Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

Marehan

The Marehan is a Somali clan, which is part of one of the largest Somali clan families, the Darod.

Last revised
Jun 19, 2026
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≈ 7 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Marehan
مريحان
Darod Somali Clan
EthnicitySomaliaSomali
LocationSomaliaSomalia
EthiopiaEthiopia
YemenYemen
Descended fromAbdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti
Parent tribeSade
LanguageSomaliaSomali
Arab LeagueArabic
ReligionSunni Islam

The Marehan (Somali: Mareexaan, Arabic: مريحان) is a Somali clan, which is part of one of the largest Somali clan families, the Darod.123

Overview

Between the 17th and 18th centuries, the Marehan were reported to have lived in an area that extended from the Bandar Siyada on the Gulf of Aden to beyond Ras el-Khail on the Indian Ocean, or much of northern Somalia.4 The clan are recorded as having played a significant role in Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi's campaigns against Ethiopia during the 16th century. The commander of the Somali forces and the closest deputy of the Imam was a Marehan commander, Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros. Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi was also a member of the clan, and his descendants can be found in Gedo Somalia and are part of the Reer Garaad sub clans. His descendants in Amhara and Gurage also claim descent from the tribe.567 Together they helped push westward the enemies into the plains of Harar and farther, helping destabilize the highland Christian empire. Evident in these battles were the Somali archers, namely the Marehan and the Gerri archers, through whom al-Ghazi was able to defeat the numerically superior Ethiopian Army that consisted of 16,000 cavalry and more than 200,000 infantry. After the fall of the Sultanate, the tribe would go on to rule the Imamate of Aussa8

Another major ruler was Emir Nur ibn Mujahid who was the second conqueror of Ethiopia, he was the commander of the elite Melesay unit, and he would capture the southeastern provinces of Ethiopia. He successfully defeated the forces of Gelawdewos and killed him in the battle of Fatagar. He also built the walls of Harar spanning a whooping 3.9 km, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the longest fortified walls in east Africa. His son aided Talha ibn Abbas, the son of Wazir Abbas in his war against the grand sons of Uthman the Abyssinian and his sub clan would go on to rule the Emirate of Harar.910

Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros

Marehan had multiple powerful important leaders within the Adal such as Garad Hirabu, who was given the title Emir of the Somalis. During the Adal war there were 3 generals who were Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros and Sultan Muhammad.11

Garad Hirabu would save the Imam from Sultan Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad, the arch rival of the Abadir dynasty who had killed the cousin of Garad Hirabu and Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, Abun Adashe. Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad in revenge for the take over of the Adal Sultanate by the Abadir dynasty would attempt to stage a coup and kill the Imam, however he was halted by the Emir Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros.12

He was the son of Goyta Ali (Tedros, a title given by the local Harla) which is the highest role in the sultanate, his father controlled all trading routes in the kingdom and held the keys to the gates of Harar during nocturnal periods, the title Goyta was third only to Emir and Sultan and was the title of the highest general. Garad Hirabu Goita Tedros successfully captured the provinces of Bale and Tigray.13

Groups

The Juba Valley Alliance is a political faction of the Somali Civil War.14

The Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party was the ruling party of the Somali Democratic Republic from 1976 to 1991.15161718

The Somali National Front (SNF) was also a revolutionary movement and armed militia in Somalia after the Somali Democratic Republic collapsed.19

Notable people

deputy speaker of Somali's Upper House. 2017 - 2022

Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, 9th President of Somalia. source ↗
Mohamed Siad Barre, Former President of Somalia. source ↗
References

References

  1. "Somalia: Minorities and indigenous peoples". Minority Rights Group International. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  2. Lewis, Ioan M (1999). A Pastoral Democracy: A Study of Pastoralism and Politics Among the Northern Somali of the Horn of Africa. James Currey Publishers. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-01-472670-4. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  3. Lewis, Ioan M (July 1959). "Clanship and Contract in Northern Somaliland". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute. 29 (3): 274–293. doi:10.2307/1157617. JSTOR 1157617. S2CID 143243256. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  4. Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics, Part 12 by James Hastings, ISBN 0-7661-3687-6, pp. 490
  5. Pankhurst, Richard (1961-01-01). An introduction to the economic history of Ethiopia, from early times to 1800. Lalibela House. p. 175.
  6. ʻArabfaqīh, Shihāb al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Qādir (2003-01-01). The conquest of Abyssinia: 16th century. Probably the Habar Makadur, as a footnote [I.M. Lewis]. Tsehai Publishers & Distributors. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-9723172-6-9.
  7. Lewis, I.M. (1998). Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somali, Afar and Saho. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-1-56902-104-0. There are two main fractions, the Habr Afan and Habr Makadur, formerly united under a common hereditary chief (ogaz).
  8. Richard Pankhurst, An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia, from Early Times to 1800
  9. Lewis, I.M. (1998). Peoples of the Horn of Africa: Somali, Afar and Saho. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-1-56902-104-0. There are two main fractions, the Habr Afan and Habr Makadur, formerly united under a common hereditary chief (ogaz).
  10. Richard Pankhurst, An Introduction to the Economic History of Ethiopia, from Early Times to 1800
  11. S. ARTHUR STRONG, "Futuh Ul Habashah, or, THE CONQUEST OF ABYSSINIA"
  12. S. ARTHUR STRONG, "Futuh Ul Habashah, or, THE CONQUEST OF ABYSSINIA"
  13. S. ARTHUR STRONG, "Futuh Ul Habashah, or, THE CONQUEST OF ABYSSINIA"
  14. "Interview with Barre Adan Shire, chairman of the Juba Valley Alliance (JVA)". The New Humanitarian (in French). 2002-10-22. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  15. Sheik-Abdi, Abdi (1981). "Ideology and Leadership in Somalia". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 19 (1): 163–172. doi:10.1017/S0022278X00054161. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 160610. S2CID 154797130.
  16. ""Nationalism Turned Inside Out"". MERIP. 1982-06-15. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  17. "Mohamed Siad Barre (1910-1995) •". 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  18. "Mohamed Siad Barre | president of Somalia | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
  19. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Somalia: Information on the Somali National Front (SNF) since 1994". Refworld. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  20. "Home". Nabad & Nolol. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  21. "A Surprise Visit by Ambassador Extraordinaire Fatima Bihi". WardheerNews. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  22. "Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag)". Retrieved 2023-01-11.
Sources

Sources