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I have written and tried to explain a lot about the features of central Somalia, trying to contextualize and even highlight some of the main equities involved contributing to the recurrence of conflict and instability that then goes and affects Somalia nationally really.

Although I have generally adhered to objectivity with regards to dealing with explaination of features; admittedly my perspective carries bias as I have made it very clear that I am Marehan and my interaction with the subject is entirely from Marehan point of view and perspective. I am not an impartial, 3rd person who has been following scientific method you can imagine, but a person who has been actively clarifying the Marehan point of view in a subject where Marehan are 1 of the main factors.

Beyond that, like I said, explanation of the features regarding what is being "contested" I have employed consistent objectivity and even explicitly sourcing and referencing. So my bias freely disclosed within the constraints of the subject matter has not necessarily biased the description and analysis of the subject matter itself.

In this topic, I will be linking all the conversations or topics I have taken part regarding this subject so as to "consolidate" all the information I have contributed on this subject in one concise reference topic.

I will also post here any future sharing of information regarding this subject.

Central Somalia Population by Clan

1. Clan boundary today:

(The boundary between Hawiye and Darod, in particular between Darod/Marehan and Hawiye/Habar Gidir is very important to keep note. That "boundary" is more than a clan boundary and lies at the heart of this conflict.).




2. That clan boundary as drawn by Italian traveler Robecchi Brichetti in 1880's.



3. That clan boundary as drawn by the Italian military during World War I.



4. That clan boundary as drown by the British military during the end of World War II.



5. This is a bigger projection of the British War Office map from the end of World War II.



From 1880 to today, there is a general, continuing "natural" clan boundary between Darod/Marehan and Hawiye/Habar Gidir. In none of these scientific, on the ground mapping shown in the last 4 maps was Marehan passing beyond a point west of Dhusmareb whereas Habar Gidir were at Dhusamareb and everything east of it and at times points immediately west of it but always east of present Cabudwaaq.

The importance of this continuing historical general boundary line between Darod and Hawiye in central Somalia cannot be underestimated. This boundary "line" represents so much more than clans and lies at the heart of all types of equities which feed conflict.

What I am more interested in is how marexaan ended up in gedo
For example they all lived in mudug and Galmudug how did they skip and Moved beyond rahanweyn and settled south of the rahanweyn what routes did they take did they via Ethiopia I think they are the only clan their land is not connected Well maybe if u include the cayr from guriceel and the one in Lowe shebelle but even then that is not the same because cayr only started living in lower shebbel after 1991 and merexaan live nore exclsusevly in Gedo as it’s their main region

Khalid walaal, I am happy to have a general conversation about history--let's settle for another topic where we can ask each other general history questions. This topic is consolidation of information regarding Central Somalia.

Central Somalia population Density and Settlement pattern

Because population estimates in Somalia are controversial, I am presenting density with settlement pattern to show an outline supported by most authorities on Somali population estimates.


Since this is about an historical overview, I am also going to use two different eras, with population density from the most cited of recent estimates (UNDP 2000) and for settlements from a 1960 malaria field study.

For settlements, it is important to show they have not been biased by modern development schemes but actually show the same settlements existing today organically formed due to human reasons.

1. Population Density

The line for population density is a perimeter/boundary line between dífferent clusters (low density is separated from high density}




2. Population Settlement

The line for population settlements is the slope in XY graph (towns/village dots are the intercepts)



3. Population Market Access



4. Urban and Rural startification



Once again, the "boundary" that presented itself in clan stratification in central Somalia continues to resurface in central Somalia population settlement, density, access to markets, and even urban vs rural differences.

That boundary line is even where the bulk of the Hawiye, who occupy all the territory east of it to the coast, seemingly have based almost the overwhelming majority of their own "settlements" right near the Darod/Marehan.

Always keep note of this " clan boundary" line as it represents much more than clan stratification.

Central Somalia Livelihood Zones, Vegetation Index, and Access to Water Resources

1. Livelihood Zones generally in Somalia



2. Relevance of Addun vs Hawd



3. Livelihood zones in particular in Central Somalia



4. Central Somalia vegetation index or health of grazing



5. Central Somalia historical access to strategic water resources.

Again, because this is an historical overview, it is important to see what "caused" the features contributing to conflict today. This is a 1960 rough, but scientific, on the ground mapping of strategic water wells ("pozzi") in central Somalia in a malaria treatment project.



