# Habar Yoonis (Habr Yunis, Garxajis, Isaaq)

> The Habar Yoonis (Habr Yunis) of the Garxajis and Isaaq: family tree, Cali Siciid and Carre Siciid lines, Togdheer and Sanaag, sultans and records.

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

## Name and family tree

The Habar Yoonis are a clan of the Garxajis (Habar Magaadle), part of the [Isaaq](/en/society/isaaq/). Their brother line is the [Ciidagale](/en/society/ciidagale/). The name is also written Habr Yunis and Habar Yonis.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Isaaq > Habr Magaadleh / Habr Garhaji > Habr Yunis > Sa'ad ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 32](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Isaaq > Habar Yoonis, with many 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)) |
| EUAA 2025 | "the Habar Yunis clan (Garhajis, Isaaq)" ([EUAA 2025, Togdheer](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/283-togdheer)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Sa'id, son of Isma'il (Garhajis), son of Sheikh Isaaq ([Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)) |

See [the Isaaq tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-isaaq/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists these groups (Abbink 2009, p. 32):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Sa'ad Yuunis > 'Ali | Logh, Beleh and Salah |
| Sa'ad Yuunis > 'Arreh | Khalil, Gamba, Dandan, Kul, Isahaq, Isma'il and Musa |
| A second set | Gunbuur, Reer 'Abdi Hirsi, Reer Waid, Reer Sugulle, Kharrab and Muuse (Isma'iil, 'Alle and 'Abdalle) |
| A third set | Isaaq and 'Ali |

Wikipedia gives a deeper tree ([Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Cali Siciid | Looge Cali, Baale Cali and Xaaji Salaax Cali |
| Carre Siciid > Isxaaq Carre | Khaliil, Qaasim and Cabdalle Isxaaq |
| Carre Siciid > Muuse Carre | Xasan, Ibraahim and Damal Muuse |
| Carre Siciid > Ismaaciil Carre | Sacad Yoonis, Muuse Ismaaciil (Turwa, Urursuge) and Cabdalla Ismaaciil |
| Cabdalla Ismaaciil | Idarays, Muuse Cabdalla and Cumar Cabdalla, down to Xirsi Cismaan and the Reer Mumin |

The Somali Wikipedia page copies this tree in English ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)). ACLED codes sub-groups such as Sacad Yoonis, Muse Ismail, Muse Carre, Cali Siciid and Urursuge. It also codes Muse Turwa, Jibriil Turwa, Reer Wayd, Cabdalle Xamud and Bah [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/) (ACLED 2025).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Togdheer | "Togdheer region is mainly inhabited by Habar Yunis and Habar Je'lo" ([EUAA 2025, Togdheer](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/283-togdheer)) |
| Western Sanaag | The EUAA says the west of Sanaag, "including Ceerigaabo, is predominantly home to the Habar Yunis" ([EUAA 2025, Sanaag](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/27-sool-sanaag-and-ssc-khatumo/272-sanaag)) |
| Woqooyi Galbeed | The EUAA names the Habar Awal, Habar Yunis and Idagalle as the majority ([EUAA 2025, Wogoyi Galbeed](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/282-wogoyi-galbeed)) |
| Hargeisa | The EUAA says the Garhajis (Ciidagale and Habar Yonis) populate Mahamuud Haybe and parts of Gacan Libaah district ([EUAA Country Focus 2025](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) |
| Ethiopia and Kenya | Wikipedia places them in the Degehbur and Wardheer zones, and in Kenya's Isahakia community ([Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)) |

See [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/), [Sanaag](/en/regions/sanaag/) and [Woqooyi Galbeed](/en/regions/woqooyi-galbeed/).

## History on record

- **1500s.** Wikipedia says the *Futuh al-Habasha* names the Habar Magaadle in the wars of Imam Ahmad ([Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)). See [Imam Ahmad and Adal](/en/history/imam-ahmad-and-adal-1527-1543/).
- **1700s and 1800s.** It says the Habar Yoonis broke from the Isaaq sultanate and formed their own, under Sugulle son of Ainanshe Hersi. It says Sultan Diiriye Sugulle ruled from Wadhan, near the [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) pass (same source).
- **1841 to 1845.** It says Sharmarke Ali Saleh, of the Muuse Carre, took Zeila and then Berbera (same source).
- **1922.** It says a revolt against a tax at Burao led to the killing of Captain Allan Gibb. It says British planes then bombed Burao (same source).
- **1981 to 1991.** It says Habar Yoonis members twice chaired the Somali National Movement. [Abdirahman Ahmed Ali Tuur](/en/people/abdirahman-ahmed-ali-tuur/) became [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/)'s first president (same source). See [the Isaaq genocide](/en/history/isaaq-genocide-1987-1989/).
- **Other figures.** Wikipedia also lists the musician [Abdullahi Qarshe](/en/people/abdullahi-qarshe/) and Sultan [Nur Ahmed Aman](/en/people/nur-ahmed-aman/) among Habar Yoonis 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](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)).

Wikipedia says all Habar Yoonis sultans come from the Reer Sugulle, a branch of the Reer Ainanshe. It lists Sugulle, Diiriye Sugulle, Xirsi Amaan, Nuur Axmed Amaan, Cawad Diiriye, Doolaal Nuur and Madar Xirsi among them ([Wikipedia, Habar Yoonis, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Yoonis)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists Habar Yoonis disputes 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)):

- with the Dhulbahante in Ceerigaabo and [Caynabo](/en/regions/caynabo/)
- with the Habar Jeclo in Ceerigaabo and [Ceel Afweyn](/en/regions/ceel-afweyn/)
- with the [Ciise Muuse](/en/society/ciise-muuse/) in Cali Saahid village, Burao district
- election rivalries in Hargeisa, which it says "did not lead to armed violence"

The EUAA says the Gacan Libaax militia "is associated with the Habar Yunis clan" and began fighting Somaliland forces in July 2023 ([EUAA 2025, Togdheer](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/28-somaliland/283-togdheer)). Earlier, the EASO recorded a Muuse Ismaaciil clash with the [Warsangeli](/en/society/warsangali/) Nuux Cumar in Laasqoray district in March 2021 ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Tree.** Abbink lists Gunbuur, Reer Cabdi Xirsi, Reer Wayd and Reer Sugulle in an unnamed set beside [Sa'ad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/). Wikipedia places all four under Xirsi Cismaan, inside the Carre Siciid line.
- **Place in Isaaq.** Wikipedia says the Habar Yoonis are part of the Garxajis. ACLED codes one group as "Cidagale Habar Yoonis".
- **Sources.** The Somali Wikipedia page holds only an English-language tree.

## Read more

- [Isaaq](/en/society/isaaq/)
- [Ciidagale](/en/society/ciidagale/)
- [Habar Jeclo](/en/society/habar-jeclo/)
- [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/)

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