The Marehan ( is a Somali clan, one of the major Darod subclans. The most widely-known member of this clan is the late former president Siad Barre.
The majority of the Marehan live in Jubbaland Gedo and Lower Jubba Regions in southwest Somalia, the Galguduud and Mudug Regions in central Somalia, the Ogaden, and northeast Kenya.
The Marehan are popularly considered as the most fiercest nationalists among the Somali people. Straddling between the Ethio-Somali border and the Kenyan-Somali border, they have always played key roles in both the rising up of Somali nationalistic fervor and the charge into action towards the attainment of a one greater Somalia and fulfilling the legacy of one of their prodigies; the great Imam Ahmed "Graghn" Gurey. The Marehan are recorded in history ranging from Shihab Ad-din's ancient chronicles to Richard Burton's modern analysis of the East African sub-region as a force to be reckoned with and the epitome of the Somali and his characteristics. They are a people who were much feared and respected by the colonialists and among the few Somali whose clan homeland was not allowed to Europeans even while it was claimed on maps. It is why the Marehan today do not recognize the universal Somali independence day of July 1, 1960 as they say they were never colonized. The British sent several punitive expeditions into the Marehan country during WW II but they were rebuffed and watched from the sidelines as the Marehan signed a treaty of peace and cooperation with the Italians giving the Marehan a respite against imperialism and the Italians a respite from Marehan fury. The Marehan continued to practice their heavy influence among the Somali people with the ascension of President Mohamed Siad Barre into power. The country became the scientific laboratory of the Marehan and its subsequent modernization and development was put into place. Cities sprung up, the Somali language was given an official script, the most successful literacy campaign as recorded by the U.N was put to place, equality was promoted, and the over all livelihood of the Somali rose tremendously under the tuteluge of the Marehan. The Marehan not surprisingly once again led the Somalis into the Ogaden War with the fulfillment of the great legacy of their son, Ahmed Gurey, in mind. They succeeded on the whole only to withdraw after the Communist world led by the Soviet Union and Cuba came to the immediate aid of the Ethiopians. The Marehan are currently considered one of the fiercest proponents of a re-emergence of a strong and viable Somali state with their disdain of the civil war and the applause they are receiving as they are increasingly realized as a vehicle of force towards the re-emergence of their homeland from civil war and anarchy.
Political Organizations:
Marehan Union, MU (1956-1969)
Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party, SRSP (1969-1976)
Supreme Revolutionary Council, SRC (1976-1991)
Somali National Front, SNF (1991-2001)
Jubba Valley Alliance, JVA (2001-2006)
Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a, ASWJ
Prominent figures:
Nur ibn Mujahid, second Conqueror of Ethiopia and the Patron Saint of Harar
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Siad Barre, 21 year President of Somalia 1969-1991.
Sultan Mohamoud Qhalib Dhore, Marehan cheiftain
Sheikh Mohamed Mohamoud, Father of the Somali constitution
Aden Shire Jama "Law", Organized first Somali elections
Ali Shire Warsame, MP (SYL) of DhusaMareb in the 1960s and a businessman.
Abdikarim Gelle Bayr, Computer Scientist and famed collector of Somali Literature.
Ahmed Sugulle Hersi, consul of Somalia in Italy 1989-2005
Dr. Mohamed Mohamud Jango'an, Somali interior minister
Dr. Abdulrahman Jama Barre, Somali interior and foreign ministers
Dr. Abdiqadir H. Mohammed, Chairman of the Somali Social Committee
Fatimo Isaak Bihi, First Somali female ambassador, Ambassador to Geneva, Director of the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Muraayed Garaad, President of the Somali Women Organization
Ahmed Farah Ali 'Idaja', The first Somali language writers and "father" of the Somali written folklore
Shire Jama Ahmed, inventor of the Somali script
Dr. Warsame Indholey, Director of the Somali Developmental Crash Program, oversaw the successful Somali literacy campaign
Mohammoud Jama, Governor of the Somali Banks
Gen Osman Aingail, head of the Criminal Investigation Department
Lt. Colonel Mohammed Samatar -- Head of Military Intelligence
Gen. Ali Mataan Hashi, First Somali pilot, Commander of Somali Air Force 1959-1978, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health
Haji Hussein Mohammed, President of the Somali Airlines
Abdulkadir Toor, Director of the Agency for Theatre and Films
Abdiqadir Hersi Yam-Yam, prominent Somali poet and scholar
Khadija Abdulahi "Dalays", First national Somali female singer
Dr.Mohammed Sheikh Adden, premier Somali intellectual and former head of Somali Technological Development, Minister of Information, Minister of Education, Head of the Ideology Bureau SRRC
Dr. Ali Kanini, first internationally certified Somali doctor
Abdulahi Haji, broadcaster and longest-serving chief editor with the Somali BBC.
Yusuf Ali Nuur, Chairman of the Somali Defence and Security Committee
Col. Barre Adan Shire Hiiraale, Defence Minister, 2004-
Mohamoud Sayid Addan, Minister for National Assets and Procurement, 2004-
Gen. Omar Hashi Massaleh, former Somali Minister of Defense, former Chairman of SNF
Col. Mohammed Nur Sharee, Chief Adviser to President Siad Barre
Gen. Ali Hure Loyan, Commander of Somali Police Forces, 2004-
Gen. Abdirahman Hussein, commander of the Militia Forces
Col. Abdirizak Isaak Biixi, head of Parliamentary Committee on Security, former Chairman of SNF
Col. Hashi Mohamed Guled (Shiino), architect of national law and military enforcement
Eng. Hussein Faray, governor of Gedo Region.
Yusuf Ibrahim, Mayor of Mogadishu
Dr. Haji Macaliin, scientist
Dr. Guleed Farah Warsame, scientist
Ibrahim Farah, Somali scholar and diplomat
Maj. Gen. Maslax Mohamed Siad Son of the former President of Somalia and a Defense Minister.
Sheikh Mohamed Mohamoud, Father of the Somali constitution
Abdirahman filow, Former JVA member, Al-Shabaab leader in Lower and Middle Jubba regions
Col. Abaas Ibraahim Gurey, TFG leader in Middle and Lower Jubba regions
Sheekh Ibraahim Sheekh Xasan (Guureeye), Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama Leader (Central Somalia)
Sheikh Maxamed Maxamuud Yusuf (Awlibaax), Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama Leader (Somalia Somalia)
Sheikh Mohamed Hussein, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama Leader- Spokesperson
Col Canood, Army chief in Mogadishu
General Abdikhadir Sheekh Ali Diini, Somalia's Commander of the Armed Forces
Abdulwahab Elmi Omar Goonjeex, Prime Minister of Somalia
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Prime Minister of Somalia 2010-2011
Cabdirizaaq khalif Elmi, Commandant(abaanduule) of the army
Dr Warsame Ali is a Somali scientist specialized in Aerospace Technology and has worked for well known Space technology centers such as NASA.
Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid, Current Prime Minister of Somalia