Somalia: The Moblen clan, including genealogy, history, cultural practices, location, and occupations; relationship with authorities, Al Shabaab, and other clans, including Hawiye sub-clans (2016 - February 2018)
1. Moblen Clan
Information on the Moblen Clan in Somalia was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to sources, the Moblen [Mobilen, Mobleen, Moobleen] clan is a sub-sub-clan of the Hawiye (Professor 11 Feb. 2018; UN 2004; Ambroso Mar. 2002, Chart 4). According to sources, the Hawiye are among the nomadic-pastoralist clans and are one of Somalia's "noble" (Austrian Red Cross and ACCORD 15 Dec. 2009, 11) or main clans (EU Aug. 2014, 20; The Guardian 20 Aug. 2012; BBC 29 Jan. 2009). According to sources, the Moblen clan falls under the Osman sub-clan, which falls under the Darendole [Darendolle], which falls under the Mudulod [Mudulood, Mudullood], which falls under the Gorgarte [Gorgate, Gurgate] sub-clan of the Hawiye (UN 2004; Ambroso Mar. 2002, Chart 4). According to sources, the Moblen are among the sub-clans of the Mudulod sub-clan (SHARDO 20 Oct. 2012; Jama 2005, 48), among which the Abgaal are the majority group (Jama 2005, 48). According to a Somalia analyst at International Crisis Group, the Moblen is not a major clan, although it is part of Mudulod, which is a major sub-clan among the Hawiye, as is the Abgal (Somalia Analyst 7 Feb. 2018). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a professor of politics and governance in Africa at Leiden University in the Netherlands, whose research includes publications on clan genealogy in Somalia, described the Moblen as "a small sub-sub-clan of the Hawiye clan family" who belong to the Mudulod and are "mostly allied to the larger Abgal-Hawiye clan" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018). A chart showing the Moblen's position within the Hawiye is attached to this Response.
Sources indicate that there have been instances of conflict between Hawiye sub-clans (RVI 2017, 45; UN 9 Nov. 2010; The Guardian 6 May 2007). According to the professor, the Moblen "are not a dominant clan or unified as such, and are usually dependent on subclans in the Hawiye" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018). The Professor also indicated that the Moblen do not have "specific distinguishing features" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018). Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to sources, the Moblen clan is located in Middle Shabelle [Shebelle] (International Crisis Group 7 Feb. 2018; UN 2004) and Lower Shabelle [Shebelle] (UN 2004). According to the Professor, the Moblen "live primarily in the Lower and Middle Shabelle (river) areas, but many have migrated elsewhere in South-Central Somalia" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018).
According to the Historical Dictionary of Somalia, written by Mohamed Haji Mukhtar, a professor of African and Middle Eastern history at Savannah State University in the United States (African Books Collective n.d.), while the Moblen are among the sub-clans of the Gurgate sub-clan of the Hawiye, they are "allied with [a] non-Hawiye" clan: the Shidle (Mukhtar 2003, 100). According to sources, the Shidle are Bantu (MRG May 2011; UN 1 Aug. 2002), and among minority groups that experience discrimination in Somalia (MRG May 2011).
Information on the Moblen clan's history and cultural practices could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
2. Relationship with Authorities
The information in the following paragraph was provided by the Somalia Analyst at International Crisis Group, after consultation with relevant government sources, including politicians, police, and federal military sources:
The Moblen clan has some political representation in the federal government, including "one MP in the Somalia federal parliament," but has no senator in the Somali federal upper house. Members of the Moblen clan have never been appointed to positions including "minister in the federal government, governor, mayor, district commissioner, ambassador, or director general"; there are some Moblen civil servants, but very few of them. There are two Moblen members of parliament in Hirshabelle State and one minister, whose portfolio is Minister of Constitution. Regarding representation in the federal army forces, there are no high-ranking Moblen members in the federal military, such as in the position of general, nor any police general, but there are Moblen colonels in the police and the military, as well as Moblen foot soldiers. The source indicated that they were not aware of any conflict or "clear grievance" in the relationship between the Moblen and authorities, including the federal government and Hirshabelle State (Somalia Analyst 7 Feb. 2018). Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
The Professor noted that "indications are that [the Moblen] are both represented in the Somali federal government and its army and some institutions" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018).
