The Arab Salah tribe, also known as Meheri (or Mehri), is a non-Darod clan, and is found mainly in the region around Galkayo (Indian Ocean Newsletter 6 Mar. 1999). Galkayo, the capital of the Mudug region (Somalia Watch 12 Feb. 2001), is located approximately 750 km north of Mogadishu (IRIN 22 Aug. 2001).

An article posted on a Puntland news Website describes Puntland as being formed by the people of Sool, Eastern Sanaag, Bari, Northern Mudug, Nugaal and the district of Buuhoodle, who were mainly from Darod and Meheri clans (Sahanonline.com, section 5 July 1999). The article reports that the formation of Puntland was an attempt by the Darod and Meheri to counter the "domineering political ambitions of the Hawiye and the secessionist moves of the Issaq" clans (ibid.). The United Nations considers Puntland as one of the "most stable areas of Somalia" (UN 26 Jan. 2000, 5).

A report published in Life & Peace Review states that although the north-eastern regions of Mudug, Nugaal and Bari are the traditional home of the Majerteen clan, clan family units such as the Meheri also inhabit the region (Oct.-Dec. 1994). The Meheri are reported to have been allied with the Majerteen in the early 1990s (ibid.), however no recent information could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Information on the treatment of the Arab Salah or Meheri tribe could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, however for general information on the Meheri clan, please consult SOM17006.E of 29 March 1994.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Indian Ocean Newsletter [Paris]. 6 March 1999. No. 848. "Abdullahi Ali Omar (Somalia)." (NEXIS)

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN). 22 August 2001. "Somalia: Abdullahi Yusuf Meets Ethiopian Officials." http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN/cea/countrystories/somalia/20010822d.phtml [Accessed 24 October 2001]

Life & Peace Review [Upsala]. October - December 1994. Vol. 8, No. 4. Mohamed I. Farah. "Politics and Society in Somalia's North-Eastern Region." http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Newsletters/peace.html [Accessed 19 October 2001]

Sahanonline.com. July 1999. Abdisalam M. Issa-Salwe. "Towards Decentralisation Structures: Puntland Experiment." http://www.sahanonline.com/literature/Punt_experiment.htm [Accessed 24 October 2001]

Somalia Watch. 19 March 1991. "Genocide in Galcayo." http://www.somaliawatch.org/archivefeb01/010210302.htm [Accessed 24 October 2001]

United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). 26 January 2000. E/CN.4/2000/110. "Advisory Services and Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights: Situation of Human Rights in Somalia." http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/beee1ceb7c5887aa802568cd00505073/$FILE/G0010396.pdf [Accessed 26 October 2001]

IRB Databases

Africa Confidential 1999-2001.

Africa Research Bulletin 1999-2001.

Africa South of the Sahara. 2000.

Europa World Year Book 2000.

Horn of Africa Bulletin 2000-2001.

IRIN

Keesings Record of World Events 2000-2001.

NEXIS

US Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2000.

WNC

Youth Movements of the World

Internet sites including:

Africa Online

Amnesty International

Derechos Human Rights

Human Rights Watch