The Devastating Effects of the Ahmed Gurey Wars on Dir

In the 1400, the Christian Ethiopians attacked Muslim lands in Harrar, Haud, and as far as Zeila. The Dir which was the most powerful Muslim group confronted the Christian menance. The wars which lasted for hundreds of years destroyed many Dir Kingdoms including the Ifat and Awdal (Cadale) kingdoms. Which were ruled by a mixture of Dir and Afar-Adaris kings and produce the Dir Imam Axmed Ibrahim Geesi or Axmed Gurey and the greated Somali General Said Samaroone who was in charge of all the military operations of the Somalis in the hinterland of Somalia. Many Dir groups dispersed and fled South, West, and East into Somalia in this era. Many fled to Amuud in Northern Somalia and letter when Amuud was destroyed by the Amhara and they occupied Zaile killing the Dir King Shihab Din at Zaila Island were he is buried.

Imam Said Samroone lived in 1432 AD, when the Amhara crusaders conquered Somalia. Iman Said was the Muslim leader who led the Mandaluug Dir and when the imam was later fighting in the Western flank of the Guurey army he was injured at Dardarley.

The name Gadabuursi was given to his descendents at the last critical moment before he made a final stand to the Amhara at the mandaluug ancestral homeland of Amuud which the Amharas destroyed over 50,000 homes where excavated recently and the place was leveled with the ground 10, 000 thousands perished. At this dark moment, many Dir groups were dispersed all over Somalia and many powerful Dir kingdoms in Western Somalia and present day Ethiopia perished.


The name Gaada Biirsay means the one who collected the army or "chests" the name referred to the desperate effort of imam Samaroon Said to collect and muster the power of his kinsman against the infidels. Gaado means chest( shafka ama xabadka gaada ha i saarin oo kale).

The Gadabuursi latter suffered a devastating defeat and actually the present day Amuud which has a old cementary called Lafaruug was destroyed by the Amhara King. Also note, it was this period that the King Shihad a Diin buried in Zailac Island was killed. The Gudabuursi Dir and Issa Modoobe Dir never recovered from these devastating blows. They moved west while others moved to the North West. Many Dir groups moved from the North-West and towards the South.

For example, the Suure Dir have strong traditions that point to their arrival from West (Galbeed) in this era and they claim they lived in close proximity with the Issas. Also the Bimaal Dir vividly describe how their territories were once adjacent to the Issa and Isaaq. As a matter of fact, a whole branch of the Bimaal called the Gadsan still lives in the North West amongst the Ogaden and Habar Yonis. Moreover, many Mandaluug Dir from the Boorame region migrated to the South and today live among the Surre Dir and Bimaal.

Another Mohamed Hiniftire group, the Barsuug was similarly destroyed in the era of Ahmed Gurey wars.

The Magadle Dir were completely destroyed, except for the 10,000 or saw that survive in Cerigaabo. The Issas Madoobe Dir moved further west and north into Afar regions they installed a Madaxweyn Dir dynasty, the Wardiiq who was the ruling remnants of the Madaxeyn. Madigan, Gurgure and the Barsuug Dir fled west and were encircled by the Oromos- Many assimilated and the union formed a half cast Jarso.

The Isaaq Dir reconstituted as Maxamed (Axmed Xiniftire) new Habar alliences formed the Nacadoor,Mikidoor,Nabidoor and the Idoor all disappeared.


The Madaluug in Southren Somalia and the Biyamaal as well as The Fiq's Suure all point their Southern movement from Amuud region in the 1600's during the Axmed Guurey era. The Suure Dir who are as a matter of fact still in Hauda region and whom refer them self's as Fiqi's where the Her or sheikh associated with Awbarre/Buube/ Yusuf Barkad kowniin students who entered Mudug region at the time when the Ajuuran ruled at mereg and some served as Imams under one malakh Gareenow Xaasey.

The Suure Fiqi's, Biyamaal, Guure, and the Badimaal all entered the south. The Biyamal claim to have entered the Banadir area, a name meaning beynka direeb, in 1700's.

The Gurgure/Akisho cluster and reminders of Madaxweyn Dir conquered the Dira Dhabe " meeshu Diri Dhabe" ama waranka ka taagay. The Gurgure which is not their real name (Gurgure means trader hence the word Gorgortan - to bargain)

The Somali Dir clan (Beesha Direed)

The Somali Dir clan (Beesha dddddddDDireed)

The Dir is a Somali clan whose members live in Djibouti, Southern, Northern Somalia, NFD, Somali Region, and Shabeele/ Jubba regions. According to the Dir clan histories, Dir had four sons named Madahweyn, Mandaluug, Madoobe, and Mahe Dir; according to others Dir had a fifth son named Qaldho Dir.



