JOWHAR, Somalia – The Hirshabelle State Government Of Somalia has publicly rejected a recent report by the Somali National Bureau of Statistics , which ranked Middle Shabelle as the poorest region in the country and Hiiraan as second.

The report, unveiled on 22 May 2025 in Mogadishu, forms part of the second phase of the Somalia Census Project and was based on the 2022 Integrated Household Survey. It also included data on commodity price indices for the first quarter of 2025.

In an official statement circulated on social media, Hirshabelle sharply criticized the agency, alleging a fundamental misunderstanding of Somalia’s socio-economic dynamics and accusing it of misrepresenting the region’s reality.

“For the National Statistics Agency to categorize Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle as the poorest regions in Somalia is an injustice and clearly shows they do not understand the history of Somalia,” read the statement from the presidency of Hirshabelle.

The regional government emphasized that the local economy is primarily sustained by pastoralism, agriculture, and fishing—sectors considered vital to Somalia’s national economy. However, they are currently affected by recurring droughts and floods, which have impacted livelihoods. This raises questions about the accuracy of labeling these areas as the poorest.

Hirshabelle’s response casts doubt on the credibility and reliability of national statistics if such data is produced without inclusive consultation and regional collaboration. The dispute also underscores persistent challenges in federal cooperation and data harmonization in Somalia’s governance framework.