Dir (Clan)

You are a clan of the Somali. They make up about 7 % of the population of Somalia.

Most of you live in the northwestern area of ​​the Somali -inhabited region, ie in the region of Awdal in northwestern Somalia ( Somaliland ), in Djibouti and in the adjacent part of the Ethiopian Somali region ( Ogaden ). Here they are represented by the sub- clans of Issa ( Ciise ) Gadabursi, Gadsan and Suure ( Akisho, Gurgure ). The Issa represent the majority of the population in Djibouti and dominate politics there. The former president of Somaliland, Dahir Riyale Kahin, belongs to the Gadabursi -Dir.

The Biomal ( Biyomaal, Biimaal ) as a further sub- communities live separately from the rest of Dir clans in the port town of Merka in southern Somalia and play there traditionally an important political role.