# Habar Cafaan (Habr Afan, Gadabuursi)

> The Habar Cafaan (Habr Afan) of the Gadabuursi: family tree, its twelve groups, where they live in Awdal, Ethiopia and Djibouti, and what records say.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/habar-cafaan/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Name and family tree

The Habar Cafaan are one of the main divisions of the [Gadabuursi](/en/society/gadabuursi/), a [Dir](/en/society/dir/) clan. English sources write Habr Afan.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Gadabursi > Habr Afan (Samaroon), with 'Isa and Zubeir ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, pp. 16 to 17](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Gadabuursi > Habar Cafaan, one of two divisions with the Habar Makadur ([Wikipedia, Gadabuursi, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadabuursi)) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | One of three Gadabuursi pillars, with the Makaahiil and the Maxamed Case ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Cafaan, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beesha_Habar_Cafaan)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Codes Gadabuursi groups but no Habar Cafaan 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)) |

Abbink writes "Samaroon" beside Habr Afan. Somali Wikipedia uses Samaroon for the whole Gadabuursi (same sources). See [the Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists these groups (Abbink 2009, pp. 16 to 17):

- Under Habr Afan: 'Isa and Zubeir
- Under Zubeir: Mahamed and Musa
- Under Musa: [Sa'ad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/), Fin, Adan, (Reer) Hamud and Mahakil
- Beside them: Habr Yusuf, Gobo, Jibrain, Hebjirreh and 'Ali Ganoon

Somali Wikipedia says the Habar Cafaan have twelve groups ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beesha_Habar_Cafaan)):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Bah Xarago | Xeebjire (Reer Sheekh Ismaaciil) and Jibraacin |
| Muuse Aadan Xasan | Muusafiin |
| Subeer | Dhagaweyne, Makayl, Reer Xaamud, Hansasacad (Xasan Sacad) and Faroole |
| Others | Cali Ganuun, Reer Yuusuf, Reer Ciise and Gobe |

Wikipedia gives a similar list. It names Jibraahin, Cali Ganuun, Gobe, Habar Yuusuf, Reer Ciise, Hebjire, Reer Zubeer, Dhega Weyne and Makayl ([Wikipedia, Gadabuursi, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadabuursi)).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Awdal and Gabiley | Somali Wikipedia names Borama, Jirjir, Xaliimad, Baki, Xariirad, Cabdulqaadir, Goronyo Cowl, Xego, Weeraar and Abuqeys ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beesha_Habar_Cafaan)) |
| Somali Region of Ethiopia | Lafo-Ciise, Dhoodaan and Jigjiga (same source) |
| Djibouti | Djibouti city (same source) |
| Gadabuursi as a whole | "Awdal region is inhabited by members of the Gadabursi (Isaaq-Dir) and Issa clans" ([EUAA 2025, Awdal](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/281-awdal)) |

Somali Wikipedia calls them the second-largest Gadabuursi pillar and the one with the most trade (same source). No census confirms this. See [Awdal](/en/regions/awdal/) and [the Somali community in Djibouti](/en/diaspora/djibouti/).

## History on record

- **1884.** The Gadabuursi and the Ciise signed treaties with Britain on 11 and 31 December ([Wikipedia, Gadabuursi, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadabuursi)). See [the colonial treaties](/en/history/colonial-treaties-1884-1897/).
- **Djibouti independence movement.** Somali Wikipedia names Omar Sharidi Buuni, a Habar Cafaan, among early young organisers against French rule ([Somali Wikipedia, Reer Maxamed, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beesha_reer_maxamed_Maxad_case)).
- **September 2023.** Gadabuursi clan chiefs met in [Ottawa](/en/diaspora/ottawa/), Canada. They said they wanted Awdal to leave [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) ([EUAA 2025, Awdal](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/281-awdal)).

Somali Wikipedia says the Gadabuursi have long farmed fruit and vegetables around Baki, [Camuud](/en/history/ruined-towns-of-the-somali-interior/) and Dilla, alongside herding ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Cafaan, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beesha_Habar_Cafaan)).

## 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)).

The Gadabuursi as a whole have one *ugaas*. Wikipedia describes a custom where a hundred elders from all lineages meet when a new *ugaas* takes office ([Wikipedia, Gadabuursi, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadabuursi)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA conflict list for April 2023 to March 2025 does not name the Habar Cafaan. It lists a dormant Gadabuursi dispute with Isaaq groups in El Bardaale, Gabiley. It adds that other Somaliland rivalries over elections "did not lead to armed" violence ([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 [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Divisions.** Wikipedia gives two Gadabuursi divisions. Somali Wikipedia gives three, splitting Habar Makadur into the Makaahiil and the Maxamed Case.
- **Makaahiil.** Abbink lists a Mahakil under Musa in the Habr Afan, and another Mahakil under Mikadore. Somali Wikipedia lists Makayl under Subeer and the Makaahiil as a separate pillar.
- **Sources.** Most detail here comes from Somali Wikipedia, which cites few sources.

## Read more

- [Gadabuursi](/en/society/gadabuursi/)
- [Maxamed Case](/en/society/maxamed-case/)
- [The Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/)
- [Awdal](/en/regions/awdal/)

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