Family and clan
Dabarre (Digil, Rahanweyn)
The Dabarre are a Digil clan of the Rahanweyn with their own language, Af-Dabarre, shared with the Iroole. They live in Bay, around Diinsoor, and on the east bank of the Juba in Bu'aale district. Abbink lists two Dabarre lines, Dirmedo and Ieran. The EUAA records a dispute between the Gelidle and Dabarre in Diinsoor.
Name and family tree
The Dabarre are a clan of the Digil, part of the Rahanweyn. The name is also written Dabare.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Digil > Dabarre (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009) |
| EASO 2021 | "Dabarre (Digil-Mirifle)" (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| EUAA 2025 | "Dabarre (Digil)" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |
| ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Digil > Dabarre (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
See the Rahanweyn tree.
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, 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). It gives about 34,000 speakers. Its dialects are Dabarre and Iroole (same source). See 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).
| 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, Middle Juba and 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). See 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).
- 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).
ACCORD says Digil-Mirifle clans are made of four to seven jilib that pay compensation together (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 13). See xeer, Somali 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). See Mirifle and clan conflicts, district by district.
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
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- Wikipedia, Dabarre language, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- Wikipedia, Awrtable, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
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