Marehan

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Mareexaan
مريحان

Languages
Somali
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Facaaye, Majerten, Lelkase, Warsangeli, Dhulbahante, and other Darod groups.

The Marehan (Somali: Mareexaan, Arabic: مريحان) is a Somali clan, which is part of one of the largest Somali clan families, the Darod.^[1][2][3]

The clan are the largest tribe in the Jubaland state and make the majority of the Gedo, Middle Juba and Lower Juba states, some major cities in these states owned by the tribe are Beled Hawo, Jilib, Saakow, Kismayo, Bardhere and Burgabo. They are primarily concentrated on the western part of Middle Juba primarily in Bu'aale where their camels graze deep into the Lower Shabelle and the coasts of Lower Juba. They live as far south as the towns Bilis Qooqaani, Bibi and Midi and the town Diff. The tribe are single handedly the majority of the Kismayo district, with a territory extending as far as the Badhadhe District region, dominating it almost completely comprisng the most territory followed by the Degodi and Gaaljecel tribes, primarily living in the coastal plains, with their main population centres being Ras Marehan and Burgabo. Some major towns/districts of the tribe include Birta Dheer, Istanbul, Qudus, Goobweyn, Berhan and Buulo xaaji.

The tribe can also be found in Galmudug, where they constitute the largest tribe in Galgaduud, owning the largest city and most urban district Abudwak. The tribe also make up the majority clan of the Wajir East Constituency, living all the way up to the road and have a huge presence in Mandera and Garissa. The tribe are also one of the largest in the South West State of Somalia, constituting the majority of the Yeed, Qansahdhere, Dinsoor districts. The grazing boundaries of the tribe also extend from the cities of Burgabo in Badhadhe District, to Barawe. The Hubeer and Yantar tribes are of Marehan origin and dominate the Dinsoor and Qansahdhere regions where they live with the unrahanweynized brothers the Yabar Husayn.

The tribe also own the majority of the Bajuuni islands including Kooyama. The Marehan settled in Raas Mareexaan during the early 1900's establishing it near the Bajuuni islands.

They are the largest Somali tribe in Ethiopia, constituting the majority of the Dollo Zone and the Shilavo (woreda), they can also be found in small numbers in Mustahil (woreda). In southern Ethiopia they dominate the whole northern half of the Liben Zone, extending into Oromia living in the city of Negele Borana. The tribe can also be found in Fafan Zone, living in Jigjiga and Tuli guleed. The tribe are the largest in Hararghe, however the majority of the tribe have been absorbed by the Oromo. The Marehan primarily population Babille and Meyu Kulle.

The tribe are also the majority of the city of Dire Dawa which was founded by them, however the majority have been Oromized, however there are still a huge number of Somalis in the city.

They can also be found in Bale in places such as Ginir (woreda), and Shewa, mainly in the city of Adama. The tribe can also be found scattered all over Amhara, Tigray and Gurage, the majority of which are descendants of remnants from the Adal wars.

The Amarar tribe are descendants of the largest branch of the tribe, Amanreer, they correspondingly divide into 4 sub clans,1) Weled Gwilei, (2) Weled Aliab, (3) Weled Kurbab Wagadab, and (4) the Amarar proper of the Ariab district. The tribe settled here during the conquests Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din who captured as far as Suakin in Sudan. To this day the tribe remains the majority of the city and the Ariab district. The Amarar are said to speak the purest form of the Beja language.^[4]