3. Relationship with Al Shabaab [Al-Shabab, Al Shabab]
According to the Somalia Analyst at International Crisis Group, the Moblen live in "Middle Shabelle, where Al Shabaab is ruling," and while there is no "direct grievance between Al Shabaab and Moblen," Al Shabaab "always treats people badly" (Somalia Analyst 7 Feb. 2018). The Moblen are "agro-pastoral" and "local media have reported that Al Shabaab has treated agro-pastoralist people" badly, including imposing "a lot of taxes" on farmers (Somalia Analyst 7 Feb. 2018). The Professor indicated that the primary activities of the Moblen are "trade/small-scale business, cultivation, and some livestock rearing" (Professor 11 Feb. 2018). According to the same source,
Al Shabaab does not have a policy toward clans as such; they appeal to, and force, people into the radical-Islamist discourse and want to overcome what they label as "clan divisions." The Moblen are not as a sub-sub-clan singled out by them for repression, etc. So there are Moblen members in Al Shabaab, as well as opponents from Moblen against Al Shabaab in the government and in government-allied groups. (Professor 11 Feb. 2018)
The Somalia Analyst also indicated that Al Shabaab "is harassing people and forcing them to follow [Al Shabaab's] theology" and that most Moblen are Sufi (Somalia Analyst 7 Feb. 2018). According to a 2016 article by Al Jazeera, Al Shabaab considers Sufis "non-believers and legitimate targets for attacks" (Al Jazeera 29 Mar. 2016).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
African Books Collective. N.d. "Mohamed Haji Mukhtar." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
Al Jazeera. 29 March 2016. Hamza Mohamed. "Somalia's Sufi Revival." [Accessed 7 Feb. 2018]
Ambroso, Guido. March 2002. Clanship, Conflict and Refugees: An Introduction to Somalis in the Horn of Africa. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
Austrian Red Cross and Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation (ACCORD). 15 December 2009. Clans in Somalia: Report on a Lecture by Joakim Gundel, COI Workshop Vienna, 15 May 2009 (Revised Edition). [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 29 January 2009. "Somali Presidential Profiles." [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
European Union (EU). August 2014. European Asylum Support Office (EASO). South and Central Somalia - Country Overview. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
The Guardian. 20 August 2012. Nastasya Tay and David Smith. "Somalia's First Parliament Since 1991 Inaugurated in Mogadishu." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
The Guardian. 6 May 2007. Gitau Muthuma. "Clans and Crisis in Somalia." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
Jama, Hasan Ali. 2005. Who Cares About Somalia: Hassan's Ordeal; Reflections on a Nation's Future. Berlin: Verlag Hans Schiler.
Minority Rights Group International (MRG). May 2011. "Somalia - Bantu." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji. 2003. Historical Dict/ionary of Somalia (New Edition). African Historical Dictionary Series, No. 87. Lanham, Maryland and Oxford: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Professor, Leiden University, The Netherlands. 11 February 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
Rift Valley Institute (RVI). 2017. Land Matters in Mogadishu: Settlement, Ownership and Displacement in a Contested City. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
Shabelle Relief and Development Organization (SHARDO). 20 October 2012. "Procurement & Distribution of 1,000 Dignity Kits Adolescent Girls, Pregnant and Lactated Women in IDP Camps in Middle Shabelle Region." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
Somalia Analyst, International Crisis Group. 7 February 2018. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.
United Nations (UN). 9 November 2010. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "Fight Over Water, Pasture Sends Hundreds Fleeing." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
United Nations (UN). 2004. High Commissioner for Refugees, Somalia. "Genealogical Table of Somali Clans." [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]
United Nations (UN). 1 August 2002. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "A Study on Minorities in Somalia." [Accessed 6 Feb. 2018]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Academics and researchers whose research is focused on clans in Somalia; Shabelle Relief and Development Organization.
Internet sites, including: Africa Confidential; African Union – Mission in Somalia; Allbanaadir News; Amnesty International; Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset; Bildhaan: An International Journal of Somali Studies; CBC; Center for Research and Dialogue; Council on Foreign Relations; Danish Refugee Council; Denmark – Danish Immigration Service; ecoi.net; Factiva; FIDH; Freedom House; Galmudugnews.net; The Globe and Mail; Hiiraan Online; Human Rights Watch; Institute for War and Peace Reporting; Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre; International Crisis Group; International Training Programme for Conflict Management; The Jamestown Foundation; Jane's Country Risk Daily Report; Jane's Intelligence Review; Journal of Contemporary African Studies; Journal of International Peacekeeping; Keydmedia; The Muslim World; Northeast African Studies; Norway – LandInfo; Organisation suisse d'aide aux réfugiés; Political Handbook of the World; Radio France internationale; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; RUSI Journal; Shabelle Media Network; Somalia – Hirshabelle State; Somalia Conflict Early Warning Early Response Unit; Somalia NGO Consortium; Somalia Report; South African Journal of International Affairs; Suna Times; The Telegraph; UN – Assistance Mission in Somalia, OHCHR, Refworld, ReliefWeb, UNHCR; US – CIA World Factbook, Department of State; Waagacusub Media; WardheerNews.com.
Attachment
Ambroso, Guido. March 2002. "Genealogical Clan Chart # 4: Hawiye." Clanship, Conflict and Refugees: An Introduction to Somalis in the Horn of Africa. [Accessed 5 Feb. 2018]