DIR The Dir clan is one of the oldest clans in the Horn of Africa and the oldest clan among the Somalis.[5] [6][7][8] They are also one of the few Somali clans who have retained their ancient Cushitic culture[9]. According to Somali history, two of the oldest monarchies in the region, the Ifat and Adal Sultanates, were dominated by Dir.[10] The early Adal Kingdom (9th century to 13th century) was an exclusive Dir Kingdom with its capital being Zeila;[11] in the 10th century, the Jarso clan a sub-division of Dir established the Dawaro Sultanate centred in Hararghe Highlands. The Dir-Madaxweyne Akisho, along with the Gurgura, Issa and Gadabuursi subclans of the Dir represent the most native and indigenous Somali tribes in Harar.[12][13][14] Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn is believed to be born in Zeila during the early Adal Kingdom period which he associated with. Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn is a very famous Somali saint figure.[15] He is believed to be the founder and ancestor of the royal family known as Walashma Dynasty that governed both Ifat Sultanate and Adal Sultanate during the middle ages.[16][17] Shiekh Abi-Bakr Al Alawi, a Harari historian, states in his book that that Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn was of native and local Dir clan extraction.[18] The city Dire Dawa was originally called Dir Dhabe 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 took advantage and were able to penetrate through the city and settle into these areas and also assimilate some of the local Gurgura clan.[19] The Dir clan used to be the predominant inhabitants of Hararghe Highlands in the medieval times until the weakening of Adal Sultanate the opportunist Oromos took advantage of the crippling state and decided to invade and occuppy the Haraghe Highlands and assimilate the local native Somali population which were Jarso, Akisho, Gurgura, Nole, Metta, Oborra and Bursuk who were all sub-clans of Dir a major Somali tribe and were later confederated into Oromo tribe, the Afran Qallo clan. The Somalis, principally the Dir clan used to inhabit the Awash River, the Afars were mostly concentrated in the Red Sea and the Lake Abbe while Somalis during the medieval times inhabited Awash river which was back then called "Webiga Dir" named after its tribe. After the weakening of Adal Sultanate, the Somalis left Awash river and allowed Afars to settle in Awash river to serve as a buffer zone between the Somalis and Abyssinians.[20] The Dir were supporters of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi during his 16th century conquest of Abyssinia; especially the Gurgura, Issa, Bursuk and Gadabuursi.[21] 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.[22] 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 Somalia.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 Biimaal revolt in which many of their warriors assassinated several Italian governors, this revolt can be compared to the war of the Mad Mullah in northern Somalia.[23][24][25] The Biimaal mainly lives in Southern Somalia, the Somali region of Ethiopia, which their Gaadsen sub-clan mainly inhabits and in the NEP region of Kenya.[26][27] The Biimaal are pastoralists, they were also successful merchants and traders in the 19th century.[28] In the 19th century they have engaged in multiple wars with the Geledi clan, which they were victorious in.[28][25] I.M. Lewis and many sources maintain that the Dir together with the Mogadishu Clan trace ancestry through Irir son of Samaale to Banu Hashim Arabian origins with Aqeel Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib.[29][30][31][32][33] Dir is regarded as the father-in-law of Darod, the progenitor of the Darod clan[34] Although some sources state it was the daughter of Mogadishu Clan who Darod married.[35][36][37]

