Region
Hirshabelle State of Somalia: Jowhar (Johar), Beledweyne, history and leaders
Hirshabelle joins Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle into one member state, with Jowhar as its capital and Beledweyne as its second city. It was the last of the five post-2012 states, with its first leader elected in October 2016. Ali Gudlawe Hussein was re-elected on 24 October 2026, and the state works with the federal government.
How it began
Hirshabelle was set up under Article 49 of the provisional constitution, which lets two or more regions form a member state. It was the last of the states formed after 2012. Ali Abdullahi Osoble won the first leadership vote in October 2016, and parliament approved a 52-member cabinet on 11 March 2017 (Hirshabelle).
Land and people
The capital is Jowhar, in Middle Shabelle, and Beledweyne in Hiiraan is the second city. The Shabelle River runs through both regions, and its farms feed much of the south. The 2014 population survey counted about 1.03 million people; a 2019 estimate gave about 1.96 million (Hirshabelle). Hawadle, Abgaal and other clans live here, along with Shiidle, Somali Bantu and other riverine communities (Heritage Institute, Nov 2025). No clan owns the state.
Leaders
- Ali Abdullahi Osoble, elected October 2016, removed by parliament in 2017
- Mohamed Abdi Waare, elected September 2017
- Ali Abdullahi Hussein "Gudlawe", elected 2020 with 86 of 99 votes (Hirshabelle), re-elected 24 October 2026 (Horseed Media)
Communities against al-Shabaab
In mid-2022 local defence groups known as Macawiisley rose against al-Shabaab in Hiiraan, angered by its taxes and forced recruitment. Community leaders, among them the late Chief Elmi Hagar Guure, led the start of the revolt (Hiiraan Online). The federal government armed and backed the groups, and moved to bring them into the national army in 2025 (Ma'awisley).
What it means for people
Hirshabelle's leaders say the fighters who rose in 2022 still need more support (AllAfrica).
Where this state fits
Article 1 of the 2012 provisional constitution says "Somalia is a federal state". The idea runs through every major peace text from Cairo in 1997 onward, and the 2004 Mbagathi conference adopted it (Heritage Institute). Two or more regions may join to form a member state. Each state has its own leader, parliament and constitution, and works with the federal government in Mogadishu. See the overview page on how the federal system works.
Sources
- Hirshabelle · en.wikipedia.org
- Heritage Institute, Nov 2025 · heritageinstitute.org
- Horseed Media · horseedmedia.net
- Hiiraan Online · hiiraan.com
- Ma'awisley · en.wikipedia.org
- AllAfrica · allafrica.com
- Heritage Institute · heritageinstitute.org
Gathered in our research record “Somalia's political landscape, 2012 to 2026”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.
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Where this matters
- Beledweyne (Belet Weyne) and HiiraanHiiraan is a region of Hirshabelle State on the Shabelle river, with Beledweyne as its capital and about 505,000 to 598,000 people.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
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