Family and clan
Ogaadeen (Ogaden clan, Darod)
The Ogaadeen (Ogaden) are a Darod clan. Abbink places them under Absame and lists the Makabul, Mohamed Zubeir, Aulihan, Bah Geri and Talamuge among their lines. They live in Ethiopia's Somali Region, north-eastern Kenya and the Juba regions of Somalia. Human Rights Watch in 2008 called them the largest Darod clan in Ethiopia's Somali Region.
Name and family tree
The Ogaadeen are a clan of the Darod. The name is also written Ogaden. The same word names the Ogaden area of Ethiopia, which takes its name from the clan.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kablalah > Kumade > Absame > Ogaden (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, pp. 18 to 20) |
| ACCORD 2009 | One of the "three major groups" of the Darod, with the Marehan and Harti (ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 12) |
| ACLED 2025 | Darod > Ogaden, with sub-groups such as Absame, Abdalla, Awlyahan, Bartire, Magabul, Mohamed Zubeyr and Talamoge (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| Somali Wikipedia (backup) | The largest clan of the Darod; it names Jidwaaq and Absame as related groups (Somali Wikipedia, Ogaadeen, backup) |
See the Darod tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists these Ogaden groups (Abbink 2009, pp. 19 to 20):
| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| First lines | Malingur, Reer Ishak, Reer Dalal, Reer Ugas Elmi, Bah Magan and Reer Ugas Koshin |
| Abdalla | Reer Hassan Aden and Reer Yahya |
| Bahalla > Bah Geri | Geri Jarso and Geri Babuli |
| Bahalla > Aulihan | Reer Afgab and Reer Wafate |
| Bahalla > Mohamed Zubeir | Musa, Reer Abdulle, Reer Isaaq, Reer Amaden, Reer Nasir and Reer Adan Khair |
| Other lines | Moqabul (Makahil and Reer Sa'ad Hassan), Kanti and Talamuge |
ACLED also codes Mohamed Zubeir sub-groups such as Reer Isaq-Ali, Amaadin, Guled Qalaf, Reer Warfa and Reer Abdula. It codes a Bah Geri group under Absame (ACLED 2025).
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 |
|---|---|
| Ethiopia's Somali Region | Human Rights Watch called the Ogaden the largest Darod clan there, perhaps 40 to 50 percent of the Somali population (HRW, Collective Punishment, 2008, p. 13) |
| Lower Juba | The EUAA says "Kismayo town has been dominated by the Ogaden clan, particularly the large Mohamed Zubeir/Ogaden subclan" (EUAA 2025, Lower Juba) |
| Lower Juba coast | The EASO places the Makabul and Talamoge south of Kismayo, mainly in Badhaadhe district, and the Aulihan near Dhobley (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| Middle Juba | The EUAA names the Aulihan and Mohamed Zubeir as the two strongest clans (EUAA 2025, Middle Juba). The EASO places the Aulihan in Saakow and Bu'aale, and the Mohamed Zubeir on the west bank of Jilib (EASO 2021) |
| Gedo | The EASO places the Aulihan along the river near Baardheere and at Fafaduun (EASO 2021) |
| Kenya | Wikipedia places them in the former North Eastern Province (Wikipedia, Ogaden clan, backup). The EASO adds that the Aulihan have interests in Garissa county (EASO 2021) |
See Lower Juba, Middle Juba, Gedo, Jubaland and Somalis in Kenya.
History on record
- 1800s. Wikipedia says the Ogaden led moves that pushed the Wardey from west of the Juba river. It says they also displaced the Boorana in parts of today's north-eastern Kenya (Wikipedia, Ogaden clan, backup).
- Late 1800s to 1920. It says Somali writing of that time called the Ogaden area Huwan. It lists Ogaden figures among the Dervishes and their opponents (same source). See the Dervish movement.
- 1977 to 1978. War between Somalia and Ethiopia was fought over the Ogaden area. See the Ogaden War.
- 2008. Human Rights Watch wrote that the Ogaden clan "constitutes the backbone of the ONLF" (HRW 2008, p. 4). See Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).
- Since 2012. The EASO says Kismayo "has been dominated politically, economically, and militarily by the Ogaden clan" (EASO 2021).
- Later figures. Wikipedia lists Ahmed Madobe, Hamza Abdi Barre, Nuruddin Farah and Asli Hassan Abade among Ogaden people. It also lists Sayid Maxamed Cabdulle Xasan (Wikipedia, Ogaden clan, backup).
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).
Abbink's tree names two ugaas lines, Reer Ugas Elmi and Reer Ugas Koshin (Abbink 2009, p. 19). Wikipedia shows a photo of Sultan Bihi Momeen of the Ogaden (Wikipedia, Ogaden clan, backup). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists a dormant dispute between the Biyomaal (Dir) and Ogaden in Jamaame, Lower Juba. It says the dispute "revolves around land ownership, governance structure, and power-sharing within the district" (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1).
Earlier, the EASO listed "Ogaden vs Marehan clan competition over control of Kismayo and Jubbaland state". It also listed tensions within the Ogaden, between the Mohamed Zubeir and Aulihan, over jobs in the Jubbaland security forces (EASO 2021). See Mareexaan and clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Size. Somali Wikipedia calls the Ogaadeen the largest Darod clan. HRW says this only of Ethiopia's Somali Region. No census confirms either.
- Place in the tree. Abbink puts the Ogaden under Absame. ACLED codes Absame as a sub-group of the Ogaden.
- Bah Geri. Abbink lists Bah Geri under Bahalla. ACLED codes a Bah Geri group under Absame.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, pp. 18 to 20 · hdl.handle.net
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 12 · ecoi.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- Somali Wikipedia, Ogaadeen, backup · so.wikipedia.org
- HRW, Collective Punishment, 2008, p. 13 · hrw.org
- EUAA 2025, Lower Juba · euaa.europa.eu
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA 2025, Middle Juba · euaa.europa.eu
- Wikipedia, Ogaden clan, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
Toosoo!
Calankii is made by Toosoo, which works for one united, prosperous Somalia.
Can you help with Ogaadeen (Ogaden clan, Darod)? Tell us what you can give.
I want to help with this
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.