Family and clan
Ali Saleebaan (Cali Saleebaan, Majeerteen)
The Ali Saleebaan (Cali Saleebaan) are a Majeerteen line of the Harti and Darod. They live mainly in north-eastern Bari, where the EUAA calls them very relevant politically, and in Arma. ACLED codes their Bicidyahan and Colyahan groups. The EASO records land disputes between them and other Majeerteen lines in Bari.
Name and family tree
The Ali Saleebaan are a line of the Majeerteen, part of the Harti and Darod. The name is also written Ali Saleban, Ali Suleman and, in Somali, Cali Saleebaan.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kombe-Harti > Majerteen > Saleeban > 'Ali (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009) |
| ACLED 2025 | Darod > Majeerteen > Ali Saleban (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| EASO 2021 | "The Ali Suleman clan, in the north-eastern part of the Bari region" (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | With the Mahamoud Saleebaan and Ugaar Saleebaan, part of the Saleebaan Maxamed (Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup) |
See the Darod tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists five lines under 'Ali Saleeban: Awlyahan, Isma'iil, Bi'iidyahan, 'Umar and Sa'id (Abbink 2009, Darod chart).
Under the same Saleeban line, Abbink also lists Se'ed, Ugar, Isma'iil, Aden, Aderahin and Mahmuud. Mahmuud is the parent of the Isa, 'Ismaan and 'Omr lines, better known as Isse Mahamoud, Osman Mahamoud and Omar Mahamoud (Abbink 2009).
ACLED codes two Ali Saleban groups: Bicidyahan and Colyahan. It also codes Bicidyahan directly under the Majeerteen (ACLED 2025).
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).
| Place | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| North-eastern Bari | "The Ali Suleman clan, in the north-eastern part of the Bari region, is also politically extremely relevant in the region" (EASO 2021) |
| Bari | "The Ali Suleman clan also is very relevant politically in the region" (EUAA 2025, Bari) |
| Arma, Bari | The EASO calls Arma a village "predominantly inhabited by Ali Saleban" (EASO 2021) |
| Garowe | The EUAA lists Ali Salebaan among Majeerteen lines living in Garowe (EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe) |
| Kismayo | Wikipedia says Ali Saleebaan were part of "a powerful business class in Kismayo" in the 1960s (Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup) |
See Bari, Lower Juba and Puntland.
History on record
- 1960s. Wikipedia says Majeerteen lines including the Ali Saleebaan "formed a powerful business class in Kismayo" (Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup).
- 1969 to 1991. Wikipedia says the government of Siad Barre "exploited a rivalry between the Cali Saleebaan and Cumar Maxamuud" (same source). See the Siad Barre era.
- About 2011 to 2021. The EASO says the Ali Jibrail and Ali Saleban clashed often. They fought "on various occasions in the last 10 years or so" (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).
The EASO records elders from the Majeerteen, Dashishe and Warsangeli meeting at Arma, an Ali Saleban village, to settle a land dispute (EASO 2021). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EASO lists these Bari disputes that name the Ali Saleban (EASO 2021):
- Ali Jibrail (Majeerteen) against Ali Saleban (Majeerteen).
- Ugaadh Saleban (Majeerteen) against Ali Saleban (Majeerteen). The EASO says "each clan accused the other to expand its borders and hence its access to pastoral land".
The EUAA's 2025 list does not name the Ali Saleebaan separately. It lists Majeerteen sub-clans against each other in Kismayo, "currently dormant" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). See clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Parent line. Abbink places 'Ali under Saleeban, beside Mahmuud. Wikipedia places Ali Saleebaan beside Mahamoud Saleebaan under Saleebaan Maxamed. ACLED codes Ali Saleban directly under the Majeerteen.
- Branch names. Abbink lists Awlyahan, Isma'iil, Bi'iidyahan, 'Umar and Sa'id. ACLED lists only Bicidyahan and Colyahan.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EUAA 2025, Bari · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
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