SUMMARY

Geri is one of several sub-clans of the wider Darod clan; the clan is thus part of the Somali ethnic group. In Ethiopia, the Geri primarily reside in Harer and Jijiga not far from the border with northwestern Somalia, and in the central parts of the Somali Region. In Somalia, the clan can be found in the Lower Juba region. Historically, the Geri was part of the local aristocracy in its areas of habitation. As a result of resource scarcity and environmental stress, the Geri has been involved in conflicts over land and water with neighboring groups, such as the Makahin.

The complexity of the Somali clan system limits the amount of information available on the different sub-clans. Furthermore, the different sub-clans often disagree about their origins, and genealogy is often passed to the next generation orally without written records.