# Habar Gidir (Habr Gedir, Hiraab, Hawiye)

> The Habar Gidir of the Hawiye: family tree, the Sacad, Saleebaan, Cayr and Saruur branches, where they live in Galgaduud, Mudug and Mogadishu, and records.

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

## Name and family tree

The Habar Gidir are a [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/) clan in the Hiraab line. Wikipedia says their ancestor is Madarkicis Hiraab, and that Habar Gidir is the name of their mother, [Gidir Karanle](/en/society/karanle/) ([Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)).

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Hirab > Madarki'is > Habr Gidir, with Sa'ad, 'Ayr, Saleeban and Saruur ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 27](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACCORD 2009 | The Habar Gidir and the Abgaal are "the two most important and commonly used sub-divisions" of the Hawiye ([ACCORD, *Clans in Somalia*, 2009, p. 12](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)) |
| World Bank 2005 (CRD chart) | Gorgate: Abgaal, Habar Gidir, Sheekhaal, Duduble and Udeejeen ([World Bank, *Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics*, 2005, Appendix 2](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b2109b26-2d10-5ac6-85c2-dbfa820c5f6e)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Habar Gedir, with Ayr, Sacad, Saleban and Duduble ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | Madarkicis > Hiraab > Gorgaarte > Hawiye > Irir > Samaale ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)) |

Abbink lists Duduble beside the Habar Gidir under Hirab, not inside it (Abbink 2009, p. 27). See [the Hawiye tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-hawiye/).

## Main branches

Wikipedia gives five branches: Cayr (Maxamed Madarkicis), Sacad, Saleebaan, Saruur (Ibraahim Madarkicis) and Sifaadle ([Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). Abbink names these groups (Abbink 2009, p. 27):

| Branch | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Sa'ad | Reer Hiluwe, Reer Jalaf, Reer Nimale and Lugayare |
| 'Ayr (Cayr) | Absiye and Ayanle |
| Saleeban | Farah (with Mahamed Abdi and Heysow) and Dashame (with Gaabane and Abokor) |
| Saruur | none given |

ACLED codes many more groups (ACLED, September 2025):

- Sacad: Reer Nimcaale, Reer Jalaf, Reer Hilowle, Barkhadle, Farale, Indhayar and Sacad Muse
- Ayr: Ayanle, Bilaal, Cabsiiye, Habar Aji, Yabar Dhowrakace, Yabadhaalo and Saruur
- Saleban, Duduble (with Eli and Mohamed Amal), Jalah and [Reer Aw Hassan](/en/society/reer-aw-xasan/)

Somali Wikipedia says Saruur splits into Wacdaan and Nabadwaa, and Sifaadle into Daangaale and Mariid ([Somali Wikipedia, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). See [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/) and [Ayaanle Cayr](/en/society/ayaanle-cayr/).

## 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 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 |
|---|---|
| Galgaduud | "Main clans in Galgaduud are Habar Gidir (Hawiye) sub-clans, Suleiman (or Suliman, Saleban), Ayr, Duduble" ([EUAA 2025, Galgaduud](https://euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/251-galgaduud)) |
| Mudug | The Hawiye "(Habar Gidir Sa'ad sub-clan)" are dominant in the south ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)) |
| Mogadishu | "Mogadishu is inhabited largely by Hawiye from the clans Abgaal, Habar Gedir and Murosade" ([EUAA Country Focus 2025](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) |
| Lower Shabelle | Records name Habar Gidir land claims in Afgoye and Marka districts (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |

Wikipedia adds Hobyo and Galkacyo, and the Somali Region of Ethiopia ([Wikipedia, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). See [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) and [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/).

## History on record

- **Late 1600s to 1889.** Wikipedia says the Habar Gidir were part of the [Hiraab Imamate](/en/history/sultanate-of-mogadishu/), from Banaadir to Mudug ([Wikipedia, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)).
- **1956 to 1960.** [Abdullahi Issa](/en/people/abdullahi-issa/), of the Sacad Reer Nimcaale, led the government of the Trust Territory (same source). See [the Somali Youth League](/en/history/somali-youth-league/).
- **1991.** The United Somali Congress split in two. The Library of Congress names an Abgaal wing under [Ali Mahdi](/en/people/ali-mahdi-muhammad/) and a Habar Gidir wing under [Mohamed Farrah Aidid](/en/people/mohamed-farrah-aidid/) ([Library of Congress](http://countrystudies.us/somalia/76.htm)).
- **2000 to 2004.** [Abdiqasim Salad Hassan](/en/people/abdiqasim-salad-hassan/), a Cayr Absiiye, was president of the [Transitional National Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) ([Wikipedia, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)).
- **2019.** The UK Home Office quotes a report on the SNA Third Brigade, "a Hawiye/HabarGedir dominated force". The report says it was used in [Lower Shabelle](/en/infrastructure/k50-airstrip/) to advance Habar Gidir farmland claims ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)).

## 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)).

ACCORD writes that some Rer [Hamar](/en/regions/mogadishu/) households have ties with strong clans, "especially Hawiye [Abgal](/en/society/abgaal/) and Habr Gedir, through marriage". It says this gives them a level of protection (ACCORD 2009, p. 17). Somali Wikipedia says the Cayr *ugaas* line holds ten elders in succession ([Somali Wikipedia, Ayaanle Cayr, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaanle_cayr)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists these conflicts, active in April 2023 to March 2025 ([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)):

- [Geledi](/en/history/geledi-sultanate/) and Wacdaan against Habar Gidir, in [Afgoye](/en/regions/lower-shabelle/) district.
- Biyomaal (Dir) against Habar Gidir, in Marka district.
- Saleebaan against Duduble, and Saleebaan against Cayr, in [Cadaado](/en/states/galmudug/) and Dhuusamareeb districts.
- Cayr against Duduble, outside Dhuusamareeb.
- Sacad against [Leelkase](/en/society/leelkase/), in Galkacyo and [Galdogob](/en/history/ethiopian-somali-border-war-1982/) districts, with revenge killings "over the past 40 years".
- Sacad against [Cumar Maxamuud](/en/society/omar-mahamoud/) (Majeerteen), in Galkacyo and Jiriiban. Dormant as of February 2025.
- Saleebaan, Sacad and Cayr against Mareexaan groups in Galgaduud and Mudug.

The EUAA says ACLED counted 32 incidents between Habar Gidir and Mareexaan militias in Galgaduud ([EUAA 2025, Galgaduud](https://euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/251-galgaduud)). See [Mareexaan](/en/society/mareexaan/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Duduble.** Abbink and the World Bank list the Duduble beside the Habar Gidir. ACLED codes them under the Habar Gidir.
- **Sifaadle.** Wikipedia counts Sifaadle as a fifth branch. Abbink does not name it.
- **Sacad's line.** Somali Wikipedia includes an uncited account that traces the Sacad through a different ancestor. Other sources here place Sacad under Madarkicis.

## Read more

- [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/)
- [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/)
- [Saleebaan](/en/society/saleebaan-habar-gidir/)
- [Sacad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/)
- [Duduble](/en/society/duduble/)
- [The Hawiye tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-hawiye/)
- [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/)

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