Jubba

Jubba is a transboundary river in East Africa that rises in the Ethiopian Highlands and flows southwest into southern Somalia, draining into the Indian Ocean. Along with the Shabelle, it is one of Somalia's two major rivers and forms an extensive basin that supports agriculture and settlements in the Jubba Valley.

Origin and course: The Jubba is formed by the confluence of the Ganale Dawa and the Dawa rivers in Ethiopia. From there it travels across the Ethiopia–Somalia border, tracing a path through the Jubba Valley before reaching the coast near the port of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

Hydrology and basin: The river's discharge is highly seasonal, with higher flows during the Ethiopian and Somali rainy seasons. Its basin spans parts of Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions and southern Somalia, and it includes major towns along its banks. The water supports irrigation in the Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba regions, though cross-border water management and droughts affect reliability.

Human aspects and environment: The Jubba valley has long supported farming, grazing, and fishing. In modern times, irrigation schemes and livestock production in the Jubba valley contribute to regional economies, but the river's flow is vulnerable to climate variability, desertification, and political instability that can hamper water access and flood risk management.