ISAAQ According to some genealogical books and Somali tradition, the Isaaq clan was founded in the 13th or 14th century with the arrival of Sheikh Isaaq Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Hashimi (Sheikh Isaaq) from Arabia, a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib in Maydh.[7][8] He settled in the coastal town of Maydh in modern-day northwestern Somaliland, where he married a local Magaadle clan.[9] There are also numerous existing hagiologies in Arabic which describe Sheikh Isaaq's travels, works and overall life in modern Somaliland, as well as his movements in Arabia before his arrival.[10] Besides historical sources, one of the more recent printed biographies of Sheikh Isaaq is the Amjaad of Sheikh Husseen bin Ahmed Darwiish al-Isaaqi as-Soomaali, which was printed in Aden in 1955.[11] Sheikh Isaaq's tomb is in Maydh, and is the scene of frequent pilgrimages.[10] Sheikh Isaaq's mawlid (birthday) is also celebrated every Thursday with a public reading of his manaaqib (a collection of glorious deeds),[9] his Siyaara or pilgrimage is performed annually both within Somaliland and in the diaspora particularly in the Middle East among Isaaq expatriates. Sheikh Isaaq Bin Ahmed was one of the Arabian Scholars that crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of Africa to spread Islam around 12th to 13th century. Sheikh Isaaq is said to have been descended from Prophet Mohammed's daughter Fatima. Hence the Sheikh belonged to the Ashraf or Sada (titles given to the descendants of the prophet). Sheikh Isaaq married two local women in Somalia that left him eight sons, the descendants of the those eight sons are the what is known as Isaaq clan today. However, the Shiekh left other descendants in Yemen as well. DNA analysis of Isaaq clan members inhabiting Djibouti found that all of the individuals belonged to the EV32 subclade of the Y-DNA E1b1b paternal haplogroup.[16] The Isaaq clan played a prominent role in the Abyssinian-Adal war (1529–1543, referred to as the "Conquest of Abyssinia") in the army of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi,[17] I. M. Lewis noted that only the Habar Magadle division (Ayoub, Garhajis, Gabiley Clan and Arab) of the Isaaq were mentioned in chronicles of that war written by Shihab Al-Din Ahmad Al-Gizany known as Futuh Al Habash.[18]. The Marrehan and the Habar Magadle [Magādi] also play a very prominent role (...) The text refers to two Ahmads's with the nickname 'Left-handed'. One is regularly presented as 'Ahmad Guray, the Somali' (...) identified as Ahmad Guray Xuseyn, chief of the Habar Magadle. Another reference, however, appears to link the Habar Magadle with the Marrehan, the other Ahmad is simply referred to as 'Imam Ahmad' or simply the 'Imam'.This Ahmad is not qualified by the adjective Somali (...) The two Ahmad's have been conflated into one figure, the heroic Ahmed Guray (...) The first of the tribes to reach Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi were Habar Magādle of the Isaaq clan with their chieftain Ahmad Gurey Bin Hussain Al-Somali,[20] the Somali commander was noted to be one of Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi's "strongest and most able generals".[21] The Habar Magādle clan were highly appreciated and praised by the leader Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi for their bravery and loyalty.[22] After the collapse of Adal Sultanate the Isaaq clan established successor states that split into 3 Sultanates known as Garhajis Sultanate, Gabiley Clan Sultanate and East Burco Clan Sultanate, these 3 Sultanates exerted a strong centralized authority during its existence, and possessed all of the organs and trappings of an integrated modern state: a functioning bureaucracy, a hereditary nobility, titled aristocrats, a state flag, as well as a professional army.[23][24] These sultanates also maintained written records of their activities, which still exist.[25] The Isaaq clan played a prominent role in the Dervish movement, with Sultan Nur Aman of the Habar Yoonis being fundamental in the inception of the movement and Haji Sudi who hailed from the East Burco Clan sub clan being second in command to Mohammed Abdullah Hassan,[26][27] the sub-clans that were highly known for joining the Dervish State were respectively from the Habar Yoonis, East Burco Clan, Eidagale and Arap clans. The Isaaq clans were able to purchase advanced weapons and successfully resist both British Empire and Ethiopian Empire for many years.[28] The Isaaq clan along with other northern Somali tribes were under British Somaliland protectorate administration from 1884-1960, on gaining independence the Somaliland protectorate decided to form a union with Italian Somalia. The Isaaq clan spearheaded the greater Somalia quest from 1960-1991. However, after the collapse of the Somali Democratic Republic in 1991 the Isaaq dominated Somaliland declared independence from Somalia as a separate nation.[29]

