Demographics of Somalia

This 2002 CIA map shows the distribution of Somali clan populations across the Somali homelands, and their percentages within Somalia: Hawiye (25%), Isaaq (22%), Darod (20%), Rahanweyn (17%), Dir (7%), Digil (3%), and ethnic minorities (6%)

Somali clan refers to the clan grouping of the Somali people. It is an important social unit and clan membership continues to play an important part in Somali culture and politics. Clans are patrilineal and are often divided into sub-clans, sometimes with many sub-divisions.

In traditional Somali society, marriage was often to someone from another clan, ie exogamy, but during the 20th century conflicts in Somalia this seems to have become the exception rather than the rule.

Hierarchy of clans

Certain clans are traditionally classed as "noble clans", referring to the belief that they share a common Somali ancestry, whereas the minority clans are believed to have mixed parentage. The noble clans are believed to be descended from Samaale (or Samale), and are sometimes referred to collectively by this name. The four noble clans are Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Isaaq. Of these, the Darod, Dir, and Hawiye trace their descent from Samaale through Irir Samaale. "Sab" is the term used to refer to minority clans in contrast to Samaale.

The Digil and Mirifle/Rahanweyn (see major clans for the confusion over these groupings) are agro-pastoral clans in the area between the Jubba and Shabeelle Rivers. They occupy a kind of second tier in the Somali social system. They do not follow a nomadic lifestyle, live further south and speak a group of Somali dialects (Maay) which have recently been classified as a separate language and so they have been isolated to some extent from the mainstream of Somali society.

A third tier, the occupational clans, have sometimes been treated as outcastes, because traditionally they could only marry among themselves and other Somalis considered them to be ritually unclean. They lived in their own settlements among the nomadic populations in the north and performed specialised occupations such as metalworking, tanning and hunting. These clans include the Tomal, Midgan, Yibir, Ayle, Jaji, and Yahar. Some also lived in the south, notably the Eeyle, a traditional hunter-gathering clan who lived in the southwest.

Clan and sub-clan groupings

There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures. The divisions and subdivisions as given here are partial and simplified. Many lineages are omitted. Note that some sources state that the Rahanweyn group is made up of the Digil and Mirifle clans, whereas others list the Digil as a separate group from the Rahanweyn. (For a comparison of different views on the clan-lineage-structures in Somalia see Conflict in Somalia.)

• Hawiye
  • Abgaal, Ajuran, Murule, Baadicadde, Hawadle, Degodia, Murusade, Garre, Habar Gidir, Sheikhaal, and Gaaljecel.

• Isaaq
  • Habar Awal, Arap, Garhajis, which is split into Eidagale and Habar Yoonis, Habar Toljeclo, better known as Habar Jeclo, Toljaalo, and Ayoup.

• Darod
  • Majeerteen, Marehan, Warsangali, Dhulbahante, Awrtable, Ogaden, and Leelkase.

• Rahanweyn
  • Digil: Geledi, Tunni, Dabare, Jiiddo, Bagadi, and Garre.
  • Mirifle: Leysaan, Xariin, Hadame, Eelaay, Jiroon, Luwaay, Geelidle, Boqorhore, Gasaargude, Hubeer, Yantaar, and Jilible.

• Dir
  • Issa, Gadabuursi, Biimaal, Suure, Fiqi Muxumed, Qubeys, Gurguure, Baadimaal, Gaadsan, Akiishe, Madigaan, Gariire, Guure, Dabruube, Layiile, and Wardaay.

• Minority ethnic Somali clans
  • Midgan, Tumal, Yibir, and Eyle.

Clans under the transitional Somali government

"The 4.5 formula" was developed at the last peace conference in Nairobi in the early 2000s. It gives equal quotas for representation in government to the four major clans, and a half-point to the fifth, the cluster of minority clans.

The four "major" clans are the Hawiye, Rahanweyn, Dir (including Isaaq), and Darod. The "minor" fifth clan, called "the fifth", includes, but is not limited to, other ethnically Somali clans such as Midgan, Tumal, and Yibir, and other non-ethnically Somali people, such as Eyle, Somali Bantu (Jareerweyne), Reer Hamar, Bravanese and other Benadiri people, and Bajuni.

The transitional Somali parliament has 275 representatives. Thus each major clan has 61 seats and the minor clans have 31 seats to share among themselves. This formula has been widely condemned as being unfair and ineffective by both the intellectual and religious Somali communities.

See also

• Demographics of Somalia
• Transitional Federal Parliament (of Somalia)
• Demographics of Djibouti
• Demographics of Ethiopia
• Demographics of Kenya

References

• David D. Laitin and Said S. Samatar, Somalia: Nation in Search of a State, Colorado: Westview Press, 1987. ISBN 0-86531-555-8
• Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics, Worldbank, January 2005, Appendix 2, Lineage Charts
• Victims and Vulnerable Groups in Southern Somalia, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
• Somali Clan Structure, Country Information and Policy Unit, Home Office, Great Britain, Somalia Assessment 2001
• Somalia Tribal Study, 2005