Abgaal

Abgaal is a major Somali clan, a subclan of the Hawiye clan family within the Hiraab branch. They are concentrated in the Benadir region, especially in Mogadishu, and have a substantial presence in adjacent areas of central and southern Somalia. The Abgaal are one of the most populous Hawiye subclans and have historically played a leading role in the city’s commerce and governance.

Traditional Abgaal society is organized around elder councils and the Xeer, customary law. They maintain extensive familial and martial alliance networks with neighboring Hawiye subclans and participate in inter-clan marriage arrangements. The urban setting of Mogadishu has reinforced an identifiable Abgaal urban culture and leadership structures.

During the Somali civil conflict and in the subsequent eras of re-establishment, Abgaal individuals have held positions in local administrations and national politics, and the subclan has been influential in Mogadishu's municipal affairs. As with other Somali clans, political influence is distributed through inter-clan coalitions and alliances, and security and factional dynamics have affected their position.

Abgaal typically practice Sunni Islam and share the Somali language and cultural traditions. A diaspora community exists in Europe, North America, the Arabian Peninsula, and East Africa, where there are networks supporting development, humanitarian work, and cultural ties to Mogadishu.