SUMMARY

The Da’ud is a sub-clan of Abgal clan which is a part of the the larger Hawiye clan family. The Hawiye is one of Somalia’s largest clan families representing an estimated 25% of the country’s total population. Members of the clan family mainly reside in central and southern parts of Somalia (Mudug and the Benadir regions), but large numbers can also be found in neighboring countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia. The Hawiye played a major role in the ousting of former president Siad Barre, as the main rebel group that eventually succeeded in overthrowing him, USC (United Somali Congress), was primarily based among this clan. The Hawiye clan is relatively powerful in economic terms due to a large community in Mogadishu. The rural based Hawiye are commonly also involved in lucrative trade, but are also pastoralist. Many of the clans and sub-clans of the Hawiye clan family have remained influential in Somalia.

The Da’ud sub-clan is one of the major sub-clans of the Abgal sub-clan of Hawiye clan. The warlord Musa Sudi Yalahow (also spelled Muuse Suudi Yaxoow) has been the leader of the Da’ud sub-clan. He has later been appointed Trade minister in the TFG (Transitional Federal Government), a UN sanctioned unity government of Somalia which was established in 2004. Yalahow has been one of the most reputed warlords in Somalia and was also the leader of USC/SSA-MS (United Somali Congress/Somalia Salvation Alliance-Musa Sudi faction), an armed Abgal faction formed in the late 1990s (for more information see the actor description for USC/SSA-MS). The Da’ud sub-clan, in similarity with many other Abgal sub-clans, has been engaged in the struggle for power over Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia which has for periods been divided between a number of warlords controlling blocks of parts of the city. The Da’ud clan, with its connection to USC, was rather heavily armed, with armament including anti-tank rockets and battle-wagons at their disposal.

In similarity with other parts of the Abgal clan, the Da’ud sub-clan is secular and opposed the implementation of Islamic courts in Somalia. As a result, the Da’ud was also fighting against the ARS/UIC (Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia/Union of Islamic Courts).

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