Imported tribal conflicts among immigrant Somalis tanked Omar Fateh's mayoral chances: report

A report has revealed that socialist Omar Fateh’s loss in his bid to become Minneapolis mayor was due in part to deep divides between clans originating in Somalia among the city’s Somali population.

Per Rerum Novarum, an intelligence aggregator on X, "A significant number of Somalians in Minneapolis didn't vote for ethnic Somali Mayoral candidate Omar Fateh due to Fateh being part of the Daarood clan rather than the Hawiye."

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a member of the Darood clan who endorsed Fateh, "is reportedly the next target of Hawiye community leaders as they are emboldened by their proxy victory over the Daarood in the Mayoral election, she will possibly face a primary challenge on tribal grounds."

Per the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), in Somalia’s Mudug region, the Darood clan controls the northern half while the Hawiye clan controls the southern half. A separate report from the EUAA stated that between April 2023 and March 2025, there were multiple ongoing conflicts between the Darood and Hawiye and their subclans across Somalia. The report stated, "Group-belonging is important in Somalia. Against the backdrop of decades of state failure and civil war, primary solidarity lies with patrilineal relatives. For protection or gaining access to resources or the job market, most Somalis rely on support by their clan or lineage. Lineage and clan elders mediate conflicts and distribute compensations or mobilise for defence."

Tensions between these two communities reportedly led to Mayor Jacob Frey winning his reelection bid with the help of Somali migrants in Minneapolis with ties to the Hawiye clan. Frey ultimately received 50.03 percent of the vote to Fateh’s 44.37 percent.