Siddiqis in the Horn of Africa Siddiqis in Eastern Ethiopia are usually called Qallu. While some of them still speak Arabic, most of them speak the regional Oromo, Harari or Somali languages, tongues which, like Arabic, also belong to the Afro-Asiatic language family. In Somalia, Siddiqis are commonly known as Sheekhaal or Aw-Qutub. Notable Siddiqi families in the Horn region include: 1. Kurtu family (in Harar, Deder and Djibouti) 2. Aw Barre family 3. Aw Ismael family 4. Qallu-Diinii family 5. Khabir Hassan family (in Gelemso) 6. Aw Samirren family 7. Aw Khalaf family 8. Aw Umar Ziad family 9. Abogne/Abun (the Khalaf and Kurtu families;
Balad District, Somalia supplies virtually the entire domestic market. Balcad Textile Factory was later upgraded and funded by West Germany. SOMALITEX facilities were greatly expanded. It is considered among the best equipped textile plant in Africa. The investment in cotton showed fewer long-term results than the investment in bananas. The Administration of Balcad District of the Middle Shabelle Region supported by the Somali Federal Government encourage the local and foreign investment in the Region. Balad District, Somalia Bal'ad District () is one of the districts of Middle Shabelle region of Somalia. It is located about 36 kilometers northeast of the capital city of