By now, I am sure the "clan boundary line" is very hard to ignore having continuously presented itself as "more" than a clan boundary line. Again, keep note of this boundary line as being an invisible boundary of immense magnitude regarding the equities in central Somalia.

Central Somalia geological, geomorphological, and precipitation Features

1-4: Central Somalia geology, types of acquifers, elevation, and climate

West of the "clan boundary line" is primarily basalt limestone, shallow acquifers containing water more near the surface, is higher in elevation forming the end of the Ogaden plateau or tabeland, and relatively wetter considered part of "Steppe climate." Drinking water is also less saline or salty.

East of the "clan boundary line" to the coast is primarily gypsum beds, acquifers containing water need to be dug deeper, is declining in elevation to become coastal plains near the Indian Ocean, and is relatively dryer considered part of the "Desert climate." Drinking water becomes more saline the more east one heads towards the coast.



5. Central Somalia average precipitation and rainfall



The "clan boundary line" is at this point a real and natural, if invisible, "boundary" in central Somalia separating two completely different landscapes uneven in elevation, geological formation,and even types of sedimentary and geomorphological basins. Keep note of this "boundary."

Central Somalia Important Economic Routes

1. The historical grazing "route"

Central Somalia historical grazing route has historically revolved around heading to the West where even today the NDVI or "greenness" of vegetation is the highest. This is especially the case during the Gu' or rainy season. The "clan boundary line" once again represents the boundary where the difference in NDVI of Central Somalia most presents itself.



2. The historical trade line

The historical trade "route," not surprisingly at this point, is once again representative of the "clan boundary line" as the natural line where inter-clan commerce has taken place representing the equities of economic penetration and access between the communities of Central Somalia. This trade "line" directly birthed the location of the modern north/south highway in Central Somalia with both, seemingly, produced by the historical and continuing "clan boundary line."



There is an identifiable, observable nexus in the natural, environmental, and even man-made features presenting themselves in Central Somalia as "equities sought or to be defended" directly implicating, either or both through causation or contribution, the continuing and unyielding conflict between Darod and Hawiye, and in particular, between Darod/Marehan and Hawiye/Habar Gidir in Central Somalia.

What I am more interested in is how marexaan ended up in gedo
For example they all lived in mudug and Galmudug how did they skip and Moved beyond rahanweyn and settled south of the rahanweyn what routes did they take did they via Ethiopia I think they are the only clan their land is not connected Well maybe if u include the cayr from guriceel and the one in Lowe shebelle but even then that is not the same because cayr only started living in lower shebbel after 1991 and merexaan live nore exclsusevly in Gedo as it’s their main region

I’ve always wondered that also. They live in Gedo, Galgaduud and some Jubba areas. I’m Kenya they live in mandera and wajir. In Ethiopia, they live in burgoosole, dikdiko and some other areas. It’s ethier there big or they fought with so many Somalis. Clans/Gaalo. It makes no sense.

What I am more interested in is how marexaan ended up in gedo
For example they all lived in mudug and Galmudug how did they skip and Moved beyond rahanweyn and settled south of the rahanweyn what routes did they take did they via Ethiopia I think they are the only clan their land is not connected Well maybe if u include the cayr from guriceel and the one in Lowe shebelle but even then that is not the same because cayr only started living in lower shebbel after 1991 and merexaan live nore exclsusevly in Gedo as it’s their main region

Ur not Italian. Learn Af Talyani:

Central Somalia functioning water, sanitation, and boreholes, air transportation resources, and historical administrative organizations

1. Central Somalia organization during Italian Somalia

Modern Abudwak District is more or less almost completely the "Commiserato de Dusa Mareb nell'Somalia Italiana." This misunderstanding is probably one of the biggest myths permeating modern Somalia political discourse. If "Commiserato de Dusa Mareb sent all Marehan to legislativa Somalia Italiana" so too does it's direct descendent "Abudwak District sends all Marehan to Somalia legislature."



2. Central Somalia air transportation

Again the "clan boundary line" is more than just clan differentiation, it holds real stratification of equities. With the construction of Balanbale airport, Abudwak district in particular will have 1/2 of the access to meaningful modern air travel in Central Somalia.



