# Harti (Darod clan group)

> The Harti clan group of the Darod: Majeerteen, Dhulbahante, Warsangali and smaller clans, where they live, history and conflict records, with sources.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/harti/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Name and family tree

The Harti are a group of clans within the [Darod](/en/society/darod/). Wikipedia traces them to Saleh Abdi Harti ([Wikipedia, Harti, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harti)).

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kablalah > Kombe-Harti ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACCORD 2009 | One of the "three major groups" of the Darod, with the Ogaden and Marehan ([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)) |
| UK Home Office 2019 | "The Harti are a federation of three clans" ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)) |
| World Bank 2005 | Harti sits beside the Ogaden, Marehan, Awrtable and Leelkase under the Darod ([World Bank, *Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics*, 2005, Appendix 2](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b2109b26-2d10-5ac6-85c2-dbfa820c5f6e)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Darod > Harti, with Dhulbahante, Garikombe, Janbeel, Kaski Qabe, Leelkayse and Warsangeli coded under it ([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 Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists a long set of lines under Kombe-Harti (Abbink 2009, Darod chart):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Mora Hasse | Tinleh, Dashishe, Kaptanle and Maganlabbe |
| Mahamed Harti | D'ulbahante (Se'ed Harti) and Majerteen (Mohamed Harti) |
| Warsangeli | Omer, Ogeyslabe, Hinjiye, 'Iise, Garad and about twenty more |
| Other lines | Geh, Haile, Jambel, Amlaleh, Jiram, Wabeneya, Abdirahim, Ibrahim, Warlaabe, Gerri, Kaskikabe, Gashanle, Gesagul, Ugastabe and Libangashe |

Wikipedia gives a shorter list from the World Bank and a 2001 UK Home Office report. It names Mohamed Harti (Majeerteen), Mohamoud Harti (Warsangali), Ahmed Harti (Dishiishe), Said Harti (Dhulbahante) and Abdirahman Harti (Kaskiqabe) ([Wikipedia, Harti, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harti)).

See [Majeerteen](/en/society/majeerteen/), [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/), [Warsangali](/en/society/warsangali/) and [Dishiishe](/en/society/dishiishe/).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Puntland | ACCORD places the Majeerteen "now are found in Puntland mainly" (ACCORD 2009, p. 12) |
| Sool and Sanaag | The Dhulbahante and Warsangeli "live in the disputed border areas between Puntland and Somaliland" (UK Home Office 2019) |
| Kismayo | The EASO says the Harti control "a pocket of rangeland to the immediate north and west of Kismayo city" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Gedo | The EASO lists Harti among long-settled groups in Baardheere (EASO 2021) |
| Ethiopia and Kenya | Wikipedia places Harti in the Dollo Zone of Ethiopia and in Kenya's former North Eastern Province ([Wikipedia, Harti, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harti)) |

See [Bari](/en/regions/bari/), [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/), [Sool](/en/regions/sool/), [Sanaag](/en/regions/sanaag/) and [Lower Juba](/en/regions/lower-juba/).

## History on record

- **1700s to 1920s.** The Majeerteen and Warsangali sultanates ruled parts of the north-east coast. See [the Majeerteen and Hobyo sultanates](/en/history/majeerteen-and-hobyo-sultanates/).
- **1899 to 1920.** Wikipedia says the Dervishes "mostly hailed from the Dhulbahante" ([Wikipedia, Harti, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harti)). See [the Dervish movement](/en/history/dervish-movement-1899-1920/).
- **1998.** Wikipedia says a three-month Harti conference at Garowe founded the Puntland State of Somalia. [Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed](/en/people/abdullahi-yusuf-ahmed/) became its first president (same source). See [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/).
- **2009.** ACCORD wrote that Puntland disputes land held by the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli inside [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/). Its aim, ACCORD says, is "to make these groups unite with the Harti group in Puntland" (ACCORD 2009, p. 12, note 14).
- **2023.** The EUAA cites Markus Hoehne: fighting at Laas Caanood involved "the Harti clan coalition", most of them Dhulbahante ([EUAA 2025, Sool](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/27-sool-sanaag-and-ssc-khatumo/271-sool)). See [North Eastern State](/en/states/north-eastern-state/).

## 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 traditional elders, called *Issims*, attended the 1998 Garowe conference ([Wikipedia, Harti, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harti)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists disputes between Harti clans and with their neighbours ([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)):

- Dhulbahante against [Omar Mahamoud](/en/society/omar-mahamoud/) (Majeerteen) in the Adadda area, Nugaal and Sool.
- [Isse Mahamoud](/en/society/isse-mahamoud/) (Majeerteen) against Dhulbahante in Burtinle district, Nugaal.
- Dhulbahante against [Habar Yoonis](/en/society/habar-yoonis/) and [Habar Je'lo](/en/society/habar-jeclo/) (Isaaq) in Sool, Sanaag and [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/).
- Warsangeli sub-clans against each other in Ceerigaabo and Laasqoray.
- Majeerteen sub-clans against each other in Kismayo, "currently dormant".

See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Members.** ACCORD and the UK Home Office name three clans. Wikipedia adds the Dishiishe and Kaskiqabe. Abbink lists over twenty lines.
- **Leelkase.** ACLED codes Leelkayse under Harti. The World Bank chart puts Leelkase beside Harti, and Abbink places Leelkase under Tanadleh.
- **Founder's name.** Wikipedia names Saleh Abdi. Abbink uses Kombe-Harti for the same branch.

## Read more

- [Darod](/en/society/darod/)
- [The Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/)
- [Majeerteen](/en/society/majeerteen/)
- [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/)
- [Warsangali](/en/society/warsangali/)
- [Leelkase](/en/society/leelkase/)

---
I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.