# Surre (Qubeys and Cabdalle, Dir) > The Surre (Qubeys and Cabdalle) of the Dir: family tree, Saleebaan Cabdalle, Fiqi Maxamed and other lines, Mudug and Galgaduud, and recent records. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/surre/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## Name and family tree The Surre are a clan of the [Dir](/en/society/dir/). Somali Wikipedia says they are also called *Dirta Dhexe* (the central Dir). It says they are known as the Cabdalle and Qubeys ([Somali Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(beel))). | Source | Line it gives | |---|---| | Abbink 2009 | Dir > Maahe > Suhure, with Qubeys and 'Abdalle under it ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 18](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) | | ACLED 2025 | Dir > Qubeys ([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 | "Saleban Abdalle (Surre/Dir)" and "Surre (Dir)" ([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)) | | Wikipedia (backup) | Dir > Mehe > Surre, with Qubeys, Habardeel and Abdalle ([Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(clan))) | See [the Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/). ## Main branches Abbink lists these groups (Abbink 2009, p. 18): | Line | Groups named under it | |---|---| | Qubeys | Lafagaab | | 'Abdalle | 'Abdi, Na'adoor, Suleiman and Goorad | Wikipedia gives this tree ([Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(clan))): | Line | Groups named under it | |---|---| | Qubeys | Tolweyne, Axadoobe (Cabdalle Diidshe and Cismaan Diidshe), Reer Toonle (Fiqi Cumar and Fiqi Yaxye) and Yabadhaale (Midkasse and Wayaagle) | | Habardeel | none given | | Cabdalle | Maxamed Cabdalle (Na'door), Yuusuf Cabdalle (Goorod), Cabdi Cabdalle (Fiqi Maxamed and Aadan Faarax) and Saleebaan Cabdalle (Fiqi Khayre and Muuse Faarax) | Wikipedia's separate Qubeys page gives a longer list of Qubeys sub-groups ([Wikipedia, Qubeys, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubeys)). Both Wikipedia pages carry warnings that they need more sources. ## 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 "a small enclave of Qubeys, of the Dir clan family" lives in the south of the region ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) | | Mudug and Nugaal | Wikipedia places the Saleebaan Cabdalle in Towfiiq district, Gaalkacyo and Godobjiraan, with a presence in Boosaaso. It places the Qubeys around Bacadweyne ([Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(clan))) | | Galgaduud to Gedo | It places the Fiqi Maxamed from Xeraale (Herale) district to Boholgaras in Gedo, and across the border in Dolo Ado and Chereti (same source) | | Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle | It names Golweyn and Marka (same source) | | Sanaag | It places a Surre group, the Cabaas Muuse, in Badhan district (same source) | See [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/), [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) and [Gedo](/en/regions/gedo/). ## History on record - **About 1316.** Wikipedia says the Surre moved from what is now [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/) to central and southern Somalia around this year. It gives no source for the date ([Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(clan))). - **Faith.** It says the Surre are linked with spreading Islam and the [Qadiriyya](/en/society/islam-in-somalia/) Sufi order in central and southern Somalia (same source). See [Sufi orders in Somalia](/en/society/sufi-orders-in-somalia/). - **Colonial records.** It says Italian and British writers often called them simply "the Dir" of the centre and south (same source). - **1990s.** It says that in 1996 the Southern Somali National Movement represented the Surre (same source). - **Later figures.** It lists Mahad Abdalle Awad, a deputy speaker of the federal parliament, and Zakia Hussein, a deputy police commissioner (same source). ## 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 EUAA says mediation was under way in February 2025 in the Surre and Sheekhaal dispute in Mudug ([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)). Wikipedia names many *fiqi* (religious scholar) lines among the Surre ([Wikipedia, Surre, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surre_(clan))). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/). ## In recent conflict records The EUAA lists these Surre 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)): - the Saleebaan Cabdalle with the Loboge (Sheekhaal) in Towfiiq and Afbarwaaqo districts, Mudug - with the Mareexaan in [Caabudwaaq](/en/regions/caabudwaaq/) and at Laandheer, Galgaduud - opposition to the new Galwaq region, in the Xeraale (Herale) area, Galgaduud - with the Sheekhaal in Jariiban and Hobyo districts, where it says they "clashed repeatedly in the course of 2023-2024" See [Mareexaan](/en/society/mareexaan/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/). ## Where sources differ - **Name.** Abbink writes Suhure. Wikipedia and the EUAA write Surre. - **Lines.** Abbink names Qubeys and 'Abdalle. Wikipedia adds the Habardeel as a third line. - **Sources.** Both Wikipedia pages cite few sources. The 1316 date has no source. ## Read more - [Dir](/en/society/dir/) - [Biyomaal](/en/society/biyomaal/) - [The Dir tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree-dir/) - [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) - [Sheekhaal](/en/society/sheekhaal/) --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.