Cayr
Encyclopedia
Ayr is a Somali clan
, part of the Habar Gidir
group (itself a Hawiye
subclan).
in 2006, and were defeated in December 2006
by the forces of the Transitional Federal Government
(TFG) and Ethiopia
.
Sheikh
Hassan Dahir Aweys helped establish the Islamic Courts Union and is one of its most influential and fundamentalist leaders, strenuously advocating for an Islamic government
to end the chaos in Somalia. However, the U.S. government
maintains he has ties to terrorist
activities.
Ayr clan elders met June 15, 2006 with the former U.S. Ambassador
to Kenya, William Bellamy, in Nairobi
, Kenya
. Ayr clan elders made an agreement with the US ambassador to capture Al-Qaeda
terrorists in their ranks if the U.S. could "tell us exactly where these men are in Somalia.".
Since the defeat of the Islamic Courts in December 2006 and January 2007, the government remains wary of the ties and sympathies of the Ayr to the Islamic Courts. On January 15, 2007, the TFG closed the radio stations for Shabelle Radio, Horn Afrik, Holy Koran Radio (Idaa'ada Qur'aanka Kariimka - IQK), and the Al Jazeera
television station in Mogadishu
, without issuing a reason why. Later, it was said the radio stations had ties to the Ayr clan, which supported the Islamic Courts, and, according to government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari, had broadcast reports about government soldiers: "They said our soldiers were looting the markets and harassing people, which was totally untrue... They are using the media to undermine the government. They have been doing this for months."
's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom
's Home Office
publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.
Somali clan
The demographics of Somalia describes the condition and overview of Somalia's inhabitants. Demographic topics include basic education, health and population statistics, as well as identified racial and religious affiliations.-Somalis:...
, part of the Habar Gidir
Habar Gidir
The Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
group (itself a Hawiye
Hawiye
The Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
subclan).
Relations with the Islamic Courts Union
Members of the Cayr have been leaders or supporters of the Islamic Courts Union which rose to power over much of SomaliaSomalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in 2006, and were defeated in December 2006
War in Somalia (2006–present)
The War in Somalia was an armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government forces and Somali troops from Puntland versus the Somali Islamist umbrella group, the Islamic Court Union , and other affiliated militias for control of the country. There is a clear...
by the forces of the Transitional Federal Government
Transitional Federal Government
The Transitional Federal Government is the current internationally recognized government of the Republic of Somalia. It was established as one of the Transitional Federal Institutions of government as defined in the Transitional Federal Charter adopted in November 2004 by the Transitional...
(TFG) and Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Hassan Dahir Aweys helped establish the Islamic Courts Union and is one of its most influential and fundamentalist leaders, strenuously advocating for an Islamic government
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
to end the chaos in Somalia. However, the U.S. government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
maintains he has ties to terrorist
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
activities.
Ayr clan elders met June 15, 2006 with the former U.S. Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Kenya, William Bellamy, in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Ayr clan elders made an agreement with the US ambassador to capture Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
terrorists in their ranks if the U.S. could "tell us exactly where these men are in Somalia.".
Since the defeat of the Islamic Courts in December 2006 and January 2007, the government remains wary of the ties and sympathies of the Ayr to the Islamic Courts. On January 15, 2007, the TFG closed the radio stations for Shabelle Radio, Horn Afrik, Holy Koran Radio (Idaa'ada Qur'aanka Kariimka - IQK), and the Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
television station in Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, without issuing a reason why. Later, it was said the radio stations had ties to the Ayr clan, which supported the Islamic Courts, and, according to government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari, had broadcast reports about government soldiers: "They said our soldiers were looting the markets and harassing people, which was totally untrue... They are using the media to undermine the government. They have been doing this for months."
Prominent figures
- Abdiqasim Salad HassanAbdiqasim Salad HassanDr Abdiqasim Salad Hassan is a prominent Somali politician. He was President of Somalia from 2001 to 2004, and previously served as Interior Minister and Finance Minister in the government of Mohamed Siad Barre.-Biography:...
, President of Transitional National GovernmentTransitional National GovernmentThe Transitional National Government of Somalia was established in April–May 2000 at the Somalia National Peace Conference held in Djibouti....
of Somalia, 2000–2004 - Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow"Aden Hashi FarahAden Hashi Farah "Ayrow" was a leader of the Hizbul Shabaab, the armed wing of the Somali Islamic Courts Union . He was from the Ayr sub-clan, part of the Habar Gidir, which is a branch of the Hawiye clan. He was reportedly married to Halima Abdi Issa Yusuf. He was among several militants killed...
, former leader of al-ShabaabAl-Shabaab (Somalia)Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen , more commonly known as al-Shabaab , is a terrorist group of militants fighting to overthrow the government of Somalia. As of 2011, the group controls large swathes of the southern parts of Somalia, where it is said to have imposed its own strict form of Sharia law...
, the youth movement of the Islamic Courts Union - Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, head of the 90-member shuraShuraShura is an Arabic word for "consultation". The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision....
council of the Islamic Courts Union, Leader Hizbul Islam - MagoolMagoolMagool , born Halima Khaliif Omar , was a Somali singer.-Early years:Magool was born in the city of Dhusa Mareb, the capital of the Galgaduud region in central Somalia. She had four siblings....
(Halima Khaliif Omar), Somali singer and musician - Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade, head of security affairs for the Islamic Courts Union, Somalian defence minister (TFG)
Clan tree
There is no clear agreement on the clan and sub-clan structures and many lineages are omitted. The following listing is taken from the World BankWorld Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
's Conflict in Somalia: Drivers and Dynamics from 2005 and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
publication, Somalia Assessment 2001.
- HawiyeHawiyeThe Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
- Gaaljal
- Hawadle
- Abgaal (Abgal)
- Harti
- Angonyar
- Warsangeli
- Abokor
- Wabudhan
- Da'oud
- Rer Mattan
- Mohamed Muse
- Wa'esli
- Harti
- Murosade
- SheekhaalSheekhaalThe Sheikhal or Fiqi Omar is a Somali clan whose members inhabit both Somalia and Ethiopia, with considerable numbers also found in the Northern Frontier District in Kenya....
(Sheikal) - Habar GidirHabar GidirThe Habar Gidir are a Somali clan, part of the larger Hawiye group.The clan has produced some prominent Somali figures, such as Abdullahi Issa, the chairman of the Somali Youth League and first Prime Minister of Somalia prior to independence, Dr...
(Haber Gedir)- Sa'ad
- Suleiman
- Ayr
- Sarur
- Waadan