The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) has issued a warning regarding the risk of flooding from the Shabelle River, noting that the river has breached its banks at 366 critical locations.
SODMA Commissioner Mohamud Moallim Abdulle stated that the river’s condition and long-standing neglect have heightened the flood risk, particularly for areas situated near the river. “The Shabelle River has developed breaches at 366 locations, and these are major, hazardous sites,” said Mohamud Abdulle.
SODMA reported that the Shabelle River has long suffered from the accumulation of silt and sediment along its course; it was revealed that essential maintenance—such as dredging and the removal of accumulated sediment—has not been consistently carried out for nearly 40 years, a factor cited as increasing the risk of flooding.
In recent years, flooding from the Shabelle River has affected thousands of people, causing displacement and the destruction of homes and agricultural land. The top official of SODMA also stated that the security situation in areas surrounding the Shabelle River poses a major challenge to flood mitigation efforts, revealing that sections of the river’s course are located in areas controlled or influenced by Al-Shabaab, which complicates efforts by government agencies and other stakeholders to carry out maintenance and clearing work on the river.
He cited the area between Jalalaqsi and Mahadaay as an example, noting that parts of the river channel there had been filled with soil and converted into a roadway.
The Shabelle River is vital to the livelihoods of thousands of families who rely on agriculture and livestock, particularly those living along its banks.
Government agencies are facing pressure to step up flood preparedness, as communities living in low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to heavy rains and rising river levels.
