SUMMARY

The Qubeys is a sub-clan of the Dir clan. The group mainly lives in the central Somalian region Mudug. Qubeys, as well as the Abdallahs, are part of the so called Surre Dir in the central regions of Somalia. As parts of the Qubeys population are pastoralist they are dependent on the weather conditions of the region and in need to find water and grazing.

The Dir clan is a Somali clan that has several sub-clans and tiers; also below the sub-clan level. Major sub-clans of the Dir include the Gadabursi, Issa, Madahwayn and Mehe, which all have sub-clans on lower tiers. Members of the Dir clan reside mainly in the northwest, southeast and central parts of Somalia. Large numbers also reside in Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The Dir clan makes up only a small portion of Somalia’s population, approximately 7%. Like the Darod, Hawiye and Issaq clans the clan is commonly referred to as being ‘Samaale’; or of the ‘noble clans’ that have Somali origin. Those of the Dir that are not urbanised are usually pastoralist, something which has brought the group into conflict with many other pastoralist groups. This clan, like many others in Somalia, has constructed its own militia and engaged in non-state conflicts with rivaling non-state actors in the chaotic environment that followed on Siad Barre’s fall from power in 1991. The prevailing context of political rivalries in Somalia is mainly based on identification along clan lines.

In terms of political alliances, specific Dir sub-clans are known to have had –or still have- links to the SDA (Somali Democratic Alliance), the SSNM (Southern Somali National Movement) and the DLF (Democratic Liberation Front). These political groupings (based on clan lineages) have been involved in various stages of Somalia’s long-running history of state-based and non-state conflicts, with shifting alliances.

The Qubeys subclan (Dir) has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.