MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdi Hayir (Maareeye), has chaired a high-level meeting at the ministry’s headquarters to address challenges along the Lower Shabelle River and the urgent need to rehabilitate critical bridges essential for local transport and economic activity.
The meeting focused on identifying solutions for repairing and reconstructing several vital bridges, Sabiib, Caanoole, Bariire, Janaale, and Awdhiigle, which play a central role in facilitating movement of people, trade, and agricultural produce from the region .
Multi-Stakeholder Participation
Discussions brought together senior government officials, including Minister of Defence Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing Ayuub Ismail Yusuf, alongside the Chairman of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), representatives from the Somali Chamber of Commerce and Banadir Regional Chamber, business leaders, farmers from Lower Shabelle and Golweyn, money transfer operators, Hormuud Salaam Foundation, and ADC .
Bariire Bridge: A Strategic Priority
The Bariire bridge has been a particular focus of reconstruction efforts following the town’s liberation from Al-Shabaab control. In August 2025, Lower Shabelle Governor Ibrahim Aden Najah visited Bariire, the strategic town recently liberated from Al-Shabaab by Somali National Army forces in cooperation with AUSSOM and Ugandan troops. During his visit, the Governor acknowledged the extensive damage inflicted on the town’s infrastructure during years of militant control, particularly the destruction of the bridge that links Bariire with surrounding communities .
Najah pledged close collaboration with federal authorities, international partners, and humanitarian agencies to ensure the swift repair of the bridge, which serves as a vital economic and security lifeline for farmers, traders, and residents in the region .
“The people of Bariire have suffered long enough. Restoring essential infrastructure will be our top priority so that residents can access markets, services, and humanitarian aid without hindrance,” he stated .
Private Sector and Community Collaboration
Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the government, private sector, and local communities to address river challenges, ensure functional bridge infrastructure, and improve the cleanliness and flow of river waterways .
The meeting concluded with a fundraising initiative to support the removal of collapsed bridge iron debris from the river and to finance clean-up operations, aimed at restoring mobility for residents and facilitating the transport of agricultural produce, thereby boosting productivity in the Lower Shabelle region .
Strategic Importance of Lower Shabelle Infrastructure
The liberation of Bariire was seen as a significant milestone in the ongoing military campaign aimed at weakening Al-Shabaab’s grip on rural strongholds in southern Somalia. Security analysts note that the town’s recovery could pave the way for further stabilization efforts in Lower Shabelle, a region long regarded as the militant group’s financial and logistical hub .
The reconstruction of these vital bridges is expected to restore civilian life and government authority across Lower Shabelle, enabling residents to access markets, services, and humanitarian aid without hindrance. The meeting’s fundraising initiative represents a collaborative approach to addressing infrastructure challenges, with the government, private sector, and local communities working together to restore essential connectivity in the region .