3.5 Central Somalia water, sanitation, and boreholes

Water and sanitation resources are again almost completely representative of the "clan boundary line" and, in particular the vicinity of Abudwak city, contains the vast number of functioning boreholes in central Somalia. Boreholes are different to dug wells. Dug wells are shallow and sometimes temporary, particularly if hand dug, Boreholes are strategic water resources that can only function with deep acquifers with vast quantity of water reserves.



There is a story in central Somalia and that story begins with the "clan boundary line" which only introduces what is a profound and extraordinary contest of finite resources and equities almost completely privileged to the Western 1/4 of the extant land known as "central Somalia."

The historical, continuing, and unyielding conflict between Darod/Marehan and Hawiye/Habar Gidir in Central Somalia must be first understood from understanding the nexus or causation of this conflict through identification of the resources and equities being contested or defended at the heart of this long-running, and even historical, conflict.

How did Habargidir even survive with these odds back in the day? It seems even the little stuff they have that's not a total desert are former mx lands. Like cadaado, gelinsoor and the few kms west of dhusamareeb.

How did Habargidir even survive with these odds back in the day? It seems even the little stuff they have that's not a total desert are former mx lands. Like cadaado, gelinsoor and the few kms west of dhusamareeb.

They were at the coast. Read Robecchi when he travels from Hobyo to present Caabudwaaq to Khelaafo. All the area between Gelinsoor to Cadaado to Sinadhago (Dhusamareb) was the eastern limit of Marehan and the eastern Marehan were abandoning it that same time for the Galti Migration to the Jubba because the wells were drying. He goes through multiple recently "abandoned" (as he writes) settlements ("ood") by Marehan/Rer Ahmed, Ali Hussein, Rer Ugaas Shermaarke, and Rer Cigaal Siyaad. All 4 of these guys are almost completely 100% "Rer Gedo" today. That was the first time Habar Gidir moved from Harardheere and the coast to travel all the way across the desolate landscape in between to settle in the recently abandoned eastern boundary of "Carro Mareexaan" or "Marehan country" which was already the eastern limit of the good grazing from the West and by that time, even a 120 years ago was coming under the negative influence of climate change

Something interesting posted by recent Hirshabelle official Mohamed Abdi Waare. He posted a forecast of rain in which the gentleman says follows the liberation of the Shabelle area.



While we certainly wish and pray for rain all over the Somali territories, the forecast he posted seems to reflect the information in this topic.

Where the rain is forecasted seems to be disproportionately the Abudwak area extending west to their grazing grounds in "Buuro Mareexaan."





Generally, where average precipitation in central Somalia is on average heavier

From the topic: Burgeesoole (Burgesole); Raqo (El Rago); Golwayn (El Goluen); Ceel Baxay (Gurearagu), Ceel Dibir (Doldol)

Mashallah very beautiful land, truly a forest within a desert.

And there it goes! That word "forest."

Do you know the first time I became curious about the Marehan land of the central plateaus is when I came across that word "forest" used by Robecch Brichetti to describe the land of Marehan when he passed through them in in his travel from the coast at Hobyo to the Shabelle River at Barri (Khelafo) )in 1880's.



According to Robecchi, "Marehan" was anything WEST or NORTHWEST of "Sinadogo" (today literal Dhusamareb town). Essentially the same eastern boundary of Marehan in central Somalia today. And he traveled from Mogadishu to Hobyo and from the coast heading west to Marehan and through Marehan.




Yet, as soon as he got to Marehan, he started using the word "forest." In fact, he titled the chapter introducing Marehan as the "Marehan Forest!"



Quite literally, as soon as he crossed the "boundary" between Habar Gidir and Marehan, what we would imagine was an invisible boundary is described by Robecchi as a metaphysical boundary because all of a sudden the description of the land is different as if an actual boundary holding two different environments was crossed.



There is an entire history that I realized that was being testified to by the very land Marehan had advantageously taken over north of the Shabelle River and this forming thought was fortified intensely when I started to understand the water resources of Somali nomads above the Shabelle River.

I will get back to you on the question of the settlement boundaries because it needs a clear response.

What Robecchi was describing was what I saw for myself in 2022; heading west, through a desolate landscape and all of a sudden I behold magnificent Burgeesoole, the first of the 5 prime Marehan herding locations in the central plateau.



He saw a forest, incredibly and surprisingly, because I saw a forest, incredibly and surprisingly.

Enough brother. Historical illiteracy is not a sin. Collectively, we have destroyed the post ‘91 fiction of equity: