# Xawaadle (Hawadle, Hawiye)

> The Xawaadle (Hawadle): family tree, sub-clans such as Cali Madaxweyne and Agoon, where they live in Hiiraan, the ugaas and recent conflict records.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/xawaadle/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Name and family tree

The Xawaadle are a Somali clan written Hawadle in English and Auadleh in older Italian sources ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)). Most sources count them with the [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/), but the sources differ on how.

| Source | Line it gives |
|---|---|
| Abbink 2009 | Gardere-Yakabur-Mayle ("pre-Hawiye") > Mayle > Hawadle ([Abbink, *The Total Somali Clan Genealogy*, 2009, p. 30](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)) |
| ACLED 2025 | Hawiye > Hawadle ([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 | "Hawadle (Hawiye)" ([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)) |
| World Bank 2005 (CRD chart) | Listed among "Hawiye Associates: Hawadle, Galje'el, Ajuran, Dagodi" ([World Bank, *Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics*, 2005, Appendix 2](https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/b2109b26-2d10-5ac6-85c2-dbfa820c5f6e)) |
| Wikipedia (backup) | Samaale > Meyle > Maxamed > Xawaadle, citing Ali Jimale Ahmed's *The Invention of Somalia* ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)) |

Abbink writes that it is "not entirely clear" how the "pre-Hawiye" groups relate to the Hawiye. He adds that the Hawadle "are today often presented as one of the major clan-group within the Hawiye" (Abbink 2009, p. 30). See [the Somali clan tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/).

## Main branches

Abbink lists six Hawadle lineages: 'Abdi Yusuf, Farmagge, 'Abdalle, Allagumar, Walahmooge and Abdirahman ([Abbink 2009, p. 30](https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14007)).

ACLED's 2025 list codes many Xawaadle groups ([ACLED, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)):

- Abdi Yussuf, Abdirahman, Cabdalla and [Reer Ugaas](/en/society/gadabuursi/)
- Agoon and Galible Hassan Agoon
- Ali Madaxweyne, Harun, Hassan Musa and Farax Cagaweyne
- Yaber Madaxweyne, with Adam, Baana, Hussein, Iidle and Mohamed Yaber Madaxweyne
- Aadan Warsame, Yaber Dige and Ibrahim Isse

Wikipedia gives a long tree. Under Xawaadle it names Midigsame, with Alagumar and Lo'doone. Under Lo'doone it names Wacwacaale, whose son Samatalis heads four lines ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)):

| Line | Groups named under it |
|---|---|
| Faramage Samatalis (Reer Ugaas) | Dhoore and Dhaga Digane |
| Yuusuf Samatalis (Cabdi Yuusuf) | Garaad Cabdi, Abuubakar Cabdi, Habarwaa Cabdi and Aadan Cabdi |
| Dige Samatalis | Ciise Dige (Yacquub, Ibraahim and Madaxweyne Ciise) and Yabar Dige |
| Cabdalle Samatalis | Maxamed, Saleebaan, Aadan, Idiris and Cumar Cabdalle |

Under Madaxweyne Ciise, Wikipedia names Cabdalle Madaxweyne (Agoon Cabdalle), Yabar Madaxweyne, Cali Madaxweyne, Axmed Madaxweyne and Geedi Madaxweyne (same source). Every group here is also on [the Somali clan tree](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/).

## 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 |
|---|---|
| Hiiraan | "Hiraan is dominated by the Hawadle clan, which is the most populous and probably the most powerful clan in the region" ([EASO, *Somalia: Security situation*, 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)) |
| North-east of the Shabelle | The EUAA says the Hawadle dominate "the territory north-east of the Shabelle River" ([EUAA 2025, Hiraan](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/24-hirshabelle/241-hiraan)) |
| Middle Shabelle | Records name disputes in El Baraf district (EUAA Country Focus 2025, section 1.5.1) |
| Other areas | Wikipedia adds Mogadishu, Qoryooley in Lower Shabelle, Middle and Lower Juba, the Somali Region of Ethiopia and north-eastern Kenya ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)) |

See [Hiiraan](/en/regions/hiiraan/) and [Hirshabelle](/en/states/hirshabelle/).

