SUMMARY

The Abgal clan is part of the Hawiye clan family which comprises a number of sub-clans and sub-sub-clans. Hawiye is the largest group in Somalia, and the Abgal clan, which also has a number of sub-clans, is one of the two largest of these, the other being Habar Gidir.

In Mogadishu, which is located inside Abgal country, Abgal clansmen have for long been a dominant force in society. During the colonial days the Abgal clan was closely allied to the Italian colonial power. Under the presidency of Siyad Barre (1969-1991), who was of the Darod clan, the Abgal was considered one of the major oppositional.

The Abgal clan made up the backbone of USC/SSA (United Somali Congress/Somali Salvation Army), the part of USC that originally was mostly based in Mogadishu. One prominent member of the Abgal clan was Ali Mahdi, who was the leader of the Mogadishu section of USC. After the fall of Siyad Barre Ali Mahdi declared himself President of Somalia in 1991.

The Abgal clan (Hawiye) has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.