# Biyomaal (Biimaal, Bimal, Dir) > The Biyomaal (Biimaal) of the Dir: family tree, Sacad, Ismiin, Suleymaan and Gaadsen lines, Marka and Jamaame, the war against Italy, and records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/biyomaal/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Biyomaal are a clan of the [Dir](/en/society/dir/). The name is also written Biimaal, Bimaal, Bimal and Biyamal. Somali Wikipedia gives Jamaal as the proper name ([Somali Wikipedia, Biimaal, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biimaal)). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Dir > Bimaal, with Da'ud under it, beside Soliman, Yasmin (Boras) and Sa'ad ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 17](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | ACLED 2025 | Dir > Biyamal; it codes Dir > Gadsan as a separate group ([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 | "the Biyomaal (Dir) clan around Marka" ([EUAA 2025, Lower Shabelle](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/22-south-west/223-lower-shabelle)) | | Wikipedia (backup) | A Dir sub-clan; it names Sacad, Daadow, Ismiin and Gaadsen as lines ([Wikipedia, Bimaal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimaal)) | See [the Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/). ## Main branches | Source | Lines it names | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Da'ud, Soliman, Yasmin (with Boras) and Sa'ad (p. 17) | | Wikipedia, overview | Saad, Ismin, Suleyman and Abdirahman ([Wikipedia, Bimaal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimaal)) | | Wikipedia, infobox | Gamaase Ali Geryaham, Sa'ad, Daadow, Ismiin and Abdirahman (Gaadsan) (same source) | **Gaadsen.** Wikipedia counts the Gaadsen (Cabdiraxmaan Eremage) as a Biyomaal line. It places them mainly in Ethiopia's Somali Region, in Afdheer, Qoraxay and Liban. It adds [Bakool](/en/regions/bakool/), [Gedo](/en/regions/gedo/), the two [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) regions and north-eastern Kenya (same source). ACLED codes the Gadsan separately under the Dir (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](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)). | Place | What the sources record | |---|---| | Lower Shabelle | The EUAA places them around Marka ([EUAA 2025, Lower Shabelle](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/22-south-west/223-lower-shabelle)). The EASO quotes an expert who put them at about 10% of the region ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) | | Lower Juba | The EASO says Jamaame "is mainly inhabited by the Biyomaal (Dir) clan", which also holds much of the east-bank grazing (EASO 2021) | | Kismayo | The EASO lists the Biimaal among smaller groups in the city (EASO 2021) | | Wider area | Somali Wikipedia also names Qoryooley, Janaale, Sablaale, Baraawe and Buulo Mareer, and areas in Ethiopia and Kenya ([Somali Wikipedia, Biimaal, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biimaal)) | See [Lower Shabelle](/en/regions/lower-shabelle/), [Lower Juba](/en/regions/lower-juba/) and [Middle Juba](/en/regions/middle-juba/). ## History on record - **Late 1600s to 1700s.** Wikipedia says a group called the El Amir pushed the Ajuuraan out of Marka. It says the Biyomaal later took Marka from them ([Wikipedia, Bimaal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimaal)). - **1800s.** It says they fought the Geledi sultanate over Marka. It says Sultan Yusuf Mahamud of Geledi was killed in battle near Marka in 1848 (same source). See [the Geledi sultanate](/en/history/geledi-sultanate/). - **1800s.** It says Biyomaal farms used enslaved Bantu labour. It says slavery was still found there when Italy's governor arrived in 1923 (same source). See [minority communities](/en/society/minority-communities/). - **1896 to 1926.** It says the Biyomaal fought Italian rule around Marka for about thirty years. This is called the Bimal revolt (same source). - **1990s.** Abbink lists the Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM) as a Bimaal and southern Dir front (Abbink 2009, p. 39). ## 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 says the Italians renamed elders *capo qabiil* and drew them into colonial government ([Wikipedia, Bimaal, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bimaal)). The EASO says Habar Gidir and Biyomaal elders signed a peace agreement in Marka in March 2018. It says the federal and South West governments and the UN backed it (EASO 2021). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists two Biyomaal disputes for April 2023 to March 2025 ([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)): - with the Habar Gidir in Marka district. It says the Biyamal, [Digil](/en/society/digil/), Benadiri and Bantu "claim historical rights to the region over the Habar-Gedir". - a dormant dispute with the Ogaden in [Jamaame](/en/regions/jamaame/), over "land ownership, governance structure, and power-sharing". The EASO says the Biyomaal seek "a fairer share of the control over the security apparatus" in Marka (EASO 2021). See [Habar Gidir](/en/society/habar-gidir/), [Ogaadeen](/en/society/ogaadeen/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Lines.** Abbink names Da'ud, Soliman, Yasmin and [Sa'ad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/). Wikipedia names different sets in two places on the same page. - **Place in the Dir.** Abbink lists the Bimaal on p. 17 and again as Biyamaal under Maahe > Hassan on p. 18, beside the Bajimal and Quranyow. - **Gaadsen.** Wikipedia counts the Gaadsen as Biyomaal. ACLED codes them as a separate Dir group. - **Size.** Somali Wikipedia gives population figures for several countries without a source. The EASO calls them a minority in [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/). No census counts Somalis by clan. ## Read more - [Dir](/en/society/dir/) - [The Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/) - [Lower Shabelle](/en/regions/lower-shabelle/) - [Lower Juba](/en/regions/lower-juba/) - [Surre](/en/society/surre/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.