## History on record

- **2016 to 2020.** [Ali Abdullahi Osoble](/en/people/ali-abdullahi-osoble/) was the first president of Hirshabelle, and [Mohamed Abdi Waare](/en/people/mohamed-abdi-waare/) the second. Wikipedia lists both as Hawadle ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)).
- **2020 to 2021.** The EASO says the Hawadle in particular asked that Hiiraan be a state of its own, not part of Hirshabelle. General Abukar Haji Warsame (Xuud), a Hawadle, opposed the new Hirshabelle administration "also militarily" ([EASO 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)).
- **June 2023.** Hirshabelle's president removed Hiiraan governor Ali Jeyte Osman. Osman had earlier announced that Hiiraan would leave Hirshabelle, after a tax dispute ([EUAA 2025, Hiraan](https://www.euaa.europa.eu/coi/somalia/2025/security-situation/24-hirshabelle/241-hiraan)).
- **September 2023.** President [Hassan Sheikh Mohamud](/en/people/hassan-sheikh-mohamud/) "secured the support of the Hawadle community in Mahaas" for the fight against al-Shabaab. He named Ali Jeyte commander of the local *ma'awisley* militia (same source).
- **February 2025.** An agreement between the Hawadle and Hirshabelle was reportedly negotiated (same source).

See [the offensive against al-Shabaab, 2022 to 2025](/en/history/offensive-against-al-shabaab-2022-2025/).

## 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)).

Wikipedia places the Xawaadle Reer Ugaas under Faramage Samatalis ([Wikipedia, Hawadle, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawadle)). ACLED codes a "Hawadle-Reer-Ugaas" group ([ACLED, September 2025](https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-10/Somalia-clan-actor-old-to-new-list_16-September-2025.xlsx)). See [xeer, Somali customary law](/en/society/xeer-customary-law/).

## In recent conflict records

The EUAA lists these Hirshabelle conflicts, active in 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)):

- Abgaal against Xawaadle, in Jalalaqsi district (Hiiraan) and El Baraf district (Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/)).
- Xawaadle against Makane (Bantu) in Beledweyne, including Cali Madaxweyne against Makane.
- Xawaadle against Badi Adde ([Gugundhabe](/en/society/jijeele/)), in Jalalaqsi district.
- Agoon and Cali Madaxweyne against Cayr (Habar Gidir), in Matabaan.
- Faqay Omar (Dir) against Xawaadle, in villages near the Ethiopian border.

Other EUAA records (same source, sections 1.5.2 and 1.10.2):

- **22 April 2023.** A Sacad (Habar Gidir) militia assaulted and raped six Xawaadle women and girls near Dhabad, [Cabudwaaq](/en/regions/caabudwaaq/).
- **10 April and 7 May 2024.** Hawadle militia members shot truck drivers in Beledweyne district over tax disputes, killing one.
- **16 February 2025.** A Xawaadle militia killed a Cayr woman near Beledweyne.

The EASO listed a Xawaadle land dispute with the Reer Aw Hassan ([Ashraf](/en/society/asharaaf/)) that killed 16 people in June 2020 ([EASO 2021](https://coi.euaa.europa.eu/administration/easo/PLib/2021_09_EASO_COI_Report_Somalia_Security_situation.pdf)). See [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/), [Reer Aw Xasan](/en/society/reer-aw-xasan/) and [clan conflicts, district by district](/en/society/clan-conflicts/).

## Where sources differ

- **Hawiye or not.** ACLED and the EUAA write "Hawadle (Hawiye)". Abbink places them in a separate "pre-Hawiye" group, and the World Bank's CRD chart calls them "Hawiye Associates".
- **Ancestor.** Wikipedia traces them to Meyle, son of [Samaale](/en/history/where-the-somalis-come-from/). Abbink's [Mayle](/en/society/gardere-yakabur-and-mayle/) sits under Gardere-Yakabur-Mayle, a line he says claims descent from 'Imr, not Samaale.
- **Lineages.** Abbink lists six lineages. ACLED and Wikipedia give many more, with different names.

## Read more

- [Hawiye](/en/society/hawiye/)
- [Cayr](/en/society/cayr/)
- [The Somali clan tree: every clan and sub-clan](/en/society/somali-clan-tree/)
- [Hiiraan](/en/regions/hiiraan/)

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