Somalia Rivers

In the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, SOMALIA has multiple rivers and streams, but most of them are intermittent - meaning that they are occasionally or usually dry. Somaliland, the autonomous region in northern Somalia seeking independence from the rest of Somalia, only has intermittent rivers. From west to east, Somaliland's rivers include Silel, Durdur, El Der, Hodmo, Masagan, and Jidali; these rivers flow northward to the Gulf of Aden. East of Durdur River, Issutugan flows by Hargeysa, Somaliland's capital. Intermittent rivers in eastern Somalia, such as Deex Nugaaleed (north of Nugaaleed Valley), Dhuudo, Jaceel, and Wadaayimo, connect to the Indian Ocean (Badweynta Hindiya in the Somali language) located east of Somalia.

Two Important Rivers
Residents of both northern and southern Somalia deal with intermittent rivers that dry up sometimes. However, southern Somalia does have two permanent rivers: Webi Jubba and Webi Shebeelle. Webi Jubba is connected to Ethiopia's Dawa and Ganalē rivers and flows south to the Indian Ocean, passing by communities like Bardheere, Dujuuma, Goobweyn, Jilib, Jamaamae, Kamsuuma, Luuq, Salagle, and Saranley. Webi Shebeelle is east of Webi Jubba, and it also originates in the Ethiopia highlands. It begins near the Ahmar Mountains in Ethiopia, flows southeast toward Somalia, and then flows in a southern direction past communities like Beledweyne, Buulo Berde, Jiiqley, and Mahadday Weyn. Finally, Webi Shebeelle flows parallel to the Indian coast in a southwest direction - traveling past Mogadishu, Somalia's capital - then becomes a 75 kilometer intermittent river before joining Webi Jubba.