Habar Awal (Habr Awal, Zubeyr Awal, Isaaq)

Name and family tree

The Habar Awal are a clan of the Isaaq. Wikipedia also calls them the Zubeyr Awal, and places them in the Habar Magaadle group (Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup).

See the Isaaq tree.

Main branches

Somali Wikipedia lists six sons of Muuse: Afgaab, Celi, Cigaale, Cabdalle, Ciise and Sacad Muuse (Somali Wikipedia, Habar Awal, backup). Wikipedia says the Habar Awal have eight sub-clans, of which the Ciise Muuse and Sacad Muuse are the two largest (Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup).

Each of the two large lines has its own page, with its full tree.

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, Awdal and Somalis in Djibouti.

History on record

• 1500s. Wikipedia says the Futuh al-Habasha names the Habar Magaadle, including the Habar Awal, in the wars of Imam Ahmad (Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup). See Imam Ahmad and Adal.
• 1800s. It says Berbera was the chief port of the Habar Awal. It says the Reer Yoonis Nuux and Reer Axmed Nuux of the Sacad Muuse held it (same source).
• 1870s and 1880s. It says Sheikh Madar led a Sufi community that settled and farmed at Hargeisa. It says he built a mosque there in 1883 (same source).
• 1949. It says the Ciise Muuse crowned their own first sultan, Sultan Koshin (same source).
• 1955. It says Sultan Abdulrahman Deria went to London to ask for the return of the Haud (same source). See the Haud transfer.
• 1981. It says the Somali National Movement elected Ahmed Mohamed Gulaid, of the Habar Awal, as its first chairman (same source). See the Isaaq genocide.
• Later figures. Wikipedia lists Muhammad Haji Ibrahim Egal, Muse Bihi Abdi, Gaarriye and Mo Farah among Habar Awal people (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).

Wikipedia says the Habar Awal sultan comes from the Axmed Cabdalla line of the Sacad Muuse. It says the title was garaad until Abdulrahman Deria took the title of suldaan. It describes a case in which the Ciise Muuse refused his ruling on mag (blood money). It says this led them to crown their own sultan (Wikipedia, Habr Awal, backup). See xeer, Somali customary law.

In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists Habar Awal disputes active in April 2023 to March 2025 (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1):

• with the Habar Jeclo in Burao district
• a dormant dispute between the Gadabuursi and the Jibriil Abokor (Sacad Muuse) in Ceel Bardaale, Gabiley
• the Ciise Muuse with the Habar Yoonis in Cali Saahid village, Burao district
• election rivalries in Hargeisa with the Habar Yoonis and Ciidagale, which it says "did not lead to armed violence"

The EUAA says a "Jeegaan alliance" of Habar Jeclo and Habar Awal clans was active in Togdheer in 2023 (EUAA 2025, Togdheer). See clan conflicts, district by district.

Where sources differ

• Number of lines. Somali Wikipedia lists six sons of Muuse. Wikipedia says eight sub-clans. Abbink lists more names beside Sa'ad and 'Iisa.
• Ayuub. Abbink lists Ayub and Ahmad beside Zubeir under the Habr Awal. Wikipedia treats Ayuub as a separate Habar Magaadle clan.
• Size. Wikipedia calls the Habar Awal one of the largest Isaaq clans. No census confirms this.

Read more

• Isaaq
• Sacad Muuse
• Ciise Muuse
• Woqooyi Galbeed