Middle Shabelle (, , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern
Somalia
Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is the easternmost country in continental Africa. The country is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, th ...
Galgaduud
Galguduud (, , or ''Ghelgudud'') is an administrative region ('' gobol'') of Galmudug state in central Somalia. Its administrative capital is Dusmareb. The largest town in the region is El Buur, which lies at the centre of the region.
Galgudu ...
to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south and the region of
Lower Shabelle
Lower Shabelle (, , , ) is an administrative region ('' gobol'') in southern Somalia.
Geography
Lower Shabelle is bordered by the regions of Banaadir, Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe), Hiran, Bay, Middle Jubba (Jubbada Dhexe) and by the ...
and the capital
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
to the west. The
Shabelle River
The Shebelle River ( Oromo: Laga Shabeellee, , , ) also known historically as the Nile of Mogadishu, begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where i ...
also passes through this region.
The region of Middle Shabelle formed the
Hirshabelle State
Hirshabelle, officially Hirshabelle State of Somalia ( Somali: ''Dowlad Goboleedka Hirshabelle ee Soomaaliya''), is a Federal Member State in south-central Somalia. It is bordered by Galmudug state of Somalia to the north, South West State o ...
by 2016, which considers itself an autonomous state within the larger
Federal Republic
A federal republic is a federation of Federated state, states with a republican form of government. At its core, the literal meaning of the word republic when used to reference a form of government means a country that is governed by elected re ...
of Somalia, as defined by the
Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia
The Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia () is the Constitution, supreme law of Somalia. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the Federal Republic and source of legal authority. It sets out the rights and ...
.
RADIO ASAL
Radio Asal is private Radio located jowhar city capital of Hir-Shabelle State in Somalia.
Radio Asal is a local Radio 88.6 MHz jowhar-somali.
Overview
As part of the former Benadir region, Middle Shabelle's capital was
Mogadishu
Mogadishu, locally known as Xamar or Hamar, is the capital and List of cities in Somalia by population, most populous city of Somalia. The city has served as an important port connecting traders across the Indian Ocean for millennia and has ...
up until the mid-1980s, when the town of
Jowhar
Jowhar (, , Italian: ''Giohar'') is the capital city of Hirshabelle state of Somalia. Jowhar is also the administrative capital of Middle Shabelle region of Somalia.
Along with Baidoa, it used to form the joint administrative capital of th ...
became the capital. It is named after the
Shebelle River
The Shebelle River ( Oromo: Laga Shabeellee, , , ) also known historically as the Nile of Mogadishu, begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where ...
that passes through this region.
The region is regarded as one of the most fertile regions in Somalia and was the first region to have multiple factories opened up in it, such as a sugar and clothes factory. It was also the main source of local grown food before the civil war.
Today, the region supports livestock production, rain-fed and irrigated agriculture and fisheries, with an annual rainfall between 150 and 500 millimeters. Covering an area of approximately 60,000 square kilometres, the region has a 400 kilometre coastline on the Indian Ocean. The Shabelle river runs for 150 kilometres through the region.
Demographics
A pre-war census estimated the population at 2 million and today the Regional Council claims that the region's population is around 1.5 million. It is also estimated that 60% of the regions population are nomads or farmers.
However, the FSNAU population estimate survey in 2022 estimated the population as being 1,618,324, which is highly disputed.
The majority clans in the region Are the Abgaal and Galjecel. Other clans that live in the region include other Mudulood clans.
Districts
Middle Shabelle Region consists of 11 districts:
*
Jowhar District
Jowhar District () is a district of the southeastern Middle Shabelle in Somalia. Its capital lies at Jowhar
Jowhar (, , Italian: ''Giohar'') is the capital city of Hirshabelle state of Somalia. Jowhar is also the administrative capital of ...
Adale District
Adale District () is a Administrative divisions of Somalia, district in the southeastern Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe) region of Somalia. Its capital lies at Adale.Adan Yabaal District
*
Warsheikh District
Warsheekh District is a district in the southeastern Middle Shebelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe) region of Somalia. Its capital lies at Warsheikh
Warsheikh (, ,) is an administration center and coastal town of Warsheikh district. Warsheikh is located ...