# Awrtable (Ortable, Darod)

> The Awrtable (Ortable) of the Darod: Yusuf Darod line, Muse Ibraahim and other branches, Eyl, Burtinle and Garowe, history and records, with sources.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/awrtable/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Name and family tree

The Awrtable are a clan of the [Darod](/en/society/darod/). The name is also written Ortable, Aurtable and Owrtable ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)).

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Yuusuf > Awrtobleh, and also Darod > Sa'ade > Awrtable > Mur'ase ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| World Bank 2005 | Awrtable stands as its own line under the Darod, beside Harti, Ogaden, Marehan and Leelkase ([World Bank, *Conflict in Somalia*, 2005, Appendix 2](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b2109b26-2d10-5ac6-85c2-dbfa820c5f6e)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Codes Darod > Awrtable, and a separate Darod > Dhulbahante > Awrtable ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Awrtable is Yusuf, the youngest of the sons of Darod ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)) |

Wikipedia says the name joins *awr*, a large male pack camel, and *table*, "he who ties a knot". It tells a tradition that Yusuf, raised by his mother's Dir kin, tied up their camels. In the story, he did this to warn his father and brothers of a plot (same source). See [the Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/).

## Main branches

Wikipedia gives this Awrtable tree, citing *Généalogie du peuple Somali* and the African Studies Centre ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Ibraahim | Muse Ibraahim, Maxamed Ibraahim, Geedi Ibraahim, Jamac Ibraahim, Guled Ibraahim, Ahmed Ibraahim and Farah Ibraahim |
| Other lines | Fiqi Idiris |

Wikipedia calls the Musa Ibrahim the largest Awrtable line. It also reports a tradition that the [Dabarre](/en/society/dabarre/) clan of the [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/) descend from the Awrtable (same source).

Abbink's chart names Mur'ase under Awrtable (Abbink 2009, Darod chart).

## 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](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)).

| Place | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| Eyl, Nugaal | "Close to the Eyl port town there is another smaller clan, the Awrtable" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Garowe | The EUAA lists "Darood/Awrtable" among groups living in Garowe ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) |
| Nugaal, Mudug and Bari | Wikipedia names Burtinle, Gaalkacyo, Garowe, Eyl, Godob Jiraan, Bacadweyne and Boosaaso among their towns ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)) |
| Ethiopia and Jubaland | Wikipedia places groups in Ethiopia's Somali Region, at Afdheer and Shilaabo, and in Jubaland at Jamaame (same source) |

See [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/), [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) and [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/).

## History on record

- **Before 1960.** Wikipedia says that before 1969, the Awrtable "made up a majority of Darod residents" in Mogadishu ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)).
- **1943.** Wikipedia says Abdi Yusuf, of the Awrtable, was the first Somali killed in the Dhagaxtuur uprising against Italian rule (same source).
- **1943.** Wikipedia names Haji Diriye Hirsi, of the Awrtable, as a founding member of the Somali Youth League (same source). See [the Somali Youth League](/en/history/somali-youth-league/).

## 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](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)).

Wikipedia names Ugaas Omar Geele Mohamed as the current Ugaas of the Awrtable ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA's 2025 list of major clan conflicts does not name the Awrtable ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)). The EASO describes Nugaal as a region with "no major clan conflicts on-going" (EASO 2021). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Place in the tree.** Abbink shows Awrtobleh under Yuusuf and Awrtable under Sa'ade. Wikipedia makes Awrtable the same person as Yusuf. ACLED also codes an Awrtable group under the [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/).
- **Dabarre.** Wikipedia reports a tradition linking the Dabarre to the Awrtable. Abbink and ACLED place the Dabarre under the [Digil](/en/society/digil/).

## Read more

- [Darod](/en/society/darod/)
- [The Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/)
- [Leelkase](/en/society/leelkase/)
- [Harti](/en/society/harti/)
- [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/)

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