Family and clan
Aulihan (Awlyahan, Ogaden, Darod)
The Aulihan are an Ogaden line of the Darod. They hold pasture and wells around Fafaduun and Baardheere, live on the west bank of Middle Juba, and on both sides of the Ethiopia border in Bakool. The EUAA calls them one of the two strongest clans in Middle Juba, with the Mohamed Zubeir.
Name and family tree
The Aulihan are a line of the Ogaadeen, part of the Darod. In Somali the name is Cawlyahan.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kablalah > Kumade > Ogaden > Bahalla > Aulihan (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009) |
| EASO 2021 | "The Aulihan (Ogaden/Darood) clan" (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| EUAA 2025 | "The Aulihan (Darood)" (EUAA 2025, Middle Juba) |
| ACLED 2025 | Two codes: Darod-Auliyan, and Darod > Ogaden > Awlyahan (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
See the Darod tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists two Aulihan lines, Reer Afgab and Reer Wafate (Abbink 2009, Darod chart). He places the Aulihan under Bahalla, beside the Bah Geri and the Mohamed Zubeir.
Abbink also lists an Awlyahan line under 'Ali of the Saleeban, a different place in the Darod tree (Abbink 2009, Darod chart). See Mohamed Zubeir, a sister line under Bahalla.
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 |
|---|---|
| Fafaduun and Baardheere | The Aulihan "historically resided and controlled pasture and wells" there (EASO 2021) |
| Middle Juba | One of "the two strongest clans both in political and military terms", with the Mohamed Zubeir (EUAA 2025, Middle Juba) |
| Bakool | The clan "resides along both sides of the border with Ethiopia" (EUAA 2025, Bakool) |
| Dhobley, Lower Juba | The EASO notes an Aulihan "presence in Dobley, near the Kenya border" (EASO 2021) |
| Kenya | The EASO says the Aulihan "have more important interests in Garissa county, Kenya (especially Dadaab refugee camp)" (EASO 2021) |
See Middle Juba, Gedo, Bakool and Lower Juba.
History on record
- Before 1991. The EASO lists the Aulihan among clans "of long-standing residence" in Baardheere (EASO 2021).
- Since 2012. The EASO says their interests in Kismayo are smaller than in Garissa county (EASO 2021). See Jubaland.
- August 2024. On 25 August 2024, eight Marehan and Bartire civilians were abducted in Saakow. The EUAA says this came "after crossing to the grazing land of the Auliyan clan" (EUAA Country Focus 2025).
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). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA's 2025 list of major clan conflicts does not name the Aulihan (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). The Saakow abduction of August 2024 is listed in the same report under abductions (EUAA Country Focus 2025).
The EASO says the Aulihan and Mohamed Zubeir both live on the west bank of Middle Juba. It places a Bartire pocket "in between the Aulihan and Mohamed Zubir, in the Hagar area" (EASO 2021). See Marehan, Bartire and clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Two codes. ACLED codes Auliyan directly under the Darod, and Awlyahan under the Ogaden.
- Two places in Abbink. Abbink lists Aulihan under Bahalla of the Ogaden, and Awlyahan under the Saleeban.
- Spelling. The EASO and EUAA write Aulihan; the EUAA Country Focus writes Auliyan.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA 2025, Middle Juba · euaa.europa.eu
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EUAA 2025, Bakool · euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA Country Focus 2025 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
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