| Conventional Long Name: | Hirshabelle State of Somalia |
| Common Name: | Hirshabelle |
| National Anthem: | Qolobaa Calankeed |
| Capital: | Jowhar |
| Largest City: | Jowhar |
| Official Languages: | Somali |
| Government Type: | Federated state under a presidential democracy |
| Leader Title1: | President |
| Leader Name1: | Ali Abdullahi Hussein |
| Leader Title2: | Vice-President |
| Sovereignty Type: | Autonomy Federal Member State |
| Sovereignty Note: | within Somalia |
| Established Event1: | Established |
| Established Date1: | 05 October 2016 |
| Population Estimate: | 1,189,100 (estimate)[1] |
| Population Estimate Year: | 2019 |
| Hdi: | 0.3 |
| Currency: | Somali shilling |
| Currency Code: | SOS |
| Time Zone: | EAT |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
| Time Zone Dst: | not observed |
| Drives On: | right |
| Calling Code: | +252 (Somalia) |
| Cctld: | .so |
| Iso3166code: | SO |
| Demonym: | Somali |
| Ethnic Groups: | Somali |
| Religion: | Islam |
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 of Somalia and Banadir region to the south, Ethiopia to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Jowhar is the capital state.
Hirshabelle consists of the Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions of Somalia. The name of the state originates from combining their names. Hirshabelle proclaimed itself the autonomous Federal Member State of the Federal Republic of Somalia as stipulated in the provisional Constitution of Somalia.
The creation of the Hirshabelle State has long been controversial, as both regions, Hiran and Middle Shabelle, have expressed a desire to create their own separate regional states.
In October 2016, local presidential elections were held, which were won by Ali Abdullahi Osoble.[2] On 11 March 2017, the Hirshabelle Parliament approved a new Cabinet of 52 Ministers. In September 2017, the Parliament elected a President, Mohamed Abdi Ware.[3]
Ali Abdullahi Hussein has held the position of president in Hirshabelle State since 2020. Out of the 99 members of Parliament, 86 cast their votes in favor of him, with the remaining 13 votes going to Abdirahman Jimale Osman.[4]
In 2021, according to a report by the Somali Bureau of National Statistics, 21% of women in Hirshabelle State had experienced physical violence, 99.5% of women aged 15-49 had undergone female genital mutilation, 75% owned a mobile telephone, and 8% had used the internet in the preceding 12 months.[5] As of 2024, the Minister for Women and Human Rights was Rahma Guliye.[6]
| Region | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 622,700 | ||
| Hiran | 879,288 | |
| Total | 1,501,988 |
| District | |
|---|---|
| Beledweyne | |
| Buloburde | |
| Jalalaqsi | |
| Ceelcali District (ELALI) | |
| Moqakori | |
| Mataban | |
| Maxaas | |
| Buq aqable |
| District | |
|---|---|
| Jowhar | |
| Balcad | |
| Mahaday | |
| Adale | |
| Gamboole | |
| Ceeldhere barsane | |
| Warsheikh | |
| Adan Yabal | |
| Masaajid Caligaduud | |
| Ceel Baraf | |
| Ruun Nirgood |
The President of Hirshabelle is an executive head of Hirshabelle State of Somalia; the president is both head of state and head of government. The President can appoint and dismiss Cabinet members.
For a comprehensive list of the presidents of Hirshabelle State of Somalia, see the List of presidents of Hirshabelle article. The current president of Hirshabelle is Ali Abdullahi Hussein.
The road that passes through Jowhar and connects the cities of Jalalaqsi and Mogadishu is considered relatively safe. The road from Jalalaqsi to Buloburde serves as a supply route for the city of Buloburde, but may be subject to attacks by Al-Shabaab. The road from Bulobarde through the Halgan village in Beledwayne passes through Al-Shabab territory, and is therefore more susceptible to attacks by the group. At the same time, the movement of civil transport can be carried out through the territory of Al-Shabaab.
In March and April, the average daily maximum temperature in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiraan, is 36.7C. In December, the average daily maximum temperature is 21.9C.