollow Ismail ***********Samatar Ismail ***********Qayaad Ismail (Baha Omar) ********Hassan Jibril ********Mohamed Jibril (Deriyahan) ********Yonis Jibril (Reer Yonis) *********Muuse Yonis *********Urkurag Yonis **********Adan Urkurag ***********Omar Adan ***********Ali Adan ***********Ahmed Adan 4 @@Abdikariim Abokor (ugaadh Abokar) Siciid ugaadh *Adan ugaadh *Samatar Adan *Caafi samatar *Maxamed Caafi *Ree Rooble *Xuseen Caafi *Ree Digaale *Cowl Samatar *Abokar cowl (Reer Abokar) *Abdi cawl (Abdiguray *farax cawl


Notable figures

The Sacad Muuse have produced many of the most prominent Somali politicians, poets, and businessmen in history. * Abdillahi Suldaan Mohammed Timacade, known as "Timacade", a famous poet during the pre- and post-colonial periods * Abdurrahman Mahmoud Aidiid, He is the former Mayor of
Hargeisa Hargeisa ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Somaliland, a ''List of states with limited recognition, de facto'' sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, still considered internationally to be part of Somalia. It is also th ...
, the capital of the Republic of
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
. * Abdul Majid Hussein, Economist, Former Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations, 2001-2004. Leader of Ethiopian Somali Democratic League (ESDL) party in the
Somali Region The Somali Region (, , ), also known as Soomaali Galbeed () and officially the Somali Regional State, is a Regions of Ethiopia, regional state in eastern Ethiopia. It is the largest region of Ethiopia. The state borders the Ethiopian regions ...
of
Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...
from 1995-2001. * Sultan Abdulrahman Garad Deria, 1st
Sultan Sultan (; ', ) 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 came to be use ...
& 5th leader of the
Habr Awal The Habr Awal, alternately known as the Zubeyr Awal (, , Full Name: '' Abd al-Raḥmān ibn ash-Ishaaq bin Ahmed, Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad)'' is one of the largest subclans of the wider Isaaq clan family, and is further divided into eight su ...
* Sheikh Madar Ahmed Shirwac, credited with the early growth of Hargeisa * Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Yusuf Sheikh Madar, served as the elected chairman of the SNM in January 1982 and later served as the Guurti leader in the Somaliland Parliament. He was a grandson of the famous Sheikh Madar. *
Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid (; 16 June 1930 – 21 December 1992), also known as the Ahmed Jimaleh, was a Somali politician and the first chairman of Somali National Movement (SNM). Somali National Movement (SNM) Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid was the first ...
, was one of the founding members of the
Somali National Movement The Somali National Movement (, ) was one of the first and most important Guerrilla warfare, organized guerilla groups and Mujahideen groups that opposed the Siad Barre regime in the 1980s to the 1990s, as well as being the main anti-government f ...
and was the first to be elected as the chairman of the organization in October 1981. * Muuse Inji, former Minister of Agriculture and the former Minister of Information. * Ahmed Hassan Awke, Legendary Somali journalist and broadcaster. He was a veteran of the
BBC World Service The BBC World Service is a British Public broadcasting, public service broadcaster owned and operated by the BBC. It is the world's largest external broadcaster in terms of reception area, language selection and audience reach. It broadcas ...
, the
Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is an international broadcasting network funded by the federal government of the United States that by law has editorial independence from the government. It is the largest and oldest of the American internation ...
, Somaliland National TV, Horn Cable Television, Radio Mogadishu and
Universal TV Universal TV, formerly Universal Channel, is an international pay television network specializing in movies and television series in the thriller, drama, comedy, horror, crime and investigation genres, owned by NBCUniversal International Netwo ...
among also being the presidential spokesman of
Siad Barre Mohammed Siad Barre (, Osmanya script: , ''Muhammad Ziād Barīy''; 6 October 1919 – 2 January 1995) was a Somali military officer, politician, and revolutionary who served as the third president of Somalia from 21 October 1969 to 26 Janu ...
during his
Military Junta A military junta () is a system of government led by a committee of military leaders. The term ''Junta (governing body), junta'' means "meeting" or "committee" and originated in the Junta (Peninsular War), national and local junta organized by t ...
. * Ali Abdi Farah, Former Minister of Communication and Culture in
Djibouti Djibouti, 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 Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
* Ali Feiruz, celebrated Somali musician in
Djibouti Djibouti, 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 Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the east. The country has an area ...
and
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
* Gaarriye (born Mohamed Hashi Dhama), Famous poet who composed one of the best known Somali language poems on the theme of reconciliation, "Hagarlaawe" (The Charitable). * Ibrahim Dheere, Considered to be the first Somali billionaire and richest Somali person in the world with an estimated net worth of 1.8 billion US Dollars. * Ismail Ahmed, owner and CEO of WorldRemit which is one of the fastest growing money transfer company in the world and he's considered 7th most influential man in Britain. *
Mohammed Abdillahi Kahin Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Mo ...
'Ogsadey', A Somali business tycoon based in Ethiopia, where he established MAO Harar Horse, the first African corporation to export coffee and amassed a net worth of approximately $3 Billion Ethiopian Birr. * Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, former Foreign Minister of Somalia * Mohamed Hasan Abdullahi, former Chief of Staff of Somaliland Armed Forces *
Mo Farah Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah (born Hussein Abdi Kahin; 23 March 1983) is a Somali-British former long-distance runner. Considered one of the greatest runners of all time, his ten global championship gold medals (four Olympic and six World tit ...
, British four-time Olympic gold medalist and the most decorated athlete in British athletics history. He's also considered to be the best marathon runner in the world. * Mohamed Omar Arte, former Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia. * Muhammad Hawadle Madar, former
Prime Minister of Somalia The prime minister of Somalia () is the head of government of Somalia. There have been 22 official prime ministers since the office was created in 1956. The first prime minister was Abdullahi Issa, who served prior to independence in the Trus ...
from September 3, 1990 to January 24, 1991. * Muse Bihi Abdi, Current President Of
Somaliland Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an List of states with limited recognition, unrecognised country in the Horn of Africa. It is located in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden and bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, E ...
since December 2017, and former military officer served as a Somali Air Force Colonel. * Nuh Ismail Tani, current Chief of Staff of Somaliland Armed Forces *
Umar Arteh Ghalib Umar Arteh Ghalib or Omer Carte Qalib (, ; 1930 – 18 November 2020) was a Somali politician. He was Prime Minister of the Somali Democratic Republic from January 24, 1991 to May 1993. Previously he served as Foreign Minister from 1969 to 1976. ...
, former Prime Minister of Somalia, 1991–1993; brought Somalia into the
Arab League The Arab League (, ' ), officially the League of Arab States (, '), is a regional organization in the Arab world. The Arab League was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945, initially with seven members: Kingdom of Egypt, Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq, ...
in 1974 during his term as Foreign Minister of Somalia, 1969-1977; former president of UN Security Council; teacher and poet * Khadar Ahmed Omar, current Deputy Mayor of Hargeisa


References


External links


"The Somali Ethnic Group and Clan System"
from "Reunification of the Somali People", Jack L. Davies
Somalia Recent Economic and Political Developments Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and DevelopmentsSomalia Mineral & Mining Sector Investment and Business GuideAnatomy of Violence: Understanding the Systems of Conflict and Violence in Africa
*
Wasiir Cabdilaahi Abokor Oo Ku Margaday Su’aalo Xasaasi Oo Lagu Waydiiyay Waraysi Lala Yeeshay – somalilandtoday.com
{{Human rights in Somaliland Somali clans in Ethiopia Demographics of Somaliland