Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Somalia Puntland Jubaland Somali Region | |
Languages | |
Somali & Arabic | |
Religion | |
Islam (Sunni) | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Dhulbahante, Marehan, Warsangali, Majerteen, Dishiishe, Awrtable, Ogaden and other Darod groups |
The Leelkase [1] or Lailkase [2] or Lelkase [3] ( Somali: Laylkase [4], Arabic: ليلكسة) (Hussein bin Abdirahman bin Is'mail bin Ibrahim al Jaberti) is a major subclan of the Tanade Darod clan. [5] [3] The term "Leelkase" is a nickname, which translates to "farsighted, mindful, smart or intelligent”. [6]
In the Northeast regions of Somalia, the World Bank shows the following clan tree: [7]
Below is list of the Major Leelkase Subclans and cities / towns they reside:
The Musa Ali further divides into the prominent Mumin Aden clans of the Mudug Region and the Somali Region of Ethiopia, and Hassan Idiris Clan of the Nugaal, Sool and Bari regions and as well as the Fiqi Ismail of Mudug region.
The Mahamud Ali clans settle in the Bari region of North Eastern Somalia; particularly in Bandar Beyla district. Hashim Ali is divided into the Malismoge clans and settle in the Mudug region. Gambayah (Somali: Gambayax, Arabic جمبيح) is a District in the Nugal region of Puntland state of Somalia. It lies approximately 50km Northeast of the city of Garoowe. The town is populated by the Rooble Hassan subclan of Leelkase, and other Idiris Osman clans. The city has a population of approximately 80,060.
Nugaal-gibin (Somali: Nugaal gibin, Arabic: نوغال غبن) is a District in the Mudug region of Puntland state of Somalia. It lies approximately 40km southeast of Galdogob. The town is populated by the Xirsi Muumin subclan of Leelkase, and other Mumin Adan clans.
As of 2005, the broader Galdogob District had a total population of 40,433 residents mostly Leelkase 33,366 of inhabitants were urban and 57,067 were non-urban. Bayla has a population of around 16,700 inhabitants. The broader Bayla District has a total population of 14,376 residents. Bayla is primarily inhabited by people from the Somali ethnic group, with the Majeerteen and Leelkase Darod well-represented. The broader Garowe District has an estimated total population of 190,000 residents. As with most of Puntland, it is primarily inhabited by Somalis from the Harti Darod clan confederation, in particular the Majerteen aswell as the Leelkase Darod clans. The Leelkase are also dominant in Garsoor, largest neighborhood of Galkayo with an estimated population of 137,667 inhabitants. [8] [9]
Somalia is inhabited by five major ethnic clans and one minor ethnic clan. [10] The five major clans are the Darod, Dir, Hawiye, Isaaq, Rahanweyn and the minor clan is called Asharaf. The major sub-clans within Darod are Ogaden, Dhulbahante, Jidwaaq, Leelkase, Majeerteen, Marehan, Warsangali, Awrtable, Dishiishe, and Mora'ase. Darod is practically the largest clan because they operate in almost all parts of the country. Within the Dir clan there is the Issa, Gadabuursi, Surre, and Biimaal. All of these clans make up the area known as “Greater Somalia” ( Kenya, Ethiopia, Dijibouti, Somalia). [11] [12] Leelkase is a sub-clan of Tanade, one of the oldest Darod clans. [13]
The Leelkase community can be described as a religious community, peace loving, and caring for its neighbors. The Leelkase have received the nickname; "Darbi Darod" (The wall of Darod) due to their resilience in the Somali civil war. [14] [15] The Leelkase clan have a strong presence in the northern regions surrounding Mudug, Nugal and Bari, mainly in the cities of Galdogob, Galkayo, Garowe, Eyl, and Bayla. The rest of the clan are largely scattered throughout most of the country including portions of Lower Juba, Middle Juba and Bay. Along the Somali Region of Ethiopia, fractions of the Leelkase clan such as the Karkar community; (Caris, Ceel, Dhidir, Buurbuur, Arindheer) make up significant numbers. [16]