Family and clan
Sacad (Sa'ad, Habar Gidir, Hawiye)
The Sacad (Sa'ad, Saad) are a Habar Gidir clan of the Hawiye. Abbink lists the Reer Hiluwe, Reer Jalaf, Reer Nimale and Lugayare under them. The EUAA says they are the dominant clan of southern Mudug, and the EASO names them among the five main clans of north Galgaduud. Wikipedia says Somalia's first prime minister, Abdullahi Issa, was Sacad.
Name and family tree
The Sacad are a clan of the Habar Gidir, part of the Hawiye. The name is also written Sa'ad and Saad. They are a different group from the 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) |
| ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Habar Gedir > Sacad, with many sub-groups (ACLED clan actor list, September 2025) |
| EUAA 2025 | "the Hawiye (Habar Gidir Sa'ad sub-clan)" (EUAA 2025, Mudug) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Lists "Sa'ad Madarkicis" as a Habar Gidir branch (Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup) |
See the Hawiye tree.
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). 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).
| 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). The EUAA says the same (EUAA 2025, 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, Galgaduud and Galmudug.
History on record
- 1950s. Wikipedia says 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).
- 1991 to 2021. The EASO describes the long rivalry in north Mudug between the Habar Gidir and the Majeerteen and 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'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).
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).
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). See xeer, Somali 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):
- with the Mareexaan in the west of Gaalkacyo district, dormant as of February 2025
- with the Cumar Maxamuud (Majeerteen) in Gaalkacyo and Jiriiban districts, dormant as of February 2025
The EUAA also records Sacad and Leelkase clashes over grazing in Galdogob district in October 2023 and in June and December 2024 (EUAA 2025, 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, Surre and clan conflicts, district by district.
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 Aidid as Habar Gidir without naming his sub-clan.
Read more
Sources
- Abbink, The Total Somali Clan Genealogy, 2009, p. 27 · hdl.handle.net
- ACLED clan actor list, September 2025 · acleddata.com
- EUAA 2025, Mudug · euaa.europa.eu
- Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup · en.wikipedia.org
- Somali Wikipedia, Habar Gidir, backup · so.wikipedia.org
- ACCORD, Clans in Somalia, 2009, p. 11 · ecoi.net
- EASO, Somalia: Security situation, 2021 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
- UK Home Office, CPIN Somalia: clans, 2019, quoting EASO 2014 · ecoi.net
- EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1 · coi.euaa.europa.eu
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Where this matters
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.