# Majeerteen (Majerteen, Harti, Darod)

> The Majeerteen (Majerteen) of the Harti and Darod: family tree, Mahamoud Saleebaan and other lines, Bari, Nugaal and Mudug, sultanates and records.

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

## Name and family tree

The Majeerteen are a clan of the Harti, part of the [Darod](/en/society/darod/). The name is also written Majerteen, Mijurtin and Majertain. Wikipedia also calls them Mohamed Harti ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)).

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kablalah > Kombe-Harti > Mahamed Harti > Majerteen ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACCORD 2009 | The Harti "are composed of the Majerteen", the Dulbahante and the Warsangeli ([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: the Majerteen are the main clan in Puntland" ([UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Darod > Majeerteen, with more than 25 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)) |

Wikipedia gives a Somali meaning for the name, "much beloved" or "much admired" ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)). See [Harti](/en/society/harti/) and [the Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists three main Majerteen lines and several smaller ones (Abbink 2009, Darod chart):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Mahmood | Osman Mahmoud, Isa Mahmoud and Omar Mahmoud (Reer Khalaf, Reer Hersi, Reer Mahad) |
| Saleeban | 'Ali (Awlyahan, Isma'iil, Bi'iidyahan, 'Umar, Sa'id), Se'ed, Ugar, Isma'iil, Aden, Aderahin and Mahmuud |
| Noleys | Muse, Abdalla and Jibrahil ('Ali, Nuh, Siwaqrun) |
| Other lines | Daanwayne, 'Ali Ugar and 'Ali Jibrahil |

Wikipedia says the Osman Mahamoud, [Omar Mahamoud](/en/society/omar-mahamoud/) and Isse Mahamoud together form the Mahamoud Saleebaan. With the [Ali Saleebaan](/en/society/ali-saleebaan/) and Ugaar Saleebaan, these make up the Saleebaan Maxamed ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)).

ACLED codes these Majeerteen groups, among others: Ali Jibril, Ali Saleban (with Bicidyahan and Colyahan), Ismail [Saleban](/en/society/saleebaan-habar-gidir/), Issa Mahmud, Omar Mahmud, Nuh Mohamud and Dashishe. Under Issa Mahmud it codes Ahmed Kheyre, Ali Ibrahim, Hassan Ugaar, Mohamed Ugaar, Reer Muse, Reer Samakaab, Reer Shirwac and [Reer Yoonis](/en/society/muuse-abokor/) (ACLED 2025).

See [Isse Mahamoud](/en/society/isse-mahamoud/), [Osman Mahamoud](/en/society/osman-mahamoud/) 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 |
|---|---|
| Bari | "The region's main clan is the Osman Mahmud sub-clan of the Majerteen clan; the Ali Suleman clan also is very relevant politically" ([EUAA 2025, Bari](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/26-puntland/262-bari)) |
| Nugaal | Puntland's dominant clans are "three sub-clans of the Majeerteen/Mohamoud Saleban, including the Isse Mohamud who live mostly in Nugal region" ([EUAA 2025, Nugal](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/26-puntland/261-nugal)) |
| Garowe | The EUAA calls Garowe the clan homeland (*degaan*) of the Isse Mahamoud. It adds that other Majeerteen lines also live there ([EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2025_05_EUAA_COI_Report_Somalia_Country_Focus.pdf)) |
| Northern Mudug | "Dominant clans are the Darod (Majerteen-Omar Mahmoud sub-clan) in the North" ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)) |
| Kismayo | "The largest Harti clan in Kismayo is the Majerteen" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| Ethiopia | Wikipedia places some Majeerteen in the Dollo Zone of Ethiopia's Somali Region ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)) |

ACCORD wrote in 2009 that "Puntland almost entirely overlaps with the Majerteen clan family" (ACCORD 2009, p. 12). See [Bari](/en/regions/bari/), [Nugaal](/en/regions/nugaal/), [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/), [Lower Juba](/en/regions/lower-juba/) and [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/).

## History on record

- **1700s.** Wikipedia cites a 1727 English account of a raid on an Indian ship near Ras Filuk. It reads this as possible early Majeerteen sea activity ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)).
- **1808 to 1809.** The traveller Henry Salt wrote of the Majeerteen on the [Hafun](/en/history/ancient-port-of-opone-ras-hafun/) coast under a Sultan Hassan. He also met the Majeerteen merchant Yunus Buraale on the Red Sea coast (same source).
- **1800s.** Majeerteen sultans ruled the north-east coast from [Aluula](/en/regions/caluula/) and [Bargaal](/en/regions/bargaal/). Yusuf Ali Kenadid, of the Majeerteen, founded the Sultanate of Hobyo. See [the Majeerteen and Hobyo sultanates](/en/history/majeerteen-and-hobyo-sultanates/) and [the sultans of Majeerteen and Hobyo](/en/institutions/sultans-of-majeerteen-and-hobyo/).
- **1889 to 1927.** Italy signed protectorate treaties with both sultanates, then took them by force in 1925 to 1927. See [Boqor Osman Mahamud](/en/people/boqor-osman-mahamud/).
- **1960s.** Wikipedia says Majeerteen lines formed "a powerful business class in Kismayo" ([Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majeerteen)).
- **1998.** Puntland declared itself an autonomous state. ACCORD calls it "primarily based on the Majerteen clan" ([ACCORD 2009, section 1.2](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1193130/90_1261130976_accord-report-clans-in-somaliarevised-edition-20091215.pdf)). See [presidents of Puntland](/en/institutions/presidents-of-puntland/).

## 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)).

The Majeerteen paramount title is *Boqor* (king). See [the sultans of Majeerteen and Hobyo](/en/institutions/sultans-of-majeerteen-and-hobyo/) and [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists these Majeerteen disputes ([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)):

- Majeerteen sub-clans against each other in Kismayo, Lower [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/), "currently dormant".
- Majeerteen against the Cormale (Cawrmale) south of Kismayo, over land ownership and resources.
- Dhulbahante against Omar Mahamoud in the Adadda area between Nugaal and [Sool](/en/regions/sool/), "feuding for decades".
- Isse Mahamoud against Dhulbahante in Burtinle district, Nugaal, around Kalabayr.
- Omar Mahamoud against [Sa'ad](/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/) (Habar Gidir) in Galkayo and Jiriiban districts, dormant as of February 2025.

The EASO also listed Ali Jibrail against Ali Saleban, and Ugaadh Saleban against Ali Saleban, in Bari. It listed Osman Mahamoud against Ugaadh Saleban in Iskushuban district (EASO 2021). The EUAA reports a December 2024 clash between two Majeerteen clans in Xarfo, Mudug, that destroyed a water well ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)). See [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Name of the main line.** Abbink calls the main line Mahmood under Majerteen. Wikipedia names it Mahamoud Saleebaan under Saleebaan Maxamed.
- **Dishiishe.** Abbink lists the Dashishe beside the Majerteen, under Mora Hasse. ACLED codes Dashishe as a Majeerteen sub-group.
- **Ali Saleebaan.** Abbink puts 'Ali under Saleeban. ACLED codes Ali Saleban directly under Majeerteen.

## Read more

- [Harti](/en/society/harti/)
- [Darod](/en/society/darod/)
- [The Darod tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-darod/)
- [Dhulbahante](/en/society/dhulbahante/)
- [Warsangali](/en/society/warsangali/)
- [Puntland](/en/states/puntland/)

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