# Luway (Luwai, Mirifle, Rahanweyn)

> The Luway (Luwai) of the Mirifle and Rahanweyn: Aysha Omardin line, Bakool and Bay, and records, with Abbink, EASO and ACLED sources.

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

## Name and family tree

The Luway are a clan of the [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/), part of the [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/).

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Rahanwen > Alemo (Mirifle Sagaal) > Aysha Omardin > Luwai ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| EASO 2021 | Listed among the "various Rahanweyn groups" of Bakool ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Mirifle > Luway ([ACLED clan actor list, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)) |

The UK Home Office notes that the [Digil](/en/society/digil/) and Mirifle speak [Maay](/en/society/maay-language/) ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)). See [the Rahanweyn tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-rahanweyn/).

## Main branches

Abbink places the Luwai in the Aysha Omardin line of the Mirifle Sagaal. Its other groups are the Hubeer, Wakdere, Wakbio, Gasar Gudda, Galluweger, Hadama, Jelible, Sarma, Yantaar, Mangiar, Balguri, Wangial, [Geledi](/en/history/geledi-sultanate/) and Eyle (Abbink 2009, Rahanwen chart). He lists no sub-lines under the Luwai.

ACLED codes the Luway with no sub-groups (ACLED 2025). See [Hubeer](/en/society/hubeer/) and [Hadame](/en/society/hadame/).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Bakool | The EASO lists "Hadama, Jiron, Lisan (Laysaan), Garwale, Luwai, Jelible, Gelidle, Reer Dumal, Ashraf" as Bakool's Rahanweyn groups ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Bakool and Bay | The EASO says the Mirifle are "more prevalent in Bakool", and live in the northern half of Bay (EASO 2021) |

See [Bakool](/en/regions/bakool/), [Bay](/en/regions/bay/) and [South West State](/en/states/south-west-state/).

## History on record

- **Before 1991.** The EASO says the Rahanweyn shared a "marginalisation experience" in the 1940s and 1950s (EASO 2021).
- **2021.** The EASO names the [Hariin](/en/society/hariin/), [Laysaan](/en/society/leysan/), Hadama and [Eelay](/en/society/eelay/) as the strongest Mirifle clans. It does not name the Luway among them (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)).

ACCORD says Rahanweyn clans are made of four to seven *jilib* that pay compensation together. Their elders are "more hierarchical and tightly related to the villages" ([ACCORD, *Clans in Somalia*, 2009, p. 13](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA's 2025 list of major clan conflicts does not name the Luway ([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)). The EASO's 2021 Bakool list names the Gelidle, not the Luway (EASO 2021). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Spelling.** Abbink and the EASO write Luwai. ACLED writes Luway. The Somali spelling Luwaay is also used.
- **Group.** Abbink puts the Luwai in the Sagaal (nine). The other sources here do not say which half.

## Read more

- [Mirifle](/en/society/mirifle/)
- [Rahanweyn](/en/society/rahanweyn/)
- [Hubeer](/en/society/hubeer/)
- [Hadame](/en/society/hadame/)
- [Bakool](/en/regions/bakool/)

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