Mogadishu

Mogadishu has a rather dry climate for a city so close to the equator. It has a hot and semi-arid climate.

The average year-round temperature in the city is 27 °C, with average maximums of 30 °C and minimums of 24 °C.

Temperature measurements range by 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) every month, indicating a hyperoceanic and subtype genuinely hyperoceanic continentality type.

The city receives 3,066 hours of sunshine on average every year, with an average of 8.4 hours of sunlight per day.

Mogadishu is in the Banaadir administrative area (gobol) in southern Somalia, on the Indian Ocean coast of the Horn of Africa.

The territory is contiguous with the city and substantially smaller than Benadir’s ancient province.

The Hamarwein old town, the Bakaara Market, and Gezira Beach are among attractions in the city. Mogadishu’s beautiful beaches, which are home to flourishing coral reefs, are perfect real estate for the city’s first tourist resorts in years.

Mogadishu has long been known as a business and financial hub. The city’s textiles were transported far and wide across the continent, as well as to the Arabian peninsula and as far as the Persian coast, before the arrival of mass-produced fabric from Europe and America.

Since the city’s pacification in mid-2011, Mogadishu’s economy has exploded. The SomalFruit processing facility, as well as the nearby Coca-Cola factory, were also reopened. The First Somali Bank opened in the capital in May 2012, making it the first commercial bank to launch in southern Somalia since 1991.

Flights arrive at MIA International Airport, also known as Aden Adde International Airport, which is located only a few kilometers southwest of the city center. The airport’s facilities are rudimentary, but the Turkish government has set aside funding to upgrade the airport’s security, control tower, and navigational equipment. As of 2016, over one hundred flights per day fly to and from the airport.

Jubba Airways, the sole Somali carrier, operates flights from Dubai, Jeddah, Nairobi, and Djibouti, as well as local flights from Hargeisa and other places.

African Express Airways operates flights from Mogadishu to Abu Dhabi, Aden, Berbera, Bosaso, Dubai, Galkayo, Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta, Riyan Mukalla, Sharjah, and Wajir.

Daallo Airlines offers flights to Djibouti, with a stopover at Hargeisa.

East African also offers a weekly service from Nairobi to Wajir on Sundays, with the return aircraft stopping in Wajir for security checks before continuing on to Nairobi.

Turkish Airlines currently operates twice-weekly flights from Istanbul to Khartoum. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, flights leave from Atatürk Airport. Round-trip tickets start at €430.

It is feasible to drive a truck into the city, but this is regarded a dangerous action unless you engage a company of local militia, who are easily available for rent. Roads connect the city to several Somali locations, as well as Kenya and Ethiopia. Armed guards, paid security forces, and experienced escorts are all required for a safe admission, and even then, there is a considerable possibility of being hurt, murdered, or captured.

Small cargo ships depart Mombasa’s Old Harbour on a daily basis for Mogadishu and, on occasion, Kismayo. Speak with the security guards at the port’s entrance, and they will negotiate a fee with the captain. Depending on the circumstances, the voyage will take between 2 and 5 days. In July and August, the water is choppy, necessitating longer journeys. Arriving by boat is dangerous since there is a high potential of being assaulted by pirates, while the port area is reasonably safe.

When it rains, the roads become a muddy mess, traffic lights don’t always operate, and there are no traffic regulations or public transportation. Mogadishu’s road network is gradually being restored and paved. It’s a requirement to have a car with a driver and armed guards. Break-ins at crossroads are likely, so don’t showcase anything precious that a Somali could deem worthwhile. Hire an armored truck with a driver and security guards.

