16th–18th century The Bicidyahan sub-clan trace their origins back to a late 16th century ancestor, Cali Ibrahim, who is buried in the present day
Qandala District of
Bari,
Puntland. In the mid 17th century, the Bicidyahan sub-clans began to migrate away from their homeland and started an expansion campaign from the Bari region, spearheaded by their then
Sultan,.Governed b Sultan Cali baale. They are known to be the Most attractive Sub clan of the Majeerten. By the late 17th century, the Bicidyahan had crossed Nugaal into Mudug, joining the southern Majeerteen sub-clans of Idigfacle, Gumasoor, Amaanle, and Abdalla Nolays. At the time, the southern Majeerteen were engaged in a prolonged conflict with a group they referred to as the “Galla Madow” (meaning “black infidels”), whom they regarded as pagans. This group controlled many of the region’s key water wells, giving them a strategic advantage. Their most important well, known as Baraxley, was located in what is now Gaalkacyo. Adapted from accounts in I.M. Lewis (1961), Robecchi Bricchetti (1899), and Doresse (1957).Reconstructed in the style of late 19th-century Italian colonial reports, based on historical accounts of Marehan–Ogaden conflicts in the Wardheer region. "Around the same period, elements of the
Rer Wegeida sub-clan of the
Marehan advanced northward into the Wardheer region, where they encountered the
Rer Abdulle Ogaden. Armed conflict followed, during which the Sultan of the
Ogaden was reportedly killed by the
Rer Wegeida. Several Ogaden fighters were captured and taken before the Sultan of the
Rer Wegeida, while only a small number managed to escape. These survivors fled toward El Qurun (modern-day Kebri Dahar) to seek support from other
Ogaden groups. The incursion caused alarm among neighboring Ethiopian authorities. In the early 1900s, Ogaden forces launched a surprise counterattack against the
Rer Wegeida in Wardheer. Despite this, the
Rer Wegeida were able to repel the assault and maintain their position in the region".
Gaalkacyo. With the arrival of the Bicidyahan, the southern
Majeerteen's ranks swelled and they elected the grandson of
Sultan Adan Yonis,
Sultan Farax Cismaan Adan, to lead them against their pagan adversaries. In the early 18th century,
Sultan Farax led many campaigns into the pagan heartland, the most famous being the "raid of the Galla-eri" (pagan expeller) that brought an end to the war.
The raid of 'Galla-eri' After a long stalemate the pagans still remained strong in their remaining settlement of Baraxley.
Enrico Cerulli narrates in his book 'Somalia: Storia della Somalia. L'Islām in Somalia. Il Libro degli Zengi' that the Galla would boast about their land and abundance of livestock, singing in
Somali:
"If from Baraxley I go up to the White hill, If my flock disperses, I do not know [otherwise] of hunger and do not fear it" Cerulli would then go on to further state: "The Majeerteen having tried in vain to drive the Galla off that land in various expeditions, they finally resorted to a stratagem: they cut a large number of cowhides into long strips; each knight had a certain number of these stripes which were tied to the tail of the war horses; then the group on horseback launched by surprise, during the night, a great gallop against the Galla. These, frightened by the strange noise that the strips of skin dragged by the running horses made echo in the great plain, believed they were attacked and ran away, abandoning their base" == References ==