Family and clan
Omar Mahamoud (Cumar Maxamuud, Majeerteen)
The Omar Mahamoud (Cumar Maxamuud) are a Majeerteen line of the Harti and Darod, one of the three Mahamoud Saleebaan lines. They are the main clan of northern Mudug, around Gaalkacyo, and of southern Nugaal. Abbink lists the Reer Khalaf, Reer Hersi and Reer Mahad as their lines.
Name and family tree
The Omar Mahamoud are a line of the Majeerteen, part of the Harti and Darod. In Somali the name is Cumar Maxamuud.
| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Darod > Kombe-Harti > Majerteen > Mahmood > Omar Mahmoud (Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009) |
| EASO 2021 | "The Omar Mohamoud (or Omar Mahmud), a Majerteen (Darod) sub-clan" (EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021) |
| EUAA 2025 | "Majerteen-Omar Mahmoud sub-clan" (EUAA 2025, Mudug) |
| ACLED 2025 | Codes Darod > Majeerteen > Omar Mahmud, and also Darod > Omar Mahmud (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
Wikipedia says the Omar Mahamoud, Osman Mahamoud and Isse Mahamoud together form the Mahamoud Saleebaan (Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup). See the Darod tree.
Main branches
Abbink lists three Omar Mahmoud lines: Reer Khalaf, Reer Hersi and Reer Mahad (Abbink 2009, Darod chart).
ACLED codes these Omar Mahmud groups (ACLED 2025):
| Group | How ACLED codes it |
|---|---|
| Khalaf | Majeerteen > Omar Mahmud > Khalaf |
| Reer Xirsi | Majeerteen > Omar Mahmud > Reer-Xirsi |
| Reer Mahad | Majeerteen > Omar Mahmud Reer-Mahad Mohamed-Muse |
| Bah Yucqub | Majeerteen > Omar Mahmud > Bah Yucqub |
| Reer Abdulle | Majeerteen > Reer Abdulle-Omar Mahmud |
ACLED also codes an "Ali Mohamed-Omar Mahmud" path under the Majeerteen (ACLED 2025). Abbink and ACLED agree on the Khalaf, Xirsi and Mahad lines.
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 |
|---|---|
| Northern Mudug | "The north Mudug is mainly inhabited by the Omar Mohamoud ... which is the dominant clan in the area" (EASO 2021) |
| Mudug | "Dominant clans are the Darod (Majerteen-Omar Mahmoud sub-clan) in the North" (EUAA 2025, Mudug) |
| Southern Nugaal | The EASO calls the Omar Mahmud dominant "in north Mudug and in the southern part of Nugal" (EASO 2021) |
| Garowe | The EUAA lists Omar Mahamoud among Majeerteen lines living in Garowe (EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe) |
See Mudug, Nugaal and Puntland.
History on record
- Since 1991. The EUAA describes Mudug as "divided between Galmudug (Southern Mudug) and Puntland (Northern Mudug)" (EUAA 2025, Mudug). See Galmudug.
- 2021. The EASO listed "Saad (Habar Gedir) vs Omar Mahamud (Majeerten) in Galkcayo" among northern Mudug rivalries (EASO 2021).
- December 2024. Two Majeerteen clans clashed in Xarfo, Mudug. The fighting destroyed a "vital" water well and closed schools (EUAA 2025, Mudug).
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). See xeer, Somali customary law.
In recent conflict records
The EUAA lists these disputes that name the Omar Mahamoud (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1):
- Dhulbahante against Omar Mahamoud, in the Adadda area between Nugaal and Sool. The two clans "have been feuding for decades".
- Omar Mahmood against Sa'ad (Habar Gidir) in Galkayo and Jiriiban districts. The EUAA calls it "dormant as of February 2025".
See Dhulbahante and clan conflicts, district by district.
Where sources differ
- Cross-border. The EASO's Mudug section has a passage on a clan "found mainly inside the Ethiopian region". Its wording does not make clear whether this means the Omar Mahamoud or another group.
- Name of the parent line. Abbink calls it Mahmood. The EUAA and Wikipedia call it Mohamoud Saleebaan.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009 · hdl.handle.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- EUAA 2025, Mudug · euaa.europa.eu
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- Wikipedia, Majeerteen, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, Garowe · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
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