MARKET / SUPERMARKET

RESTAURANTS

ENTERTAINMENT

• Arba-Rucun Mosque (Mosque of the Four Pillars). Because of the city’s Islamic background, which is one of the few things that the city’s numerous warlords can agree on, this 1269 mosque has fared better than the nearby cathedral, and is one of the few structures in the old center that is not a ruin. A direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed is supposed to have erected it.
• Arch of Triumph (Arco di Trionfo Popolare). The Italians erected the Triumph Arc in 1936.
• Banadir Governor Office (ufficio Govorno). The governor’s residence in the government building. It’s a great spot for snapping photos or chatting with the helpful staff.
• Black Hawk Down Crash Site. It is extremely necessary to hire a security guard. The Bakara Market is where you’ll find this restaurant. There are plans to gather the ruins and store them in a secure location where people will be able to view them without fear of being attacked.
• Jaziira Livestock market. A thriving camel market, as well as cows, lambs, and goats, is available. Animals being fed before being sent to the Middle East. There are a variety of breeds available, ranging from Somali Cattle to Ethiopian Borana Cattle. The fresh flavor of camel milk may be found at the Camel Market.
• Ruins of Mogadishu Cathedral. The Cathedral, which was built during Italian Somaliland’s colonial years, has barely survived decades of civil strife. It was substantially destroyed during conflict in the 1990s, and Islamists bombed it heavily in 2008. As a reminder of the original structure, some stone walls and arches remain. As a demonstration of religious unity, the new Somali government has suggested the idea of restoring the Cathedral.
• Mogadishu Lighthouse. The appeal of an Italian colonial lighthouse that has been in ruins since the war.
• Old Shanghai City.
• Telecommunication Headquarter. This safe, customer-friendly, and business-oriented location is conveniently located near the airport. You may pay them a visit and take in the view of the beach from the roof, where you can watch jets take off and the Indian Ocean. Make sure you get in touch with them ahead of time.
• Jaziira Beach (south of the city). A beautiful and peaceful location with resorts, hotels, and restaurants, as well as a white, sandy, sunny beach that is popular with everybody. A little island where you may snap photographs and take a boat trip is one of the attractions.
• Mogadishu Fish Market. The fish market, which was built with the help of the UK-Somalia partnership, is booming. For visitors who have seen the famous “Mogadishu Fish Picture” and want to try it for themselves.

Nasa Hablod Restaurant, located within Hotel Nasa Hablod, and the Sahafi Hotel provide international cuisine. These are most likely the most secure solutions for travelers.

• The Village,  +252 616692309, e-mail: info@thevillagehar.com. There are multiple locations, including one near the airport. The main restaurant is in the heart of the city, just adjacent to the bus station.
• Liido Seafood Restaurant. Offers both local and foreign specialties, with a focus on seafood. Foreign visitors flock here.
• Istanbul Restaurant. It serves both local and Turkish cuisine.

The Bakaara Market (Suuqa Bakaaraha) is Somalia’s biggest open market. It was founded in late 1972, under the government of Siad Barre, with the intention of allowing entrepreneurs to sell everyday necessities. Following the civil war, there was an increase in demand for weaponry and ammunition. Everything from handguns to anti-aircraft weaponry is on the market. Documents that have been falsified are likewise widely accessible. Forged Somali, Ethiopian, and Kenyan passports may be completed in a matter of minutes. Cabdalle Shideeye, named for one of its initial owners, is the name of this illegal submarket.

Most marketplaces, particularly the Bakaara Market, are a focus of current weapons control initiatives for Somalia’s disarmament. Marketplaces should be regarded as dangerous not just because of their content and the existence of certain unsavoury persons, but also because they have caught fire multiple times in recent years.

Despite recent improvements, the city remains very risky for individual travel. Petty theft and violent crime continue to be a big concern in a city that has been essentially at war for over two decades and is full of jobless people with few goods. As a result, any white person and the majority of other immigrants are considered as affluent and a target for crime. For whatever reason, do not explore the streets alone. If you must go about the city, you should be escorted by hired guards and ride in an armored automobile, preferable. In non-armored cars, smash and grab break-ins are conceivable. With the security situation improving, more hotels are set to open…make sure yours has armed guards on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and do not leave valuables in your room.

Water and power are unreliable, and you should avoid drinking the water. Food and bottled beverages available in the city may or may not be safe to ingest. Seek the counsel of another foreigner who has lived in the city for a time. Health-care services are scarce.