Abgaal (Abgal, Hawiye clan)

Name and family tree

The Abgaal are a clan of the Hawiye, one of the five large Somali clan families (EUAA Country Guidance, 2025). The name is spelled Abgaal in standard Somali and often Abgal in English.

Sources place the Abgaal differently within the Hawiye:

Wikipedia says the Mudulood also include the Wacdaan, Moobleen, Hiilibi and Udeejeen (same source). Abbink places Mudulood under Hirab, beside Habr Gidir and Duduble (Abbink 2009, p. 27).

The Italian scholar Enrico Cerulli recorded a tradition on the founder. Abgaal's father was Osman Darandoolle and his mother Faduma Sarjeele, of the Ajuran house of Gareen. Cerulli read the story as a memory of old fights between Abgaal herders and the Ajuran (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup, quoting Cerulli).

Main branches

Wikipedia gives three main branches: Harti (the eldest), Wacbuudhan and Waceysle, the youngest (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup).

Abbink lists these Abgal groups (Abbink 2009, p. 26):

• Sul Harti
• Wa'Aysle
• Eli Omar
• Matan
• Yusuf
• Warsengeli
• Wa'abudan, with Da'ud
• Se'ile
• Agon-yare
• Mobileen (see Moobleen)

ACLED's 2025 list codes these Abgal groups (ACLED, September 2025):

• Abdalla Arone (also Cabdale Caroone), and under Abdalla: Agonyar and Galmaah
• Abukar, Abukar Gabane, Agonyar, Agoonyar Gaabane, Gaabane Mohamed
• Celi (Eli), Cosoble Ali, Daud, Galmaax Yoonis, Galmah, Habar Nugal
• Harti Abgal, Hassan Gaab, Kabaale, Matan Abdulle, Reer Matan, Warsangeli
• Mohamed Muse, with Dhiblabe Turyare and Suubiye Turyare
• Wabudhan, with Mataan Muse and Mohamed Muse
• Wacaysle, and Wacaysle Ali Gaaf

The EUAA names Mohamed Muse as part of "Wa'budhan/Abgaal" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). All the groups above are also on the Somali clan tree.

Where they live

No census counts Somalis by clan. ACCORD notes that Somalis often claim more members than their groups have, "in order to demonstrate strength" (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11).

The EASO quotes a source saying the Abgaal see Mogadishu and Middle Shabelle as "the same and one" (EASO 2021). Wikipedia says Mogadishu is the traditional land of the Reer Mataan sub-clan (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup).

History on record

• 1500s. Clan traditions say the Abgaal Darandoolle reached the land behind Mogadishu in the 1500s. Abgaal names then appear in the town's family records (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup).
• Late 1600s to 1700s. Wikipedia says the Yaaquub, an Abgaal imam's lineage, came to control Shangaani and most of Mogadishu (same source).
• 1700s onward. The historian Lee Cassanelli describes a Hiraab imamate, an alliance under the Gorgaarte. The imam came from the Mudulood (same source, quoting Cassanelli). See medieval and early modern polities.
• 1991. The United Somali Congress was "internally divided between the two principal Hawiye clans, the Abgaal and Habar Gidir". Interim president Ali Mahdi Muhammad "emerged as the most prominent Abgaal leader" (Library of Congress). See rebuilding, 1991 to 1999.
• Since 2000. Wikipedia names Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as Abgaal presidents (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup).
• November 2020. Ali Gudlawe, recorded by the EASO as Abgal, was elected president of Hirshabelle (EASO 2021).

Elders and customary law

Senior Somali clan leaders carry titles such as suldaan, ugaas or issim. Their role is "mainly judicial and representative" (UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014). Wikipedia says the Abgaal imam, who is also imam of the Hiraab, comes from the Owbakar sub-clan. It says the ugaas comes from the Reer Ugaas and is ugaas of the Mudulood (Wikipedia, Abgaal, backup). See xeer, Somali customary law.

In January 2021 two Abgaal sub-clans, Abdalla Aroni and Eli Oumar, settled a land dispute. They agreed to pay compensation and release detained people (EASO 2021). The Abgaal seats in parliament are part of the Hawiye share; see the Federal Parliament.

In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists clan conflicts from April 2023 to March 2025, using ACLED data (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). Examples involving Abgaal groups:

• Abgaal against Hawadle (Hawiye), in Jalalaqsi district and El Baraf district.
• Abdalle Arone against Agoonyar Gabane and Obakar Gabane (Mohamed Muse), in Adale district.
• Adan Dhiblabe Turyare against Suubiye Dhiblabe Turyare, both Mohamed Muse, in Jowhar district.
• Ili Omar and Reer Mataan, in Warsheikh district.
• Gaaljeel (Hawiye) against Abgal, between Afgoye and Wanlaweyne districts.

The EUAA adds that conflict between Abdalle Arone and Mohamed Muse in July 2023 was "reportedly resolved through a peace agreement in August 2024". ACLED recorded 23 incidents in Middle Shabelle involving both Abgal and Hawadle militias (EUAA 2025, Middle Shabelle). The EASO also recorded tensions between the Abgal and the Shiidle (Bantu) along the river (EASO 2021). See clan conflicts, district by district.

Where sources differ

• Place in the Hawiye tree. Abbink and the World Bank place the Abgaal directly under Gurgate (Gorgate). The EASO and Wikipedia place them under Mudulood, and Wikipedia adds Hiraab above.
• Branch names. Abbink, ACLED and Wikipedia list the branches differently and spell them differently, for example Wa'Aysle, Wacaysle and Waceysle.
• Early history. The Mogadishu history comes from clan traditions and manuscripts quoted on Wikipedia, a backup source.
• Strength. ACCORD calls the Abgaal "one of the most dominant and strongest clans" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20). No count of members exists.

Read more

• Hawiye, the family the Abgaal belong to
• Wacbuudhan, one of the three main Abgaal branches
• The Somali clan tree: every clan and sub-clan
• Somali clans and lineage: how the system works
• Middle Shabelle and Mogadishu