Arap

The Arap or Arab (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Full Name: Muḥammad ibn ash-Shaykh Isḥāq ibn Aḥmad bin al-Ḥusayn al-Hāshimīy) clan is a major Northern Somali clan of the wider Isaaq clan family.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Arap predominantly live on the middle and southwest side of Hargeisa. They also inhabit the Baligubadle district, with its capital Baligubadle being are an exclusively Arap territory.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The territory of the clan extends to Ethiopia, in the area of Faafan, Gursum and Dhagahle.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Abdalle Arab, a sub-clan of the Arap clan is based in the Togdheer, Sahil. The Celi Arab, a sub-clan of the Arap clan is based in Hargeisa. Another sub clan, the Muuse celi arab inhabit the Bakool region in the South West State of Somalia, specifically the districts of Rabdhure and Elbarde.

History

File:Map of showing distribution Arap.jpg

Map of Somaliland showing the distribution of the Arap tribe

Lineage

Sheikh Ishaaq ibn Ahmed was one of the Arabian travellers who crossed the sea from Arabia to the Horn of Africa to spread Islam around the 12th to 13th century. Hence,the sheikh Ishaaq married two local women in Somaliland that left him eight sons, one of them being Muhammad (Arap). The purported descendants of those eight sons constitute the Isaaq clan-family.<ref>I.M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali, fourth edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2002), pp. 31 & 42</ref>

Role in the SNM

Baligubadle, which straddles the border between Ethiopia and Somaliland, was the headquarters of the Somali National Movement (SNM) during the Somaliland War of Independence from the regime of general Siad Barre.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The Araps were heavily involved in the SNM and led the first military offensive of the SNM near Baligubadle where a small force attacked a fuel tanker supplying the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party regime's base in the town. This operation was organised by local commanders without prior planning utilizing a local force of clansmen based at the organisation's Lanqeyrta base in Hawd.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Hassan Isse Jama was also one of original founders of the SNM in London.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> He was also the first vice president of Somaliland and served as the deputy chairman of the SNM.<ref name=":0" /> Furthermore in 1983, Sultan Mohamed Sultan Farah of the Arap clan was the first sultan to leave Somalia to Ethiopia and openly cooperate with the SNM.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Familial ties

Historically, the Arap took part in the conquest of Abyssinia, and were part of the Adal Sultanate and are mentioned in the book Futuh Al-Habash (Conquest of Abyssinia) as the Habar Magaadle, along with the Ayub, Habar Yoonis, Habar Awal and Eidagalle clans. The Habar Magaadle are known for producing a historical figure known as Ahmad Gurey bin Husain who was the right-hand man of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi his clan arap. The Arap were the first clan agreed to lead the process of demobilization. This put pressure on other clans to follow suit, and, in early 1994, a well-staged ceremony was held in the Hargeysa football stadium to hand over weapons, playing an instrumental role in the Somaliland peace process.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Notable Arap people

• Hassan Isse Jama - One of the founding fathers of the SNM in London. Former Deputy chair of SNM, First vice president of Somaliland.<ref name=":0" />
• Nimcaan Yusuf Osman - Chief of the General Staff of the Somaliland Armed Forces since January 23, 2025.<ref name="pl20250123">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Dayib Gurey - was a senior SNM senior commander who led the invasion.
• Edna Adan Ismail - The first Somali woman to study in Britain, first qualified nurse-midwife, and former foreign minister of Somaliland.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Khalil Abdillahi Ahmed - is a Somali politician currently served as the Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs of Somaliland
• Farah Nur - Legendary Somali poet from late 1800s- early 1900s<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
• Sultan Omar Sultan Mohamed Sultan Farah - Former sultan of the Arap clan
• Sultan Mohamed Sultan Farah - Former Sultan of the Arap clan and commander of the SNM's 10th division
• Abdilahi Husein Iman Darawal - Somaliland politician and former SNM commander.
• Abdullahi Abdi Omar "Jawaan" - Somaliland politician and introducer of the National emblem of Somaliland
• Abdillahi Fadal Iman - former Chief of Somaliland Police Force
• Ahmed Osman (Also known as "Ina Geele-Arap") - Business tycoon in Djibouti and Somaliland and founder of Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI)
• Siad Sadiq, mentioned in the Geoffrey Archer's 1916 important members of Darawiish haroun list
• Xirsi bile, mentioned in the Geoffrey Archer's 1916 important members of Darawiish haroun list
• Cali geele darwiish, mentioned in the Geoffrey Archer's 1916 important members of Darawiish haroun list
• Ahmed Abdi Godane - was emir of Alshabaab
• Essa Kayd is a Somaliland politician who currently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Somaliland)
• Sada Mire is a Swedish-Somali archaeologist, art historian

References

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