DAROOD Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti, also known as Darod, Dawud or Da'ud, is the man traditionally held to be the common ancestor of the Somali Darod clan. According to early Islamic books and local tradition, Abdirahman is believed to have descended from Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, a member of the Banu Hashim and the cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Authors such as Ibn Hawqal, Al-Muqaddasi and Ibn Said have confirmed the early presence of Arabian tribes in municipalities such as Berbera, Zeila, Jabarta (an old metropolis now in ruins), and Massawa in the northern Horn of Africa.[3] Al-Masudi wrote about the specific Arabian families and tribes that lived in Jabarta and Zeila in his 9th century book Aqeeliyoon. This book sheds light on one individual, a Sufi Sheikh of the Qadiriyyah order called Isma'il ibn Ibrahim al-Jabarti, who fathered several children, one of which was named Abdirahman.[1][2] According to such early Islamic books and Somali tradition, Muhammad ibn Aqil's descendant Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti (Darod) fled his homeland in the Arabian Peninsula after an argument with his uncle,[1] during the 10th or 11th century CE,[3] he is believed to have then settled in northern Somalia just across the Red Sea. He subsequently married Dobira, the daughter of the Dir clan chief, which is said to have given rise to the Darod clan family.[4] Thus, it established matrilateral ties with the Samaale main stem.[ According to the British anthropologist and Somali Studies veteran I.M. Lewis, while the traditions of descent from noble Arab families related to Muhammad are most probably expressions of the importance of Islam in Somali society,[6] "there is a strong historically valid component in these legends which, in the case of the Darod, is confirmed in the current practice of a Dir representative officiating at the ceremony of installation of the chief of the Darod family."[7] A similar clan mythology exists for the Isaaq, who are said to have descended from one Sheikh Ishaq ibn Ahmad al-'Alawi, another Banu Hashim who came to Somalia around the same time.[1][8] As with Sheikh Isaaq, there are also numerous existing hagiologies in Arabic which describe Sheikh Darod's travels, works and overall life in northern Somalia, as well as his movements in Arabia before his arrival.[9] Besides historical sources such as Al-Masudi's Aqeeliyoon, a modern manaaqib (a collection of glorious deeds) printed in Cairo in 1945 by Sheikh Ahmad bin Hussen bin Mahammad titled Manaaqib as-Sheikh Ismaa'iil bin Ibraahiim al-Jabarti also discusses Sheikh Darod and his proposed father Isma'il al-Jabarti, the latter of whom is reportedly buried in Bab Siham situated in the Zabid District of western Yemen.[10] Sheikh Darod's own tomb is in Haylaan, situated in the Hadaaftimo Mountains in northern Somalia, and is the scene of frequent pilgrimages.[7] Sheikh Isaaq is buried nearby in Maydh,[11] as is Sheikh Harti, a descendant of Sheikh Darod and the progenitor of the Harti Darod sub-clan, whose tomb is located in the ancient town of Qa’ableh. Sheikh Darod's mawlid (birthday) is also celebrated every Friday with a public reading of his manaaqib.[10] One source, which does not conform with the common literature on him, also links Abdirahman to the Harla tribe.[12] According to many medieval and modern Islamic historians, Darod is descended from Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad and brother of Ali ibn Abi Talib. An ancient Islamic history book, called Aqeeliyoon by Al-Masudi, talks in detail about the descendants of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, wherein Darod is also mentioned,[2] the book gives Sheikh Darod's lineage as Abdirahmaan Bin Ismaa'iil Bin Ibraahim Bin Abdirahmaan Bin Muhammed Bin Abdi Samad Bin Hanbal Bin Mahdi Bin Ahmed Bin Abdalle Bin Muhammed Bin Aqail Bin Abu-Talib Bin Abdul-Mutalib Bin Hashim Bin Qusaya. According to Allaa'i Alsuniyah Fi Al-Aqab Al-Aqeeliyah (2006) by Ahmed bin Ali Al-Rajihi Al-Aqeeli, the lineage of Sheikh Darod/Da'ud is: "Da'ud ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdulsamad ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Ahmed Ibn Ismail ibn Ibrahim ibn Abdallah ibn Isma'il ibn Ali ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Hamid ibn Abdallah ibn Ibrahim ibn Ali ibn Ahmed ibn Abdallah ibn Muslim ibn Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Aqeel ibn Abi-Talib Al-Hashimi Al-Qurashi". Al-Aqeeli adds that Sheikh Isma'il's sons include Abi-Bakar, Da'ud, Ahmad and Abdulsamad, whose other offspring inhabit the Hadhramaut and Mahra regions in Southern Arabia.[13]

This is a very disturbing report. How do the big fat leaders sleep at night? This kind of hospital is supposed to showcase government waxqabad and be a model for other agencies. Something is seriously wrong. How many other institutions are neglected like this but not reported?

