The Habr Je'lo hold great economic influence within Somaliland and across the Horn of Africa, having the richest businessmen who operate across multiple industries among their ranks.

It is worth noting that Sheikh Ishaaq's esteemed ancestry, purportedly tracing back to Ali ibn Abi Talib, adds a layer of sacred lineage to their narrative, as recounted in certain Arabic hagiographies.

[7][8] In the annals of Somali history, the Habar Je'lo clan in Somaliland proudly boasts a lineage of remarkable figures who stood at the forefront of anti-colonial resistance.

Among them, Deria Arale, Haji Sudi, Michael Mariano, Sheikh Bashir, Ibrahim Boghol, Farah Omar, and Abdullahi Shihiri shine as beacons of defiance against colonial oppression.

From Deria Arale's strategic leadership to the unwavering resolve of figures like Haji Sudi and Michael Mariano, each played a crucial role in galvanizing resistance efforts.

Sheikh Bashir, Ibrahim Boghol's spiritual guidance and Farah Omar's tactical acumen further bolstered the Habar Je'lo's defiance against colonial encroachment.

Abdullahi Shihiri's steadfast dedication to the cause served as an inspiration to generations, cementing the clan's legacy in the annals of Somali liberation history.

According to traditional Somali folklore, Arawelo, a legendary proto-Somali queen who is said to have established a matriarchal society, was based in lands inhabited by the Habr Je'lo, specifically a place called Murihi in the Togdheer region.

Arawailo lived at a place called Murihi, so the story goes, for little save a huge mound of stones, under which she is said to lie buried, now marks the capital of her ancient kingdom.

Towards the end of her life Arawailo began to show marked favour towards her own sex and great animosity towards her male subjects.

[25] During the British Somaliland period the recorded statistics of Heis show it as a leader alongside Maydh in the east with hundreds of thousands of hides and being the leading exporter of tanned skins with 16,000 reaching Berbera taken by Habr Je'lo traders by dhow.

Heis also exported a large quantity of skins and sheep to Aden as well as imported a significant amount of goods from both the Arabian coast and western Somali ports, reaching nearly 2 million rupees by 1903.

It contains a "fort," a single-storied, flat-roofed, stone and mud house, about 20 feet square, one of those artless constructions to which only Somal could attach importance.

Lieutenant Speke was well received by one Ali, the Agil, or petty chief of the place: he presented two sheep to the traveller.The Habr Je’lo coastal settlements and ports, stretching from near Siyara in the west to Heis (Xiis) in the east, were important to trade and communication with the Somali interior.

Habr Je’lo traders acted as middlemen to Dhulbahante livestock herders in the interior by purchasing and/or bartering their stock for export to the Aden market: The last branch of the Western tribes is the Haber el Jahleh, who possess the sea-ports from Seyareh to the ruined village of Rukudah, and as far as the town of Heis.

[33] The Adan Madoba tribesmen then assassinated the Yeesif groom, which led to a 40 year long conflict where allegedly the grandson of the Rer Dod girl participated in the fighting.

[33] The Adan Madoba assembled hundreds of horsemen led by Mohamed Ismail (nicknamed Qaaje Guray) for one final offensive on the Yeesif still in Karin.

Dirir recited this poem before killing him;[33] Haliiloow geddoontaye haddaad aakhiro u guurto Waxba hays galluubine ragbaad garabsanaysaaye Haddaad guurtidii Yeesif iyo odayadii gaadho Karin gubay annana goosannoo nala gumaadyeey dheh Gadabuursi iyo baa na helay gacan Ogaadeen dheh Sidii gaaladii bay warmaa nagu garaaceen dheh O Halil, when you move to the hereafter You need not worry, many [dead] men will accompany you When you reach the [passed] elders of the Yeesif Tell them I burned Karin, and they [the Yeesif] punished me Tell them the hands of the Gadabursi and the Ogaden reached us Tell them they [Yeesif] beat us with spears like infidels The western Mohamed Abokor faction, unified under the leadership of the Nuh subclan (Ahmed Farah, Rer Dahir, Solomadow), advanced with an army against the Musa Abokor clan.

Moreover, the Habr Je'lo played an influential role after the demise of the Dervish Movement in 1920, with Sheikh Bashir Yussuf and Farah Omar being important anti-colonial notables.

The dervish then proceeded to send this letter to Captain Cordeauxe and James Hayes Sadler: This is to inform you that you have done whatever you have desired, and oppressed our well-known religion without any cause.

[39]According to the British War Office, the Ahmed Farah, Rer Yusuf and Adan Madoba Habr Je'lo sub-tribes were among the first to join the Dervish rebellion.

Haji Sudi, along with Mohammed Abdullah Hassan and Sultan Nur led the first Dervish forces against the British at Samala, Ferdidin, Erigo and Gumburu.

[41] Before sending troops to confront the Dervish at Samala, Consul-General Hayes Sadler gave the following instructions to the commander Eric John Eagles Swayne: In the unlikely event of the Mullah offering to surrender, in his case and that of the Following: Haji Sudi, Deria Arale, Deria Gure Only an unconditional surrender should be accepted no guarantee of any kind to future treatment been given.

[42]Although facing the British in multiple battles between 1901 and 1904, the colonial forces failed to in their efforts to apprehend Sudi, Arale, Gure and their fellow Dervishes.

Gabriel Ferrand, the Vice-Consul of France following these events observed that: Neither the Mahdi nor his chief adviser Ahmed Warsama, better known under the name Haji Sudi, nor the Sultan Nur, leader of the Habr Younis sub-tribe were killed or captured.

The group also attacked the house of the district commissioner of Burao District, Major Chambers, resulting in the death of Major Chamber's police guard before escaping to Bur Dhab, a strategic mountain south-east of Burao, where Sheikh Bashir's small unit occupied a fort and took up a defensive position in anticipation of a British counterattack.

The government came to a conclusion that another expedition against him would be useless; that they must build a railway, make roads and effectively occupy the whole of the protectorate, or else abandon the interior completely.

[52] The British administration recruited Indian and South African troops, led by police general James David, to fight against Sheikh Bashir and had intelligence plans to capture him alive.

The British authorities mobilized a police force, and eventually on 7 July found Sheikh Bashir and his unit in defensive positions behind their fortifications in the mountains of Bur Dhab.