# Dabarre (Digil, Rahanweyn)

> The Dabarre of the Digil and Rahanweyn: Dirmedo and Ieran lines, the Af-Dabarre language, Diinsoor and Bu'aale, and conflict records, with sources.

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

## Name and family tree

The Dabarre are a clan of the [Digil](/en/society/digil/), part of the [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/). The name is also written Dabare.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Digil > Dabarre ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| EASO 2021 | "Dabarre (Digil-Mirifle)" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| EUAA 2025 | "Dabarre (Digil)" ([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)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Digil > Dabarre ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) |

See [the Rahanweyn tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-rahanweyn/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists two Dabarre lines, Dirmedo and Ieran (Abbink 2009, Digil chart). Beside the Dabarre under the Digil he lists the Dubdere, Irole, [Garre](/en/society/garre/), Dagine, Osman, Dube and Jiddu.

ACLED codes no sub-groups under the Dabarre (ACLED 2025).

## Language

Wikipedia says Af-Dabarre "is a Somali language spoken by the Dabarre and Ciroole, both sub-clans of the Digil" ([Wikipedia, Dabarre language, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dabarre_language)). It gives about 34,000 speakers. Its dialects are Dabarre and Iroole (same source). See [the Somali language](/en/society/the-somali-language/).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Diinsoor, Bay | The EUAA places the Gelidle and Dabarre dispute in Diinsoor district (EUAA Country Focus 2025) |
| Bu'aale, Middle Juba | "In Buaale district, east bank residents include the Digil-Mirifle, Ajuran (proto-Hawiye), and Dabarre (Digil-Mirifle) clans" (EASO 2021) |
| Southern Bay | The EASO says the Digil "predominate in the southern portion" of Bay (EASO 2021) |

See [Bay](/en/regions/bay/), [Middle Juba](/en/regions/middle-juba/) and [South West State](/en/states/south-west-state/).

## History on record

- **Tradition.** Wikipedia's Awrtable article reports a tradition that the Dabarre "are originally descended from the Awrtable" ([Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awrtable)). See [Awrtable](/en/society/awrtable/).
- **To the early 1990s.** The EUAA says the Rahanweyn "have been marginalised until the early 1990s" ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.4.3](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)).
- **2023 to 2025.** The EUAA lists the Gelidle and Dabarre dispute as active or potentially active (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1).

## 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)).

ACCORD says Digil-Mirifle clans are made of four to seven *jilib* that pay compensation together ([ACCORD, *Clans in Somalia*, 2009, p. 13](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists "Gelidle (Mirifle) vs Dabarre (Digil) clans, in Dinsoor district, Bay region" ([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)). See [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Origin.** Abbink, the EASO, the EUAA and ACLED place the Dabarre in the Digil. A tradition reported by Wikipedia links them to the Awrtable of the Darod.
- **Iroole.** Wikipedia calls the Iroole a Dabarre-speaking Digil sub-clan. Abbink lists Irole as a separate Digil line. ACCORD pairs "Bagadi / Iroole" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20).

## Read more

- [Digil](/en/society/digil/)
- [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/)
- [Jiiddu](/en/society/jiiddu/)
- [Begedi](/en/society/begedi/)
- [Bay](/en/regions/bay/)

---
I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.