The Somali people are composed of four major tribes. The Dir, Hawiye, Darod, and Rahanweyn make up the majority of Somalis. The Dir are the most ancient Somali clan, and they are the most widespread group. They primarily live in Djibouti as the Issa and Gadabuursi. The northern clans of the self-declared Somaliland, namely the Isaaq, Gadabuursi,and Issa are also all Dir. In Ethiopia, the Dir clans are also the most numerous Somali clan group.


Northern Dir


The Northern Somalis exclusively come from the Dir clan. The Isaaq are Mohammed Hiniftire Mahe Dir. While the Gadabuursi are also closely related to the Isaaq whom they share with the common ancestor Mohammed Hiniftire, the sub lineage they claim as their direct ancestor is called the Mandaluug. The third Northern clan, the Issas come from the Madoobe Dir. There are also other Dir groups like the Gurgure, Madigaan, Magadle, Akisho, and Layiile in smaller numbers in the Northern Somalia.


The Dir of Ethiopia


The Dir in Ethiopia are represented by the Issas, Gurgure, Guure, Quranyo Maxamed, Akisho, Gadabuursi, Gadsan, Gariir, Fiqi Muhumand, Qubeys, Layiile, Mandaluulg, Baajimaal, and Wardaai. The majority live in the Dira Dhabe area, Jijiga region, and by the Awash River.

The rest of the Ethiopian Dir clans live in southern parts near the Somali border near Dollo Ado and as far as Guure Dhamoole and Negele. The clans of the Dagoodi, Ajuuran, Jiido, Gabra, and Garre are all associated with the four Dir ancestral progenitors. The Dir occupy vast territories stretching from Baale (Nagelle), Baabule, Fayaanbiiro, Qabri-Bayah, Fiq, Hara-Maaya, Harar, and Dadar.

The Dir are well represented in the 10 major states of the Somali Region in Ethiopia

1Gobolka Shiniile
2. Gobolka Jig-jiga
3. Gobolka Jarareed
4. Gobolka Nogbeed
5. Gobolka Qoraxay
6. Gobolka Doollo
7. Gobolka Shabeele
8. Gobolka Liibaan
9. Gobolka Afdheer
10. Gobolka Jigjiga

1 Awbare (Gedabursi)
2 Dhagaxle(Dir)
3 Gursum(Dir)
4 Jigjiga
5 Qabri Bayax
6 Wajaale(Habar Awal)
7 Xarshin(Habar Awal+Arab)
8Gobolka Shiniile

1 Diridhabo(Dir Ciise, Gurgure +Oromo)

2 Shiiniile(Dir , Oromo)

3 Ayshica(Dir, Oromo)

4 Danbal(Dir, Oromo)

5 Erar (Dir Gurgure, Oromo)

6 Afdam(Dir, Oromo)

7 Ma,ayso(Dir,Oromo)

8Gobolka Dhagaxbuur 4 districts

• 1 Awaare(Ciidagale)
• 2 Dhagaxbuur(Dir-Gaadsan, Sheekhaal , Ogaaden)
• 3 Dhagaxmadow(Ogaadeen)
• 4 Gaashaamo(Dir Habar Yoonis)
• Gobolka Wardheer

1)Gumare Da'are-Niman Moyko (Dir-Bajimal+Gasar)

2)Shabelle Niman-Gobyal Dhurdhere Bajimal (Dir)

3)Qodi Budul-Burdhinle Mustahil (Dir)

4)Iimey Dubo -Dir or Hawiya/Rer Ammaadin (Ogaden) and Galameys

5)Iimey district is jointly controlled by the Duba , Dir and Rer Ammadin of the Ogaden.

Gadsan Dir

In Ethiopia, Gaadsan clan reside in three districts : the Liban district (Jarrati, Waladaya, Doolow and Guuredhamole), Godey district (Iimey and Boola), and Gashamo district (Nusdariiq, Marsin, Kabtinuur and Qabridhare).

Gadabuursi
The Gadabuursi (Gudubiirsi or Sheik Samaroon) tribe is a northern Somali clan, a sub-clan of the Dir. The Gadabuursi are descendants of Sheikh Samaroon, who suffered a devastating defeat in a war with the highlanders of Ethiopia over a dispute of payment of annual tribute and tax collection from international trade routes connecting the hinterland of Ethiopia with the ports of Somalia in 1432. Recent archaeological excavations suggest up to 50,000 homes were destroyed. Today they live mostly in northern Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Politically they are represented by the Somali Democratic Alliance (SDA). The current President of self-declared republic of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, is from the Gadabuursi tribe. Also the Gadabuursi are the second largest Somali ethnic group in Djibouti where the Dir Isaa (Ciise) are the majority. The Horyaal Democratic Party was founded by the Dir Gadabursi clan; their area of influence straddles the Somaliland border and incorporated the Dire Dawa, Jijiga and the Awbar zones.






