Shebelle River

The Shebelle River (Somali: Webi Shabeelle, Italian: Uebi Scebeli) begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal. During most years, the river dries up near the mouth of the Jubba River, while in seasons of heavy rainfall, the river actually reaches the Jubba and thus the Indian Ocean.

The Shebelle river's name is derived from the Somali term Wabi Shabeelle, meaning "Leopard/Tiger River". The Somali administrative regions consisting of Shabeellaha Dhexe and Shabeellaha Hoose are also named after the river.

Tributaries

The Shebelle has a number of tributaries, both seasonal and permanent rivers. They include:

The Fafen only reaches the Shebelle in times of heavy rainfall; its stream usually ends before reaching the main river.

History

The source of the Shebelle River is venerated by both the Arsi Oromo and the Sidamo people. It is surrounded by a sacred enclosure wooded with juniper trees, which as of 1951 was under the protection of a Muslim member of the Arsi.