Qaan Mareexaan waa qaaxo kugu maqan as a reputation has become a double edged sword. It's good for warning enemies but bad for making peace.
I say that because in diplomacy, it's easier to reach a compromise with an enemy who doesn't fear you. If they fear you, they will be insecure about any hard decision that has to be made becaue of the possibility it makes them look weak.
Similarly nimankaan ilma adeeradeen ah, I have observed generally that Ogaden in Jubbaland come from a position of fear with regards to Marehan. As a side not, it has made me personally critique the actions of Marehan that led to this and accept "godob" baa laga galay Ogaadeen.
As for the reputation I talked about above, it has expanded beyond Somali knowledge.
1. This was the British over a 100 years ago before the border between Ethiopia and British East Africa Protectorate (which Jubaland was part of) was even set.
The British said the Garre and Marehan were the most exposed to Ethiopia/Abbysinian interaction of the inhabitants of the British Protection as the two major clans on the fault zone.
The British felt they had to "protect" the Garre from the Ethiopian state because of what they describe as their relative weakness, but the British also felt they had to "protect" the Abbysinians from the Marehan because of what they describe as their strength and independence of spirit. The protectorate, in the context of Ethiopian interaction, basically felt responsible for defending the Garre and keeping Marehan "in check."
2. Another way qaan Mareexaan waa qaaxo kugu maqan has expanded beyond Somalis is notice how the Kenyans speak of Marehan in Mandera District where Marehan are a small minority. This is not even about Jubbaland where Marehan are a majority.
In this description of Mandera District, the Kenyans labal Marehan the 5th clan. While acknowledging that the British actively banished all Marehan from Mandera District after Jubbaland was given to Italy (with a major reason for even giving Jubbaland being to get rid of Marehan), notice how well the Kenyans have come to understand qaan Mareexaan waa qaaxo kugu maqan.
"Fearless", "death or glory", "militant"