# Ayaanle Cayr (Ayanle, Habar Gidir, Hawiye) > The Ayaanle Cayr of the Habar Gidir and Hawiye: family tree, the Weheliye, Fiqishini and Aybakar lines, where they live, elders and records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/ayaanle-cayr/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Ayaanle Cayr are a sub-clan of the [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/), a Habar Gidir branch of the [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/). Somali Wikipedia also calls them Ayaanle Caroole ([Somali Wikipedia, Ayaanle Cayr, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Hirab > Habr Gidir > 'Ayr > Ayanle. The other 'Ayr line is Absiye ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 27](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Habar Gedir > Ayr > Ayanle ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) | | EUAA 2025 | "Ayaanle (Ayr/Habar Gidir/Hawiye)" ([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)) | | Somali Wikipedia (backup) | Ayaanle, Caroole, Axmed, Cabdalle, Samadoor, Dhowrakace, Abti-Edeg, Mucle (Tolweyne), Cayr Maxamed, Madarkicis, Hiraab ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)) | Somali Wikipedia says many people think Cayr Maxamed was Ayaanle's father, but several generations separate them. It says Ayaanle's mother, Faadumo Xasan Gaalshireed, was from the Mareexaan Reer Xasan (same source). See [the Hawiye tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-hawiye/). ## Main branches Somali Wikipedia says Ayaanle had four sons. Three had descendants; Aflax Ayaanle had none ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)): | Line | Groups named under it | |---|---| | Weheliye Ayaanle (Cumar Weheliye) | Reer Liibaan (Liibaan Maxamuud), Reer Ciyoow (Ciyoow Maxamuud) and Reer Ilmo Adeero Cumar | | Fiqi Cumar Ayaanle (Fiqishini) | Xasan Fiqi Cumar (Kuuloow) and Ismaaciil Fiqi Cumar | | Aybakar Ayaanle | Maxamuud Aybakar (Reer Maxamuud Qurbac), with Jibriil and Samatar; and Weheliye Aybakar (Reer Weheliye Dheere), with Gaban, Sharmaarke and Jalo | Reer Ilmo Adeero Cumar has ten lineages tracing to Cumar Weheliye. They include Reer Xuseen (Xuseen Gurmo), Reer Guurey and the Gondaweyne lines. Somali Wikipedia says they were joined to share blood money, contributions and defence (same source). ## 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 | |---|---| | Galgaduud | Somali Wikipedia says Ayaanle was born at Bulacle, east of Dhuusamareeb. The EUAA records an Ayaanle dispute in Laas-Xaadow ([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)) | | Mudug | Somali Wikipedia says Ayaanle is buried near Xarardheere. It also names El Bur (Ceelbuur) ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)) | | Galgaduud and Hiiraan | Xasan Fiqi Cumar (Kuuloow) (same source) | | Sool | Ismaaciil Fiqi Cumar, the larger Fiqishini line. Fiqi Cumar is buried in Xudun district (same source) | See [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) and [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/). ## History on record - **1700s.** Somali Wikipedia gives oral accounts of Cabdille Guure (Yabadhaale) and Cumar Oreey (Ayaanle). It links them to disputes over land and wells, such as the Gujaale well ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)). - **Early 1900s.** It says Cigayoon Maxamed, a Fiqishini, was a Dervish and a poet close to Sayid [Mohammed Abdullah Hassan](/en/people/sayid-maxamed-cabdulle-xasan/) (same source). See [the Dervish movement](/en/history/dervish-movement-1899-1920/). - **1925.** It says 11 Cayr men, mostly Ayaanle, killed the Italian officer at El Bur, whom it names Captain Carolei. It names Cabdulle Ciroobe and Geelle Galaal among them (same source). - **Colonial era.** It says Ayaanle traders worked with Aden in Yemen. It says the British named Maxamed Daqarre, a Fiqishini, as agent for Somali traders in Aden (same source). Somali Wikipedia names many people. They include General Maxamed Nuur Galaal and General Cabdulqaadir Cali Diiriye (Subxaanyo) (same source). ## 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)). Somali Wikipedia says the Ayaanle came under the Cayr *ugaas*. It says six *nabadoon* were chosen as the group grew ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)): 1. Nabadoon Diini Beereed (Reer Weheliye Dheere) 2. Nabadoon Sheekhdoon Cismaan Qeylo (Reer Qurbac) 3. Nabadoon Coloow Aftaag (Reer Ciyoow) 4. Nabadoon Mataan Axmed Ilkoweyne (Reer Liibaan) 5. Suldaan Kaariye Kheyre Geedi (Reer Ilmo Adeero) 6. Caaqil Maxamed Cabsiiye (Fiqishini) See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists "Ayaanle (Ayr/Habar Gidir/Hawiye) versus Absiiye (Ayr/Habar Gidir/Hawiye) in Laas-Xaadow". It was active in April 2023 to March 2025. The EUAA says it started in 2018 ([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 earlier listed Ayanle (Cayr) against Reer Kooshin (Mareexaan) at [Balanbale](/en/history/ethiopian-somali-border-war-1982/) ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)). See [Mareexaan](/en/society/mareexaan/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Rank.** Abbink lists only two Cayr lines, Absiye and Ayanle. ACLED codes about eight Cayr groups, Ayanle among them. - **Size.** Somali Wikipedia calls the Ayaanle the largest group in the Habar Gidir and Cayr. No other source used here says so. - **History.** Most history on this page comes from Somali Wikipedia and oral accounts it credits to elders. ## Read more - [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/) - [Habar Gidir](/en/society/habar-gidir/) - [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/) - [The Hawiye tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-hawiye/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.