Family and clan
Jijeele (Jejele, Gugundhabe, Hawiye)
The Jijeele (Jejele, Jajele) are a Hawiye clan in the Gugundhabe group. Abbink lists them under Gugundabe, with the Jidle, Galja'el and Badi Adde. Somali Wikipedia places them in Hiiraan, Bay, Bakool, Lower Shabelle and Mogadishu. EUAA and EASO records name a farmland dispute with the Makane near Beledweyne.
Name and family tree
The Jijeele are a Somali clan, also written Jejele or Jajele. All the sources used here count them with the Hawiye, in the Gugundhabe group.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Gugundabe > Jajele. Its other clans are Jidle, Jibidle, Galja'el, Molaal, Jilideen, Badi-Adde and Murille (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 28) |
| World Bank 2005 (CRD chart) | Gugun-dhabe (Badi-adde, Jidle, Jejele) under the Hawiye (World Bank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, 2005, Appendix 2) |
| ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Gugundhabe > Jijeele, older names Hawiye-Jijeele and Jejele (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| EUAA 2025 | "Jijeele (Gugundhabe/Hawiye)" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | Gugundhabe > Hawiye (Somali Wikipedia, Jijeele, backup) |
Somali Wikipedia names the Jidle and Baadicade as close kin (same source). See the Hawiye tree.
Main branches
Somali Wikipedia says the Jijeele split into four lines: Maxamed, Xaramage, Dudbiye and Kitshe. It calls Maxamed the eldest. It says the four lines divide into 14 lineages (Somali Wikipedia, Jijeele, backup).
| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Dudbiye | Guudwaay (with Doolow and Maxamed Kheyr), Makaahiil (with Dumaal and Iidsuge) and Yaaquub. Under Iidsuge: Reer Faqay, Habarwadaag and Cabdisuge |
| Xaramage | Shalashame, Reer Wabar, Dharooye and Faranjecle |
| Kitshe | Ciise and Waadsuge |
| Maxamed Jijeele | none given |
The page also names Kulmiye, Cadow and Goblajoog. It lists Rooble and Xalane under Faranjecle (same source). ACLED codes one Jijeele group without sub-clans.
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).
| Place | What the sources record |
|---|---|
| Hiiraan | The EASO notes competition between the Hawadle in the east and the "Galjeel/Jajele/Baadi Adde" on the west bank (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| Hiiraan towns | Somali Wikipedia names Beledweyne, Caagsibir, Ceel Idaad, Xaajinuur, Maroodile, Baardhuyac, Maxaas, Maqokori, Farlibaax and Ceelcade (Somali Wikipedia, backup) |
| Bakool and Bay | Quracjoome, Ceelbarde, Xudur, Diinsoor and Buurhakaba (same source) |
| Lower and Middle Shabelle | Mubaarak near Afgooye, and Basra (same source) |
| Mogadishu | Several districts, including Hodan, Yaqshiid and Dharkenley (same source) |
History on record
- 2011. Somali Wikipedia says the Jijeele fought al-Shabaab for their land that year. It calls them the first clan to do so (Somali Wikipedia, backup).
- May 2021. The EASO records clashes over farmland between the Jejele and the Makane outside Beledweyne. Reports gave between two and ten deaths across 5 and 17 May. Police detained several elders suspected of stirring the fighting (EASO 2021).
Somali Wikipedia also names politicians. These include Xareed Faarax, a minister under President Aden Abdulle Osman, and MP Yusuf Hussein Ahmed Gam'adiid (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). The sources used here name no Jijeele titled elder. See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists "Makane (Bantu) vs Jijeele (Gugundhabe/Hawiye) in Beletweyne District". It was active in April 2023 to March 2025 (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1). The EASO earlier said the dispute was "over agricultural farmland" (EASO 2021).
See minority communities, Xawaadle and clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Spelling. Abbink writes Jajele. The World Bank and EASO write Jejele. ACLED and the EUAA write Jijeele.
- Kin groups. Abbink lists eight clans under Gugundabe. The World Bank chart names three.
- Lineages. Only Somali Wikipedia gives sub-clans. Its page cites few sources.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 28 · hdl.handle.net
- World Bank, Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, 2005, Appendix 2 · openknowledge.worldbank.org
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- Somali Wikipedia, Jijeele, backup · so.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Jijeele (Jejele, Gugundhabe, Hawiye)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
Where this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Marka (Merca) and Lower ShabelleLower Shabelle is Somalia's biggest farming region, along the Shabelle river south-west of Mogadishu, with Marka (Merca) as its capital and about 835,000 to…
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- Somali clan tree: DarodEvery Darod clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: DirEvery Dir clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: every clan, sub-clan and lineageThe full Somali clan tree, family by family down to diya-paying groups, from Abbink 2009, ACLED 2025 and the World Bank, with a download.
- Somali clan tree: groups outside the clan familiesGroups Abbink places outside the Somali clan families, and the Somali Bantu groups in ACLED 2025: part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: HawiyeEvery Hawiye clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.
- Somali clan tree: IsaaqEvery Isaaq clan, sub-clan and lineage in Abbink 2009 and ACLED 2025, level by level, as one part of the Somali clan tree.