Harti

Harti is a Somali clan-family within the Darod clan system. In Somali genealogical tradition, Harti denotes a major line descended from Harti, the son of Darod, and it is used to group several subclans under a single lineage. The Harti are traditionally associated with the northeastern Horn of Africa, with a strong presence in parts of what are today Somaliland and Puntland, as well as in adjacent areas of eastern Ethiopia. The community has also established diasporic communities around the world.

Geographically, Harti communities are concentrated in the northeastern Somali-speaking regions, often in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist settings. The subclan structure is complex and fluid, with various lineages forming alliances and networks that influence social and political organization. Among the more widely recognized subgroups commonly associated with Harti are the Dhulbahante and Warsangeli, though the exact composition can vary by source and over time.

Social and economic life among Harti groups has historically centered on livestock herding, trading, and seasonal migration. Kinship ties and customary law, known as xeer, have traditionally governed property, conflict resolution, and social obligations within and between subclans. In modern times, Harti communities have participated in regional governance and political processes in the Horn of Africa, contributing to the complexities of Somali state-building, border dynamics, and inter-clan relations.

See also: Somali clan system, Darod, Somaliland, Puntland.