Ciidagale (Eidagale, Isaaq)

Name and family tree

The Ciidagale are a clan of the Isaaq family. The name is spelled Ciidagale or Ciidagalle in Somali, and Eidagale, Eidagalle or Idagalle in English sources.

The EUAA names the "Isaaq/Garhajis (Eidagale and Habar Yonis)" together (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 2.2.1). See the Somali clan tree.

Main branches

Abbink lists four lines under Da'ud ('Idagalle) (Abbink 2009, pp. 31–32):

• 'Isa
• Bilal
• Mohammed: 'Ali and Urkurag.
• Musa: Abokor (Hassan, Adan) and Adarahman (Yuunis, Abdulla).

Wikipedia names three sons of Daa'uud: Maxamed Daa'uud, Abokor Daa'uud and Muuse Daa'uud. It names four sub-clans: Abokor Muuse, Cabdiraxmaan Muuse, Abokor Daa'uud and Maxamed Daa'uud (Wikipedia, Eidagale, backup). Its tree gives these further lines:

• Maxamed Daa'uud (Guuyoobe): Cali Maxamed and Urkurag Maxamed. Under Urkurag are Ismaaciil Cali (Gadhweyn), Fiqi Sacad Cali, Maxamuud Cali and Axmed Cali.
• Abokor Daa'uud: Ciise Abokor and Bilaal Abokor.
• Muuse Daa'uud: Abokor Muuse and Cabdiraxmaan Muuse. Under Cabdiraxmaan are Reer Yoonis, Ba Deelo, Cabdi Dheere, Reer Iidle and Gaashaanbuur (Xuseen Abokor Mataan).

The Wikipedia tree traces the sultans' line, Reer Guuleed, down through Gaashaanbuur to Guuleed Cabdi (same source). ACLED codes a "Cidagale Reer Guled" and a "Cidagale Reer Abdi Dheer" (ACLED, September 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).

See Woqooyi Galbeed and Togdheer.

History on record

Most of the history below comes from Wikipedia, a backup source, which cites travellers and scholars such as I. M. Lewis.

• 1500s. Wikipedia says the Futuh al-Habasha names the Habar Magaadle among the forces of the Adal Sultanate. Lewis suggests that two leaders called Ahmad Gurey were later merged into one figure (Wikipedia, Eidagale, backup).
• 1700s. Wikipedia says the Isaaq Sultanate was founded by Guuleed Cabdi of the Ciidagale, after the battle of Lafaruug (same source). See sultanates, the coast and customary law.
• 1800s. Ciidagale merchants traded in the caravan routes between Berbera and the interior. Wikipedia says they founded inland trade stops, including Hargeisa (same source).
• 1846. A relic kept at the tomb of Aw Barkhadle was brought to Berbera "in charge of the Haber Gerhajis". Rival Isaaq groups swore peace on it (same source, quoting a 19th-century account).

Wikipedia quotes a writer who called the Ciidagale "the recognized experts in the composition of poetry" (same source). It names the poets Xasan Tarabi and Cilmi Boodhari. See Somali poetry.

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).

Wikipedia calls the Ciidagale "the traditional holders of the Isaaq Sultanate since the 18th century". It lists these sultans (Wikipedia, Eidagale, backup):

Wikipedia adds that the Habar Yoonis sultanate "broke off from Eidagale tutelage" several decades after Guuleed's rule began (same source). See xeer, Somali customary law and Somaliland, 1991 to 2026.

In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists clan rivalries in Somaliland that "revolve around electoral competitions and did not lead to armed violence" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). Two name the Ciidagale:

• Garxajis (Habar Yoonis and Idagale) against Habar Awal, in Hargeisa.
• Sacad Muuse (Habar Awal) against Idagale and Habar Yoonis, in Hargeisa.

See clan conflicts, district by district.

Where sources differ

• Where Da'ud sits. Abbink's main chart draws Da'ud ('Idagalle) under the Habr Yunis. His own individual example places Da'ud beside Si'id, directly under Isma'il (Garhaji). ACLED, the EUAA and Wikipedia treat the Ciidagale and Habar Yoonis as two Garxajis clans.
• Clan or family level. The PDRC chart in the World Bank report lists Iidagale as one of five Isaaq clans, without a Garxajis level.
• Size. Wikipedia calls them "the largest sub-clan of the Isaaq". No census counts Somalis by clan, so no source can test this.
• Sub-clans. Abbink lists four lines under Da'ud. Wikipedia names three sons and four sub-clans, with different groupings.

Read more

• Isaaq
• Abokor Muuse, a Ciidagale sub-clan
• The Somali clan tree: every clan and sub-clan
• Sultanates, the coast and customary law, 1700s to 1880s
• Somali poetry
• Habar Yoonis