The Dir clan of Djibouti Issa Madoobe Dir

The population of Djabouti is overwhelmingly Dir. The majority are Issa Madoobe Dir and the second largest group are the Gadabuursi Mandaluug Dir; the Isaaq are third in number.

The Somali ethnic component in Djibouti is mainly composed of the Issas, who form the majority and the Gadabuursi and Isaaq, all of whom are closely related as Dir subclans.

The Issas form part of the ciise Madoobe Dir, while the Gadabuursi and Isaaq are part of the Mahe Dir, Mohammed Hiniftire. The Issa Madoobe Dir are divided into two groups:the Abgaal and Dalool which are further divided into seven sub-clans:Howlgati and Walaaldoon (Makahir, Mahamuud, Iidleh)Uurweeyne (Fiqi and Abdalle), Wardiiq, Hooroone (Habar Walaala and Geelwalaal), Howleh, Fuurlabe (Mahdle, Saahib) and Ceeleeye (Mamaasan and Muuse). Madoobe Dir was the youngest son of Dir and his father was known as Madoobe.

Gurgura Madaxweyn Dir

The Gurgure Dir (a sub-clan of the Madahweyn) inhabit the city of Dire Dawa, which is also inhabited by the Madoobe Dir Issas. The first to arrive were the Gurguras who named the city Dira Dhawe, or "the place that Dir conquered or hit with his spear". Finally, the Issas and other Somali groups followed into the region and the Christian Amharas referred the region to as "Gurgura-na Issa Awrajja"or the Awrajja Region of the Gurguras and the Issas.

Gurgura is one of the four woredas in the chartered city of Dire Dawa in Ethiopia. Towns in Gurgura include Melka Jebdu. Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 116,250, of whom 58,004 were males and 58,246 were females; 14,250 or 12.26% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the average for entire chartered city of 74.4. With an estimated area of 1,195.52 square kilometers, Gurgura has an estimated population density of 97.2 people per square kilometer, which is less than the average for the entire chartered city of 328.

GLF (Gurgura Liberation Front)

GLF (Gurgura Liberation Front) led by Abdelasis Ahmed; HDP (Horiyal Democratic Party), from the WSLF (Western Somali Liberation Front), led by Abdi Ismail and representing the Gadabursi; the IGLF (Issa and Gurgura Liberation Front), headed by Riyaale Ahmed, which, since a split in 1991, only defends Issa interests (essentially the control of the Djibouti-Ethiopian railway line). The pro-government ESDL which hope to become part of the EPRDF is headed by current Transport minister Abdulmejid Hussein ( Dir Issaq Habar Awal). It has 76 of the 139 seats in the Regional Council and 15 of the Somali Region's 23 seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives, as well as the two seats for the autonomous city of Dire Dawa. Though it has little support among the Ogaden, the ESDL is backed by the northern Dir clans (Issa, Gadabursi, Gurgure).

Issa and Gurgura Liberation Front

Issa and Gurgura Liberation Front (IGLF) was a political faction in eastern Ethiopia, led by Riyaale Ahmed. IGLF, which is based amongst the Issa clan in northern Hararghe, evolved out of the Iil Tire division of the Western Somali Liberation Front. During its initial period of existence, it engaged in clashes with the Somali National Movement around the Ethiopia-Somalia border.

Pictures of the Gurguras

http://www.hurso.com/Photos/Index.html

The Akisho Madaxweyn Dir

The Akisho name is originally derived from "Cayisho" which means in old Somali the (Cayilsan) "Fat One", and in Oromo Akisho.

Also the other nickname of the Akisho, Guure, is derived from one who doesn't "hear" because they did not speak the Oromo language when they settled among the Oromo of Bale and Arsi around 1600. Similarly, the Gurgure who are very closely related to the Akisho, use a nickname and were referred to the Oromo and Somalis as the traders or Gurgure from the old Somali and Oromo word "gorgortan" which means one who sales and trades.

According to the folklore historians of the Southern Suure Dir of the Mudug region, the Akisho and the Gurgure madahweyne Dir produced some of the most famous Somali folk heroes like the Somali queen Araweelo who was Warre Miyo.

Also the(Madaxweyne Dir) Akisho and Gurgure clans were instrumental in spreading the Muslim faith in the hinterlands of Ethiopia. The Sheikh Abba Hussein in Southern Ethiopia is said to be of Dir, as well as Awbarkadleh and Awbuube who are two major saints of the Somalis.

