Family and clan
Mirifle (Rahanweyn, Sagaal and Sideed)
The Mirifle are one of the two halves of the Rahanweyn (Digil-Mirifle) family, with the Digil. They are divided into two groups, the Sagaal (nine) and Sideed (eight). They live mainly in Bay and Bakool, around Baidoa and Xudur. Their larger clans include the Leysan, Hariin, Hadame, Eelay and Jiron.
Name and family tree
The Mirifle are one of the two halves of the Rahanweyn, with the Digil. The name is also written Mirifleh and Mirefle.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Rahanwen > Mirifle Siyeed (eight), and Rahanwen > Alemo (Mirifle Sagaal, nine) (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009) |
| EASO 2021 | "The Mirifle are divided into two main clan groups, the 'eight and the nine' (Sagaal iyo Sideed)" (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| World Bank 2005 | The south-central chart lists the Mirifle with "17 sub-clans" under the Rahanweyn (World Bank, Conflict in Somalia, 2005, Appendix 2) |
| ACLED 2025 | Rahanweyn > Mirifle, with about 20 coded sub-groups (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
The UK Home Office notes that the Saab clans, the Digil and Mirifle, speak Maay (UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014). See the Rahanweyn tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists these Mirifle lines (Abbink 2009, Rahanwen chart):
| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Siyeed > Medovo > Boqol Hore | Dissow, Eimid, Komal and Jalalle |
| Siyeed > Medovo > Boqol Daabe | Ma'alim Weyne, Jiron, Reer Dumal, Leisaan Hersi, Leisaan Bari, Harau and Garuwale |
| Siyeed > Medovo > Boqol Dambe | Harien |
| Siyeed > Medovo > Helai (Elay) | Borohad, Nassiye, Gedafade, Da'ud, Jembalul and Gurballabo |
| Siyeed > Leik Au Edda | Barbaro, Yantar, Helleda, Waravane and Gibile |
| Sagaal > Kassanle | Wen, Yer and 'Irde |
| Sagaal > Aysha Omardin | Hubeer, Wakdere, Wakbio, Gasar Gudda, Galluweger, Luwai, Hadama, Jelible, Sarma, Yantaar, Mangiar, Balguri, Wangial, Geledi and Eyle |
ACLED codes these Mirifle groups: Boqol Hore, Elay, Elidhere, Emid, Erdo, Gabaweyn, Hadame, Haraaw, Harin, Hubeer, Jiron, Leeysan, Luway, Maalim Weyne and Yantar (ACLED 2025).
The EASO names the Laysaan, Harin, Hadama and Eelay as the strongest Mirifle clans (EASO 2021). See Leysan, Hariin, Hadame and Eelay.
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 |
|---|---|
| Bakool | The Rahanweyn of Bakool and Bay are "the Mirifle and the Digil, with the Mirifle more prevalent in Bakool" (EASO 2021) |
| Bay | "Mirifle clans tend to populate the northern half of the region, while Digil predominate in the southern portion" (EASO 2021) |
| Baidoa | "Baidoa town is mainly inhabited by the Rahanweyn, of which the Mirifle are the main inhabitants" (EASO 2021) |
| Gedo | The EUAA names the Gelidle (Mirifle) in Baardheere district, and Rahanweyn groups in Luuq (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |
See Bay, Bakool, Gedo and South West State.
History on record
- 1940s to 1950s. The EASO says a shared experience of marginalisation in this period bound the Mirifle and Digil together. It calls their political alliance "almost a century old" (EASO 2021).
- 2021. The EASO says the Mirifle are "dominant over the Digil because larger in number and militarily better organised" (EASO 2021).
- 2018 to 2021. The EASO says a federal intervention in Baidoa shifted power within the Mirifle "in favour of the Harin clan". Before that, it says, the Laysaan were dominant (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).
ACCORD says Rahanweyn elders are "more hierarchical and tightly related to the villages" (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 13). In Bay, the EASO says political posts "have been carefully allocated to ensure power sharing between the Sagaal and Sideed" (EASO 2021). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists these disputes that name Mirifle clans (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1):
- Marehan (Darod) against Gelidle (Mirifle) in Baardheere district, Gedo, "currently dormant".
- Gelidle (Mirifle) against Dabarre (Digil) in Diinsoor district, Bay.
- Leysan (Mirifle) against South West State forces in Bardaale, Bay.
- Gaaljecel (Hawiye) against Shantalemod (Digil) "and other Mirifle clans" in Wanlaweyn district.
- Reer Aw Hassan (Marehan) and Gababweyne (Rahanweyn) against Moalim Weyne (Rahanweyn) in Luuq, Gedo.
The EASO earlier listed Gaaljeel (Hawiye) against Gelidle (Mirifle) around Burdhubo, Bakool (EASO 2021). See clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Which half is eight or nine. Abbink calls the Siyeed (eight) Mirifle and the Alemo line Mirifle Sagaal (nine). The EASO places Hariin and Leysan in the Sideed and Hadame in the Sagaal. Abbink lists Leisaan and Harien under Siyeed, and Hadama under Sagaal, which agrees.
- Geledi. Abbink lists the Geledi among the Mirifle Sagaal. The World Bank and ACLED place the Geledi in the Digil.
- Number of clans. The World Bank chart says 17 sub-clans. Abbink lists over 30 lines.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- World Bank, Conflict in Somalia, 2005, Appendix 2 · openknowledge.worldbank.org
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
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Where this matters
Same era
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- 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
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- 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.
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