That is interesting. The geopolitical game is shifting.

OO, how does the Kilil correct the economic and opportunity imbalance between the regions and district where Illey is accused of diverting all resources to his clan? Why is the Harawo region and Awbarre community ignored and neglected? For your information, the Kilil region produced the most prominent Somali scholars of Awdal descent.

Hehe. That was very funny saxib. I blame the Somali media. I guess reporters are scared of al-Shabab to report the latest.

Participants of Tana forum urge renewed Afro-Arab unity ADDIS ABABA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Participants in the 7th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa which commenced on Saturday in the northern Ethiopia city of Bahir Dar urged renewed Afro-Arab unity to overcome Africa's numerous challenges. The remarks were made by Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana's first post-colonial leader, the late Kwame Nkrumah. Kwame Nkrumah, a prominent Pan-Africanism advocate in the 1950 and 1960s, was a close ally of late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser who advocated that Pan-Africanism and Pan-Arabism was mutually inclusive. Samia Nkrumah said her father represented a vision of African dignity and self-reliance which called for total liberation and unification of the continent including North African nations. "Nasser and Nkrumah exchanged political notes and worked closely for African political unification and anti-colonialism struggles" she further said. Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of South Africa on his part said the efforts to end apartheid in South Africa was partly a product of Pan-African activism and that this success should be complemented by inspiring today's youth to work together for Afro-Arab unity and the unity of the whole African continent. He called for a free- visa system across the continent to strengthen Afro-Arab unity and in general African unity. "The Arab-Africa leaders summit which started during Nasser's time and was continued by the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi need to be revived if Afro-Arab unity is to become a reality," he further said. The Tana Forum is an independent initiative that seeks to provide an informal platform for African Heads of State and Government to engage in open and frank discussions with a wide spectrum of non-state stakeholders on the most pressing peace and security issues confronting the continent. Around 250 participants are expected to attend the 2018 edition of Tana Forum, including current and former Heads of State and Government, high-ranking government officials, experts in peace and security, members of academia, youth representatives and the media. The forum is held from April 21-22 in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia.

I read somewhere he is from Garre clan. Good choice.

Which Somali leaders are invited to the Tana Forum? Abdiweli Gas of Puntland attended previous gatherings.

Ok. Got it. His grandpa was one of the founders of ONLF.

Is there a story behind the "Makhtal" name?

Maakhiri, why do you think Moorgan will win? What about all other candidates?

I didn't get the opportunity to listen to the video, but can someone summarize the press conference? What is Cirro's issue here?

Ducale and Mooge, kindly cut the tit-for-tat out and discuss important topics that matter.

I would say that is a good sign. But Ethiopia must not become paralyzed by strikes. That will slow overall economic progress and may hurt tourism.

In the end, the poor Somalis will be holding the empty bag.

