SUMMARY

The Gaadsan subclan of Biimaal clan (Dir) (often also spelled Gadsan subclan of Biyomaal or Biyomal) is part of the Dir clan family, which is one of the five overarching clan families in Somalia. (for more information on the Dir, see the Dir actor description in the database) As all clan families, the Dir is divided into several subclans, which often only are loosely connected to each other and have different tradition, cultures, forms of life etc.

The Gaadsan is a subclan of the Miimaal clan, which is one of the most ancient clans in Somalia, and which is especially known for its fight against the Italian colonial rulers during which it assassinated several Italian governors, known as the Biimaal Revolt. The Biimaal mainly occupies parts of the coastal area between Mogadishu and Kismayo, while the subclan Gaadsan lives slightly north, closer to the Kenyan and Ethiopian border, in the area around Bakool.

The complexity of the Somali clan system limits the amount of information available on the different subclans. Indeed, there are several perspectives on the lineage charts namely a northern, a central and a southern one. Furthermore the different subclans often disagree about their origins. Genealogy is often passed to the next generation orally and is not kept in any written form. Consequently, there also exist various different spellings for each clan and subclan name.

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