# Cayr (Ayr, Habar Gidir, Hawiye)

> The Cayr (Ayr) of the Habar Gidir Hawiye: family tree, sub-clans, where they live in Galgaduud, the ugaas line and recent conflict records.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/cayr/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Name and family tree

The Cayr are a sub-clan of the Habar Gidir, a clan of the [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/) family. The name is written Cayr or Ceyr in Somali and Ayr in English.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Hawiye > Gurgate > Damay > Hirab > Habr Gidir > 'Ayr, with ancestors between Hirab and Habr Gidir left out ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 27](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Habar Gedir > Ayr ([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 | "Ayr (Habar Gedir/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)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Hawiye > Gorgate > Daame > Madarkicis (Habar Gidir) > Maxamed (Cayr), citing Ali Jimale Ahmed's *The Invention of Somalia* ([Wikipedia, Ayr clan, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr_(clan))) |

Wikipedia's article carries an "original research" warning, so its details below are the weakest source on this page. See [the Somali clan tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists two lines under 'Ayr: Absiye and Ayanle ([Abbink 2009, p. 27](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)).

ACLED's 2025 list codes these Cayr groups ([ACLED, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)):

- Ayanle, Bilaal, Cabsiiye (Cabsiye) and Habar Caji (Habaraji, Habanji)
- Yabadhaalo and Yabar Dhowrakace
- Saruur, coded once as "Ayr-Saruur"

Wikipedia gives a tree from Maxamed (Cayr) through Mucle and Abti-Idig. It names Abti-Idig's four sons as Warwaaq, Xaryanle (Qoorcas), Daa'uud (Sabuuh) and Dhowrakace ([Wikipedia, Ayr clan, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr_(clan))). It lists ten groups of similar size that pay *diya* (blood money) together:

| Group | Note in Wikipedia |
|---|---|
| Habar Caji | Warwaaq and Xaryanle; called the eldest |
| Ayaanle | Son of Caroole |
| Cabsiiye | Son of Caroole |
| Yabar Dhowrakace | Descendants of Dhowrakace other than Samadoor |
| Yabadhaale | From Wace Maxamed |
| Babaanshe | Son of Caroole |
| Sabuuh | Daa'uud Abti-Idig |
| Xasan Samadoor | Son of Samadoor |
| Caalin Ugaas | The *ugaas* line |
| Suubiye Caroole | Son of Caroole |

Every group here is also on [the Somali clan tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/).

## 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 | Main clans are Habar Gidir sub-clans, "Suleiman (or Suliman, Saleban), Ayr, Duduble", with the Murusade and Mareexaan ([EUAA 2025, Galgaduud](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/251-galgaduud)) |
| North Galgaduud | The EASO lists Sacad, Saleebaan and Cayr among the five major clans ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Dhuusamareeb, Cadaado, Balanbale, Ceelbuur | Districts named in conflict records involving Cayr groups ([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)) |
| Hiiraan | A Cayr woman was killed near Beledweyne in February 2025 (same source, section 1.5.2) |
| Six regions | Wikipedia says Cayr live in six of Somalia's 18 regions, mostly in Galgaduud ([Wikipedia, Ayr clan, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr_(clan))) |

See [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/).

## History on record

- **1500s to 1600s.** Wikipedia says the Cayr were part of the [Ajuran Sultanate](/en/history/ajuran-state/). It says some Cayr sections, such as the Yabadhaale, fought to defend it as it fell ([Wikipedia, Ayr clan, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr_(clan))).
- **2000 to 2004.** [Abdiqasim Salad Hassan](/en/people/abdiqasim-salad-hassan/) was president of the [Transitional National Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/). Wikipedia lists him as Cayr (same source).
- **2009.** Abbink described al-Shabaab as "dominated by 'Ayr (Hawiye) sub-clan members". He added that "it includes also other Hawiye, several Digil-Rahanweyn and people from other clans" ([Abbink 2009, p. 41](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)). See [al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/).
- **February 2021.** Cayr and Saleebaan sub-clans agreed a first ceasefire at Hananbure ([EASO 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)).

## 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 Cayr *ugaas* line began 400 to 500 years ago with Caalin Caroole. It gives the current *ugaas* as Xasan Ugaas Maxamed [Ugaas Nuur](/en/people/ughaz-nur-ii/) ([Wikipedia, Ayr clan, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayr_(clan))). It retells an oral tradition that their ancestor Abti-Idig named Dhowrakace's line as the one that would lead the Cayr. See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists these [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/) conflicts, active in 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)):

- Cayr against [Duduble](/en/society/duduble/), on the outskirts of Dhuusamareeb district.
- Saleebaan against Cayr, in Hanabuure and Qalanqale villages in Cadaado and Dhuusamareeb districts.
- Cayr against [Mareexaan](/en/society/mareexaan/) (Darod), in [Balanbale](/en/history/ethiopian-somali-border-war-1982/) district.
- Ayaanle against Cabsiiye, both Cayr, in Laas-Xaadow. The EUAA says this started in 2018.
- Murusade against Cayr, a conflict that "started in the middle of 2024".

The EUAA also lists incidents in which women were killed (same source, section 1.5.2):

- **11 September 2024.** A Cayr militia killed two civilians, including a Saleebaan woman, near Dhuusamareeb.
- **16 February 2025.** A [Xawaadle](/en/society/xawaadle/) militia killed a Cayr woman near Beledweyne.
- **18 February 2025.** A Murusade militia attacked Cayr civilians near Ceelbuur, killing two, including a woman.

Earlier, the EASO listed Ayaanle (Cayr) against Reer Kooshin (Mareexaan) at Balanbale. It also listed Habar Caji (Cayr) against Cali Madaxweyne (Xawaadle) in [Hiiraan](/en/regions/hiiraan/) ([EASO 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)). See [Murusade](/en/society/murusade/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Sub-clans.** Abbink lists only Absiye and Ayanle. ACLED codes about eight Cayr groups. Wikipedia gives ten *diya* groups.
- **Saruur.** ACLED codes "Ayr-Saruur" once. Abbink lists Saruur as a separate Habar Gidir line beside 'Ayr, and Wikipedia names Saruur as a related group.
- **Size.** Wikipedia calls the Cayr the largest Habar Gidir sub-clan. No census counts Somalis by clan, so no source can test this.
- **Al-Shabaab.** Abbink's 2009 note links al-Shabaab mainly to Cayr members. It also says the group draws on other Hawiye, Digil-Rahanweyn and other clans.

## Read more

- [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/)
- [Murusade](/en/society/murusade/)
- [Ayaanle Cayr](/en/society/ayaanle-cayr/)
- [Habar Caji](/en/society/habar-caji/)
- [Habar Gidir](/en/society/habar-gidir/)
- [The Somali clan tree: every clan and sub-clan](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/)
- [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/)

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