# Gurgure (Gurgura, Gorgorah, Dir) > The Gurgure (Gurgura) of the Dir: family tree, seven main lines, Dire Dawa and Erer, the Futuh al-Habasha, the ugaas, and where sources differ. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/gurgure/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Gurgure are a clan of the [Dir](/en/society/dir/). The name is also written Gurgura, and the Futuh al-Habasha writes it Gorgorah. Wikipedia gives Mohamed as the founder's given name, with Gurgure as a nickname ([Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurgura)). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Dir > Mahdaweyn > Gurgura, with Akisho, Gariir, Layiile, Guure, Reer Awsad and Cali (Warday) under it ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 17](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | Wikipedia (backup) | Dir > Madaxweyne > Gurgure (Mohamed) (Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup) | | UK Home Office 2001 | Lists the Gurgure as a Dir group, quoted by Wikipedia ([Wikipedia, Akisho, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akisho)) | | World Bank 2005 | Lists the Gurgure in the Madaxweyne Dir with Akisho, Layiile, Gurre, Gariire, Jaarso, Jiido and Wardey (same source) | ACLED's 2025 clan list does not code a Gurgure group ([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 Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/). ## Main branches Wikipedia lists seven main lines, with Kundhuble as the eldest (Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup): | Line | Groups named under it | |---|---| | Kundhuble (Habar Daar) | Cabdulle and Cali | | Gufaatile (Dudub > Libaan) | Ismaaciil, Sabti and Awbare | | Sanjeele (Dudub > Libaan) | none given | | Sanaye (Dudub > Libaan) | Walasame and Walahashiir | | Nabidoor (Dudub > Quwaxade) | Aw Bare | | Biciide (Dudub > Quwaxade) | Foodnabi and Axmed Meel Gooble | | Gacalwaaq (Dudub > Quwaxade) | Cassa and Jibriil | Abbink gives a different set of six groups under Gurgura, listed in the table above (Abbink 2009, p. 17). ## 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 | |---|---| | Dire Dawa | Wikipedia says the Gurgure live in 24 of the city's 38 *kebele* and share others with Oromo and Ciise (Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup) | | Sitti zone, Ethiopia | It says they are the majority in Afdem and Erer districts (same source) | | Harar, Oromia and Afar | It says they also live in Harar, the Afar Region and eastern Hararghe (same source) | | Somaliland and Djibouti | It names Sheikh in Somaliland, and Ceerigaabo and Xiis in Sanaag for the Nabidoor and Biciide. It also names Djibouti (same source) | Wikipedia says some Gurgure near Dire [Dawa](/en/regions/dawa-river/) now speak Oromo as a first language. It says Oromo and Somali leaders disagree over whether these communities are Oromo or Somali (same source). See [Sanaag](/en/regions/sanaag/). ## History on record - **1500s.** The *Futuh al-Habasha* names "the tribe of Gorgorah" among Imam Ahmad's forces. It says they came "with Garad Abdi their chieftan, and 30 horses and 1,000 men" (quoted by Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup). See [the Futuh al-Habasha](/en/history/futuh-al-habasha/) and [Imam Ahmad](/en/history/imam-ahmad-and-adal-1527-1543/). - **1500s, as read by Gilkes.** The writer Patrick Gilkes says Somalis from many clans fought in Imam Ahmad's armies. He names "particularly the Gorgora, a clan that probably originated around Zelia" (quoted by Wikipedia, same source). - **1905.** The traveller Arnold Henry Savage Landor described meeting Gurgure herders between Dire Dawa and Harar (same source). - **1977 to 1991.** Wikipedia says the Gurgure joined the Issa and Gurgura Liberation Front (IGLF). It says the Derg government seized Gurgure farms at Hurso and homes in Dire Dawa after the [1977 war](/en/history/ogaden-war-1977/) (same source). - **1990s.** It says a separate Gurgura Liberation Front split from the IGLF. It says both later helped found the Ethiopian Somali People's Democratic Party (same source). ## 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 Gurgure *ugaas* is chosen from the Gufaatile line. It names Ugaas Buux Gadiid as the 52nd and Ugaas Gadiid Abdullahi Ugaas Buux as the 53rd. It names Ugaas Siyad Daud Cumar as the 54th and current holder (Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA conflict list for Somalia in April 2023 to March 2025 does not name the Gurgure ([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)). Most Gurgure live in Ethiopia, outside that report's scope. Wikipedia records past clashes between Gurgure and Ciise fronts and the Oromo Liberation Front over Dire Dawa (Wikipedia, Gurgura, backup). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Akisho.** Abbink lists the Akisho under the Gurgura. Wikipedia and the World Bank list them beside the Gurgure in the Madaxweyne Dir. - **Lines.** Abbink and Wikipedia give different sets of groups under the Gurgure. - **Age.** Wikipedia calls the Gurgure "the eldest Dir". No other source here ranks the Dir lines by age. - **Name.** Wikipedia gives several origins for the name, including *gorgortan*, "bargaining", and *guur guur*, "moving often". ## Read more - [Dir](/en/society/dir/) - [Gadabuursi](/en/society/gadabuursi/) - [Ciise](/en/society/ciise/) - [The Futuh al-Habasha](/en/history/futuh-al-habasha/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.