By: Mohamed Hassan Irro
On 8 February 2026, in the town of Galdogob in Somalia’s Mudug region, Ugaas Abdirahman Ugaas Mohamed Ugaas Ali Geesood was formally crowned as the supreme traditional leader of the Tanade clans of the Darood, Leelkase lineage.
The Ugaaship, a centuries-old institution, holds particular prestige among the Leelkase, Muumin Aadan, Mohamed Mumin, and Reer Xaaji lineages. The newly appointed Ugaas succeeds his late brother, Ugaas Ahmed Ugaas Mohamed, who passed away in 2014.
The inauguration ceremony was marked by grandeur and solemnity. It drew a wide array of dignitaries, including traditional leaders from across Somalia, politicians, regional administrators from Puntland and Galmudug, Federal Ministers and parliamentarians, as well as prominent business figures and members of the Somali diaspora. The presence of diverse guests, including political figures of differing views, lent the occasion a significance that extended beyond a customary enthronement.
Ugaas Abdirahman was born in Galkaio around 1965. He completed his secondary education locally before earning a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Somali National University in 1987. He later pursued graduate studies in development and planning in Germany.
He has held senior roles in various government institutions focusing on financial management and strategic planning and has collaborated with international organizations in humanitarian and development work across Somalia, Kenya, Ghana, and the Netherlands. He is fluent in Somali, Arabic, German and English.
The ascension of Ugaas Abdirahman comes at a pivotal moment for the Tanade clans and the broader Mudug region, which has endured cycles of unresolved clan conflicts. The community looks to the Ugaas to foster reconciliation and ensure peaceful coexistence.
The Tanade have long been renowned for their scholarship and dedication to the study and dissemination of Islam. The lineage of the newly appointed Ugaas traces back to Mohamed Muumin Aadan, a venerated scholar whose historical writings remain a cultural legacy. In the early 1970s, researchers from the Somali Academy of Language and Culture sought to collect these manuscripts to preserve them as national heritage. Ugaas Mohamed, the father of the current Ugaas, refused to hand them over, emphasizing the responsibility of safeguarding ancestral knowledge, a decision that demonstrated courage and a commitment to community stewardship.
Traditional leadership in Somalia functions as the backbone of local governance, dispute resolution, and social cohesion. Ugaas Abdirahman inherits this mantle with the responsibility of uniting the Tanade under a shared vision, strengthening political and social cohesion, and upholding the moral and spiritual guidance handed down by his forebears.
The Ugaaship operates as a hierarchical system, with authority cascading through the elders of each clan lineage, ensuring that decisions are respected and that justice is visible and credible. This structure enhances the Ugaas’s legitimacy and reinforces the social and political influence of the clans he represents.
The Tanade community, a large and vibrant group, contributes significantly to Somali society through education, commerce, and pastoralism. It also maintains active diaspora communities abroad. Internally, the Ugaas faces the challenge of reconciling differing political views and ensuring equitable access to government services and representation for the clan.
Ugaas Abdirahman is expected to follow the guidance of his forefathers and uphold the historical and religious legacies entrusted to him, particularly those documented by Mumin Adan. Central to his leadership will be the promotion of Islamic values, adherence to cultural traditions, and the pursuit of unity and peace within his community.
May Allah grant the Ugaas wisdom and ease in fulfilling this immense responsibility.
Mohamed Hassan Irro is an accomplished author, linguist, and expert on Somali culture and history.