Lower Shabelle

Lower Shabelle (Somali: Shabeellaha Hoose,^[5] Maay: Shibelithy Hoosy, Arabic: شبيلي السفلى, Italian: Basso Scebeli) is an administrative region (gobol) in southern Somalia.^[6]

Lower Shabelle Shibelithy Hoosy Shabeellaha Hoose شبيلي السفلى Basso Scebeli
Region
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Somalia
Coordinates: 1°46′6″N 44°23′24″E
Country	Somalia
Regional State	South West
Capital	Merca
Government
• Type	Federal State
• Governor	Mohamed Ibrahim Barre[1]
Area
• Total	25,285 km2 (9,763 sq mi)
Population  (2019[2])
• Total	1,218,700
• Density	48/km2 (120/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
ISO 3166 code	SO-SH[3]
HDI (2021)	0.323[4] low · 10th of 18

Geography

Lower Shabelle is bordered by the regions of Banaadir, Middle Shabelle (Shabeellaha Dhexe), Hiran, Bay, Middle Jubba (Jubbada Dhexe) and by the Somali Sea. It is named after the Shebelle River, which passes through it.

Until 1984, when the regions were reassigned, it was part of the larger Benadir region and its capital was Mogadishu. Merca is now the Lower Shabelle capital.

Districts

Lower Shabelle Region is divided into nineteen districts:

• Merca Minicipality (Capital City)
• Afgooye District
• Barawa District
• Kurtunwarrey District
• Jilib Merca District
• Danaane District
• Gondershe District
• Ceeljaalle District
• Lambar 50 District
• Qoryooley District
• Sablaale District
• Wanlaweyn District
• Awdheegle District
• Mubaarak District
• Bariire District
• Jannaale District
• Shalambood District
• Buul Golweyn District
• Buulo marer District

Major cities

Major cities include

• Merca
• Afgooye
• Elasha Biyaha
• Qoryoley
• Barawa
• Awdheegle
• Wanlaweyn
• Sablale
• Jannaale
• Mubaarak
• Buulo Mareer
• Gobanle
• Jilib Merca
• Kunyo Barrow
• Daarusalam

Violence in Golweyn

On 30 July 2017, an AMISOM convoy was ambushed by al-Shabaab insurgents, killing and wounding several Ugandan soldiers.^[7]

Eight children were killed and dozens were wounded when a bomb exploded in Golweyn on 31 January 2021.^[8]