Saudi, UAE recruiting 1000s of African mercenaries: Report Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are reportedly recruiting thousands of African mercenaries to serve in their military adventurism overseas, including the bloody war on Yemen. Saudi sources told the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper that the kingdom is likely using Chadian mercenaries in its operations abroad. They said the speculation had gained more credence after Chad’s President Idriss Déby traveled to Saudi Arabia earlier in the month to observe the Joint [Persian] Gulf Shield-1 military drills in the eastern Saudi city of Jubail. The kingdom has signed secret agreements with N’Djamena, enabling its enlistment of thousands of Chadian mercenaries, according to the sources. The UAE is, meanwhile, seeking to recruit thousands of mercenaries from Uganda to deploy in Yemen and Somalia, Yemen’s al-Masirah television network reported, citing Arabic media outlets. The Emirates is Saudi Arabia's most senior partner in the war on Yemen, which has been raging since March 2015 to return the impoverished country's Riyadh-allied former government. The countries have already recruited thousands of mercenaries, and the UAE is eyeing Ugandan recruits amid the prospect of Sudan’s withdrawal of its forces from the Saudi-led coalition. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is reportedly to travel to Uganda to sign several agreements bringing 10,000 Ugandan forces into Emirati ranks. Informed sources said 8,000 of the forces would be deployed in Yemen, and the rest in Somalia, where the UAE has been militarily active. Thousands have either died or been displaced as a result of the Saudi-led coalition’s offensive in Yemen. Western powers had proposed that Saudi Arabia ink military cooperation agreements with Chad in order to bring Riyadh closer to the African nations, which enjoy good ties with Israel. The kingdom does not officially recognize Israel, but the two are widely reported to have cooperated behind the scenes for years. Speaking to the pan-Arab al-Hewar television channel, dissident Saudi prince Khalid bin Farhan Al Saud revealed on April 5 a series of “conditions” set by the US and Israel for bin Salman so he can secure their help in ascending to the throne. The conditions, he said, included normalization of Riyadh’s ties with the regime in Tel Aviv. http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/04/17/558778/Saudi-Arabia-UAE-Chad-Uganda-Yemen-Somalia-Israel-United-States-Mohammed-bin-Salman

The "exposed money" was sideshow meant to force Jawaari to resign and make his supporters in the parliament hopeless.

Tababarayaashii Imaaraadka Oo Iskaga Baxay Muqdisho & Iyo Ciidamo Boobay Xaruntoodii. Muqdisho ( Mareeg News ) Qaar ka mid Ciidamada Dowladda ee ku sugnaa Xarunta Tababarka Ciidamada ee Imaaraadka Carabta ku lahaayeen magaalada Muqdisho ayaa la sheegay in ay Boobeen agab yaalay Xarunta oo ay maanta ka baxeen Saraakiishii Imaaraadka. Ciidamada ayaa la sheegay in ay qaateen Agab Ciidan qalab lagu tababarto iyo Gaadiid ay lahaayeen Ciidamada Imaaraadka ee ku sugnaa magaalada Muqdisho. Wararka qaar ayaa sheegaya in isku dhacyo uu dhaxmaray Ciidamadii xarunta ku sugnaa kuwaas oo ku dagaalamay agabkii ay qaateen. Dhinaca kale Saraakiil ka mid ah Ciidamada Milatariga ee ku sugnaa xaruntaasi ayaa beeniyay in Ciidanka wax boobay ay ka mid ahaayeen Ciidamadii xarunta ku sugnaa. Saraakiishaan ayaa sheegay in agabka la qaatay oo u badnaa Gaadiid Ciidan ay qaateen Saraakiil ka mid ah Milatariga Soomaaliya oo aan ka tirsaneen Ciidankii Imaaraadka Tababaray. Masuuliyiinta Wasaaradda Gaashaandhigga ilaa hadda kama hadlin wararka sheegaya in la boobay agab ciidan oo yaalay Xarunta Tababarka Imaaraadka ee Muqdisho. Imaaraadka ayaa saakay ka baxay Muqdisho waxayna qaateen Konteenaro iyo agabyo kale kadib markii uu xumaaday xiriirkii ay la lahaayeen Soomaaliya. La soco wixii ku soo kordha. https://mareeg.com/tababarayaashii-imaaraadka-oo-iskaga-baxay-muqdisho-iyo-ciidamo-boobay-xaruntoodii/

A truly shameful conduct. This government has become a failure.

That didn't take long.

Putin is a dick. He was the guy mercilessly bombing Aleppo for months. He has no credibility to lecture anyone on morals and Middle East destruction. Having said that, I do like his latest approach to respect and work with the great nation of Turkey. He is making the right choices there.

OO, Abiy visited Tigray Region. What is the story there?