The Biyomal, a small group that lives in the vicinity of Mogadishu, is a subclan of the Dir. According to the Supplement to Information on Country Conditions on Somalia, "The Dir family can be divided into three sections: Issa, Gadabursi, and Biyomal [Biyemal]" (Toronto Front 15 Feb. 1996, 51).

According to The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations 1991-1994, the Biyamal are the majority clan in the Lower Shebelle (Gilkes 1994, 144). Gilkes distinguishes between the northern Dir and the southern Dir and notes that although the Biyamal were known for their struggle against the Italians, as a southern Dir group, they "were previously ignored." (144). Gilkes states that the Dir and particularly the Biyamal, supported the Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM), but adds that the SSNM had split. "Early in 1993 its chairman, Colonel Abdi Warsame, broke with General Aydeed and took part of the SSNM with him when he aligned himself with Ali Mahdi" (147).

For additional information on the Biyomal and the SSNM please consult Responses to Information Rquests SOM24908 of 4 September 1994 and SOM18537.E of 4 October 1994, which are available at Regional Documentation Centres.

Information on the treatment and current situation of the Biyomal could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information

currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Gilkes, P.S. September 1994. The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations 1991-1994. Bedfordshire, U.K.: Save the Children's Fund.

Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), Toronto Front. 15 February 1996. Supplement to Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. Monthly.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. 1996-1997.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. Bimonthly.

The Invention of Somalia. Edited by Ali Jamale Ahmed. 1995. Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1996-1997.

Lewis, I. M. 1994. Blood and Bone: The Call of Kinship in Somali Society. Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press.

New African [London]. Monthly.

On-line search on NEXIS database.

Three oral sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Lexis/Nexis, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR dtabase), World News Connection (WNC).