# Digil (Rahanweyn, Digil-Mirifle) > The Digil of the Rahanweyn: Geledi, Tunni, Garre, Jiiddu, Begedi, Dabarre and Shanta Caleemo, Lower Shabelle and Bay, history and conflict records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/digil/ Last checked: 2026-11-13 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Digil are one of the two halves of the [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/), with the [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/). The UK Home Office says the Digil and Mirifle "trace back their ancestry to Saab" ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | DIGIL, as its own top heading beside Rahanwen ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | World Bank 2005 | The south-central chart puts the Digil under the Rahanweyn. The Puntland chart lists Rahanweyn and Digil as two families ([World Bank, *Conflict in Somalia*, 2005, Appendix 2](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b2109b26-2d10-5ac6-85c2-dbfa820c5f6e)) | | ACCORD 2009 | A Saab chart with "Rahanwein/Mirifle" and "Digil" as two branches ([ACCORD, *Clans in Somalia*, 2009, p. 28](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)) | | ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Digil, with about 15 coded sub-groups ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) | The Digil speak [Maay](/en/society/maay-language/), like the Mirifle (UK Home Office 2019). See [the Rahanweyn tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-rahanweyn/). ## Main branches Abbink lists these groups under the Digil (Abbink 2009, Digil chart): | Line | Groups named under it | |---|---| | Dabarre | Dirmedo and Ieran | | Jiddu | Hafow (Gadinale, Gowsitta, Gulle, Seyye), Farre and Gogo (nine lines) | | Other lines | Dubdere, Irole, Garre, Dagine, Osman and Dube | Abbink gives the [Tunni](/en/society/tunni/) a separate heading, with five lines. The World Bank's south-central chart names the Digil as "Geledi, Tunni, Garre, Jiiddo, Begedi, Shanta-Alen" (World Bank 2005). ACLED codes these Digil groups: Bagadi, Dabarre, Duubane-Darbane, Garre, Garre Maqabul, Garwale, Geledle, Heledo, Jambaluul, Jiido, Jiido Safar, Jilible, Shanta Caleemo and Tuni (ACLED 2025). See [Garre](/en/society/garre/), [Jiiddu](/en/society/jiiddu/), [Dabarre](/en/society/dabarre/) and [Begedi](/en/society/begedi/). ## 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 | |---|---| | Bay | "Digil predominate in the southern portion, toward the Lower Shabelle region" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) | | Lower Shabelle | Long-settled groups "include many sub-clans of the Digil-Mirifle clan-family, the largest of which include the Tunni, Tunni-Tore, Eelay, Garre, Bagadi, Geledi, and Jiddu" (EASO 2021) | | Lower Shabelle | An EASO source estimated the region as "Digil 55-60 %, Hawiye 30%, Biyomaal 10%" (EASO 2021) | | Marka district | The EUAA says the district "is home to Biyamal, Digil (Rahanweyne), 12 Koofi (Benadiri), and Madow (Bantu)" ([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 [Bay](/en/regions/bay/), [Lower Shabelle](/en/regions/lower-shabelle/) and [South West State](/en/states/south-west-state/). ## History on record - **1700s to 1900s.** The Geledi, a Digil clan, ruled a sultanate at Afgooye. See [the Geledi Sultanate](/en/history/geledi-sultanate/) and [the sultans of Geledi](/en/institutions/sultans-of-geledi/). - **1940s to 1950s.** The EASO says a shared marginalisation in this period keeps the Digil and Mirifle "firmly together" (EASO 2021). - **1991 onward.** ACCORD says Digil groups, "despite not being a minority, were suppressed by the Hawiye" in the war (ACCORD 2009, p. 20). - **Before 2009.** ACCORD says [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/) moved into [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/) "on the basis of supporting the Digil and the Biymaal" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20). - **2021.** The EASO says the Digil feel "under that alliance" with the Mirifle. They claim they are "not getting their fair share" (EASO 2021). ## 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 2019, quoting EASO 2014). ACCORD says Digil-Mirifle clans are made of four to seven *jilib* that pay compensation together. Their elders are "more hierarchical and tightly related to the villages" (ACCORD 2009, p. 13). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists these disputes that name Digil clans ([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)): - Gelidle (Mirifle) against Dabarre (Digil) in Diinsoor district, Bay. - [Gaaljecel](/en/society/gaaljecel/) (Hawiye) against Shantalemod (Digil) and other Mirifle clans in [Wanlaweyn](/en/infrastructure/baledogle-airfield/) district. - Geledi (Digil) and Wacdaan (Hawiye) against Habar Gidir (Hawiye) in Afgooye district. - Garre (Digil) against Jiido (Digil) in [Qoryooley](/en/regions/qoryooley/) district, Lower Shabelle. The EASO describes "an on-going rivalry between Hawiye and non-Hawiye clans" in Lower Shabelle, "both the Biyomaal and Digil", over farmland (EASO 2021). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **One family or two.** The World Bank's south-central chart and ACLED place the Digil inside the Rahanweyn. The [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) chart and Abbink list them apart. - **Garre.** ACCORD says the Garre are often counted as Digil, "but are sometimes also described as being distinct" (ACCORD 2009, p. 20). - **Geledi.** The World Bank and ACLED place the Geledi in the Digil. Abbink lists them among the Mirifle Sagaal. ## Read more - [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/) - [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/) - [The Rahanweyn tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-rahanweyn/) - [Tunni](/en/society/tunni/) - [Garre](/en/society/garre/) - [Lower Shabelle](/en/regions/lower-shabelle/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. 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