The Warre prefix in front of many Akisho clans names means "the Clan of" or reer (WaaReer) in proper Somali. For example, the Warre Miyo are referred to Reer Miiyo in Somalia, but Warre Miyo in Ethiopian Somali and Oromo regions. Other clans related to the Aksiho are the Gariire, Warre Dayo,Gurgure, Layiile, and Aw Said's of Lower Jubba.


Mudug region of central Somalia

Suure (Abdalle & Qubeys)

According to the Dir clan histories of the Surre, Dir had four sons named Madahweyn, Mandaluug, Madoobe, and Mahe Dir; according to others Dir had a fifth son named Qaldho Dir.
Southern Dir groups claim direct descent from Hiil, Samaale, Aji, Irir, who was the direct father of Dir. One of the brothers of the Dir included the Digaale and the Hawiye.

In the Mudug region of central Somalia and all the way to Hiiraan region is another cluster of Dir clans known as the Suure. The Suure have been associated with spreading the Islamic faith in Somalia and the Qadiriya Sufi tariiqa in southren Somalia. The Suure are among the most influential Dir groups in Southern Somalia, and their territories include large areas of the Mudug and Galgaduud regions. Also the Suure have founded major trade cities in the Hiiran area including Alaabay and Kamhanley. The Suure are well represented not only in Ethiopia and Shabeele/Jubba region but they have sub-clans as far north as Bari region

The majority of western scholars (both Italian and British) simply refered to the Surre as the "Dir of central Somalia" without differentiating them, but recent studies in Somalia reveal that the majority of the Dir in Hiiran, Gedo, Jubba and Bakool are divided into two branches, the Qubeyes and Abdalles, both descendents of Suure.

Biimaal Dir

Other branches of the Dir include the ancient Biyamaal Clan who occuppy an area from 50 km south of Mogadishu all the way down to Jilib and Kismaayo, not far from border with Kenya. The Biyomaal of Marka fought against the Italian colonial rulers of Southern Somalia in a twenty-year war known as the Biyamaal Revolt, in which the Dir assassinated several Italian governors.

Political groups associated with the Dir clans include the following groups in Somalia and Ethiopia:

Issas and Gurgure Liberation Front (IGF) of Ethiopia.
Somali Democratic Alliance (SDA) of the Gadabursi Dir clan.
Somali National Movement (SNM) of the Northern Isaaq.
Southern Somali National Movement ((SSNM) of the mostly Mohamed Xiniftire Dir Clans (Bimaal, Mandaluug, and Gadsan) of Jubba, Gedo, Bardheere, and Shabeellaha Hoose region.
Democratic Liberation Front (DLF) supported Central Somalia Dir groups.

Dir subclans

Madaxweyn Dir (1)

Gurgure
Guure
Akisho
Wardaai
Layiile
Gariire
Jiido

Reer Aw Said and their uncle Abkeey Haji

1)Farah Said
2)Abiikar Said
3)Sacdi Said.
4)Nuur Said.
5)Ali Said.
7)Cismaan Saciid.
8)Huseen Said.
9)Hassan Said.
10)Cumar Saciid.

Maha Dir (Maxamed Xiniftire) (2)

Isaaq (Garhajis, Awal, Arap, and H.Jeclo)

Biyamaal (Sa'd, Suleyman, and Ismin)
Gadsan
Dabruube
Barsuug
Bajimaal
Magaadle
Madiigan

Suure (Qubeys and Abdalle)

4 Abdalle iyo Adeerkood Habar Deel (Gutaale)

Abdi (Cabdalle)(1)
Fiqi Mxumed
Hogar
Laxmar

Nacadoor(Cabdalle)(2)
Guuled
Xaraan
Ciise
Qotonsay
Cirday,
Giir
Kaahin,

Goorad Cabdalle(3)

Sulayman Cabdalle(4)
Agoon
Guuled, Warsame, Cigaal, and Jalaf
Dabac
Fiqi Khayre
Cumar
Haarun
Siyaad
Bayr
Cabas
Food Cade
Habar Deel (5)

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Qubeys (Lafagaab)
Tolweyne

Reytoonle
Fiqi Cumar
Fiqi Walaal
Fiqi Yaxye

Axadow
Cismaan Diidshe
Cabdalle Diidshe

Wayaagle

Yabarow,Xasan,Cumar, Xeefoow
Faarax
Maxamuud
Dhaayoow

Midkasse

Mandaluug
(Many Dir believe the Mandaluug are actually Mahe Dir)
Gadabuursi

Madoobe Dir
Issas of Djibouti and Ethiopia

Qaldho Dir
Nooleh
Jarso
Hawle
Babili