Information on the Abasguul (also Abaskul) subclan in Somalia is scarce among the sources consulted by the DIRB. According to Gilkes, the Abaskul lineage is traced through the following Darod lineages: Jidwak, Absame, Komad and Kaballa (Sept. 1994). This information on the Abasguul lineage is corroborated in the clan chart in Généalogie du peuple Somali (nd, 98). Information on the traditional and current location of the Abasguul in Somalia could not be found. However, two maps show the Abasguul or Abaskul occupying territory in Ethiopia, south of Jijiga (ibid., 159; EC Somali Unit Aug. 1995, np).

Please note that the spelling of Somali place names and clans is not consistent in the literature, and that the spellings used in this Response reflect the original spelling found in the cited sources.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

EC Somalia Unit, European Union (EU). August 1995. "Distribution of Somali Clans and Neighbouring People," A Study of Decentralized Political Structures for Somalia: A Menu of Options. London: European Union/United Nations Development Office for Somalia.

Généalogie du peuple Somali. n.d. (Compiled in Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board. Feb. 1996. "Supplement to Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia.")

Gilkes, Patrick. September 1994. The Price of Peace: Somalia and the United Nations 1991-1994. Bedfordshire, UK: Save the Children Fund, UK.

Africa Confidential. 1996.

Africa Research Bulletin. 1996.

Current History. 1996.

DIRB Indexed Media Review (IMR). 1996.

DIRB Somalia Country File. 1996.

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

Horn of Africa Bulletin. 1996.

Information Session on Country Conditions on Somalia. February 1996.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter. 1996.

United Nations Situation Reports. 1996.

USAID Situation Reports. 1996.

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

Note on oral sources:

Oral sources are usually contacted when documentary sources have been exhausted. However, oral sources must agree to be quoted in a publicly available Response to Information Request. If they refuse, the Response will read "no information could be found among the sources consulted." Contacting oral sources is also subject to time constraints; for example, there are periods of the year when academics are unavailable. Telephone calls to Africa are often constrained by the limited telecommunications capacity.