# Isse Mahamoud (Ciise Maxamuud, Majeerteen)

> The Isse Mahamoud (Ciise Maxamuud) of the Majeerteen: family line, Muuse, Maxamed and Abokor Ciise, Garowe and Nugaal, elders and conflict records.

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

## Name and family tree

The Isse Mahamoud are a line of the [Majeerteen](/en/society/majeerteen/), part of the [Harti](/en/society/harti/) and [Darod](/en/society/darod/). The name is also written Issa Mahmud, Ise Mahamoud and, in Somali, Ciise Maxamuud.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kombe-Harti > Majerteen > Mahmood > Isa Mahmoud ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Darod > Majeerteen > Issa Mahmud, with about 15 coded 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 | One of "three sub-clans of the Majeerteen/Mohamoud Saleban" ([EUAA 2025, Nugal](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/26-puntland/261-nugal)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | A sub-clan of the Majeerteen, with a line traced through Saleebaan, Nolays and Harti back to Darod ([Wikipedia, Isse Mohamoud, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isse_Mohamoud)) |

See [the Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/).

## Main branches

Wikipedia names three sons of Ciise, each heading a *jifo* line: Muuse Ciise, Maxamed Ciise and Abokor Ciise ([Wikipedia, Isse Mohamoud, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isse_Mohamoud)).

ACLED codes these Issa Mahmud sub-groups (ACLED 2025):

| Group | Notes |
|---|---|
| Ahmed Kheyre, Ali Ibrahim, Cabdi Cise, Hasan Idris | Coded under Issa Mahmud |
| Hassan Ugaar and Mohamed Ugaar | Coded under Issa Mahmud |
| Muse Issa, Nuh Muse and Reer Muse | Coded under Issa Mahmud |
| Reer Samakaab, Reer Shirwac, Reer Yoonis and Reer Hassan | Coded under Issa Mahmud |
| Issa Mahmud Xiddo | Coded as a separate Majeerteen group |

Abbink places Isa Mahmoud beside Osman Mahmoud and [Omar Mahmoud](/en/society/omar-mahamoud/) under the Mahmood line (Abbink 2009). See [Osman Mahamoud](/en/society/osman-mahamoud/).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Garowe | "Garowe is the clan-homeland (degan in Somali) of Darood/Harti/Majeerteen/Ise Mahamoud. Most buildings and land are owned by Majeerteen/Ise Mahamoud" ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) |
| Nugaal | The EASO calls Nugaal "almost completely dominated by the Issa Mahmud" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Nugaal | The EUAA says the Isse Mohamud "live mostly in Nugal region" ([EUAA 2025, Nugal](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/26-puntland/261-nugal)) |

Garowe's population is mixed. The EUAA lists other Majeerteen lines, Dhulbahante, [Warsangeli](/en/society/warsangali/) and Deshishe living there (EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe). See [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/) and [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/).

## History on record

- **1944 to 1950.** Wikipedia says John Hunt's *A general survey of the [Somaliland Protectorate](/en/history/british-somaliland-1884-1960/)* gives a tree of the clan ([Wikipedia, Isse Mohamoud, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isse_Mohamoud)).
- **1998.** Garowe became the capital of Puntland. See [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/) and [presidents of Puntland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-puntland/).
- **2021.** The EASO said there were "no major clan conflicts on-going" in Nugaal. It noted small frictions near Garowe between Dhulbahante and Issa Mahmud camel herders (EASO 2021).

## 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 names two Isse Mahamoud *Issim* lines. One is Islaan Ciise Islaan Maxamed, for the Muuse Ciise. The other is Suldaan Saciid Maxamed Garaase, for the Abokor Ciise ([Wikipedia, Isse Mohamoud, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isse_Mohamoud)). The EUAA calls elders "an important institution for effective conflict resolution in Garowe" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists "Issa Mohamud (Majerteen/Darood) versus Dulbahante" in Burtinle district, Nugaal. It says "the two clans have intermittently clashed in the past few years in the Kalabayr area" ([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 [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Name of the parent line.** Abbink calls it Mahmood. The EUAA and Wikipedia call it Mohamoud Saleebaan.
- **Branches.** Wikipedia lists three *jifo*. ACLED codes about fifteen groups, and does not use the *jifo* names for all of them.

## Read more

- [Majeerteen](/en/society/majeerteen/)
- [Osman Mahamoud](/en/society/osman-mahamoud/)
- [Harti](/en/society/harti/)
- [Darod](/en/society/darod/)
- [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/)

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