# Sacad (Sa'ad, Habar Gidir, Hawiye) > The Sacad (Sa'ad) of the Habar Gidir and Hawiye: family tree, Reer Hilowle, Reer Jalaf and Reer Nimcaale, southern Mudug and Galkayo, and recent records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/sacad-habar-gidir/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Sacad are a clan of the [Habar Gidir](/en/society/habar-gidir/), part of the [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/). The name is also written Sa'ad and Saad. They are a different group from the [Sacad Muuse](/en/society/sacad-muuse/) of the Isaaq. | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Hawiye > Hirab > Habr Gidir > Sa'ad ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 27](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Habar Gedir > Sacad, with many 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)) | | EUAA 2025 | "the Hawiye (Habar Gidir Sa'ad sub-clan)" ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)) | | Wikipedia (backup) | Lists "Sa'ad Madarkicis" as a Habar Gidir branch ([Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)) | See [the Hawiye tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-hawiye/). ## Main branches Abbink lists four groups under Sa'ad: Reer Hiluwe, Reer Jalaf, Reer Nimale and Lugayare (Abbink 2009, p. 27). ACLED codes these Sacad groups (ACLED 2025): | Group | Other spellings ACLED uses | |---|---| | Reer Hilowle | Saad-Reer-Hilowle | | Reer Jalaf | Jalaaf, Saad-Reer-Jalaf | | Reer Nimcaale | Nimaale, Saad-Nimcaale | | Sacad Barkhadle, Sacad Farale, Sacad Indhayar, Sacad Muse | Saad-Barkhadle, Saad-Farale, Saad-Indhayar, Saad-Muse | The Somali Wikipedia page on the Habar Gidir discusses where the Sacad fit in the tree. That discussion is long and unsourced ([Somali Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). No separate Wikipedia page on the Sacad was found when this page was written. ## 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 | |---|---| | Southern Mudug | The EASO says the south of Mudug "is mainly inhabited by the Saad", who are "the dominant clan in the area" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)). The EUAA says the same ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)) | | North Galgaduud | The EASO names the Saad among the five major clans there, with the Saleebaan, Cayr, Mareexaan and Dir (EASO 2021) | | Gaalkacyo | The EASO describes Sacad rivalries in and around the city, which is split between Galmudug and Puntland (EASO 2021) | See [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/), [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) and [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/). ## History on record - **1950s.** Wikipedia says [Abdullahi Issa](/en/people/abdullahi-issa/), of the Reer Nimcaale, led the Somali Youth League. It says he became the first prime minister of Somalia under trusteeship ([Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). - **1991 to 2021.** The EASO describes the long rivalry in north Mudug between the Habar Gidir and the Majeerteen and [Leelkase](/en/society/leelkase/). It says these rural disputes "often spill over to Galkcayo" (EASO 2021). - **2021.** The EASO says the Saad were the main clan resisting [Al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/)'s spread in southern Mudug. It adds that "they are overwhelmed, one by one" (EASO 2021). - **2024 to 2025.** The EUAA says government and allied forces fought Al-Shabaab across southern Mudug. It says they regained "key areas" by February 2025 ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-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](https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2002542/Somalia_-_Clans_-_CPIN_V3.0e.pdf)). The EASO records that after a Sacad and Leelkase clash near Gaalkacyo in May 2020, the two sides settled. It says this came "with the exchange of compensation and the signing of a cooperation agreement for peaceful coexistence" (EASO 2021). Wikipedia's Habar Gidir page shows a photo of a Sa'ad chief ([Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habar_Gidir)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists these Sacad disputes for April 2023 to March 2025 ([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)): - with the Mareexaan in the west of Gaalkacyo district, dormant as of February 2025 - with the [Cumar Maxamuud](/en/society/omar-mahamoud/) (Majeerteen) in Gaalkacyo and Jiriiban districts, dormant as of February 2025 The EUAA also records Sacad and Leelkase clashes over grazing in [Galdogob](/en/history/ethiopian-somali-border-war-1982/) district in October 2023 and in June and December 2024 ([EUAA 2025, Mudug](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/25-galmudug/252-mudug)). Earlier, the EASO listed Sacad disputes with the Wagardhac (Mareexaan) at Gelinsoor and Saaxo, and with Dir groups at Towfiiq (EASO 2021). See [Mareexaan](/en/society/mareexaan/), [Surre](/en/society/surre/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Sections.** Abbink names four groups. ACLED codes several more, such as the Sacad Indhayar and Sacad Barkhadle. - **Place in the tree.** Somali Wikipedia's Habar Gidir page says the Sacad descend through a different line from the other Habar Gidir. It gives no source. No other source here supports or tests this. - **People.** Wikipedia places Abdullahi Issa in the Sacad. It names General [Mohamed Farah](/en/people/mo-farah/) Aidid as Habar Gidir without naming his sub-clan. ## Read more - [Habar Gidir](/en/society/habar-gidir/) - [Saleebaan](/en/society/saleebaan-habar-gidir/) - [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/) - [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.