The Formation of Hirshabelle State Challenges and Opportunities
Hirshabelle was created in 2016 to advance Somalia’s federal project. Our latest research shows how rushed, top-down state formation, elite bargains, and unresolved clan grievances instead produced a fragile and contested member state. Hiiraan’s historical claims, the capital dispute between Beledweyne and Jowhar, and repeated breaches of informal power-sharing deals have fed parallel administrations, weakened institutions, and opened space for al-Shabaab and clan militias to fill the security and justice vacuum.
The report argues that stabilising Hirshabelle requires more than technical fixes. It calls for a reset of the federal bargain through constitutional and governance reform, inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue on power-sharing and the state capital, community-driven reconciliation, and an integrated security framework that brings Macawisley, SNA, ATMIS and local police under a coherent strategy.
Hirshabelle is a test case for Somalia’s wider federal experiment. Getting it right will be key to building legitimate, accountable and resilient Federal Member States across the country. Read the full report to explore the risks, but also the opportunities, for a more inclusive and stable Hirshabelle.
The Formation of Hirshabelle State Challenges and Opportunities