Mogadishu travel guide — Mogadishu tourism and travel information

Mogadishu travel guide

about Mogadishu

Mogadishu is the capital city of Somalia, eastern Africa, on the Indian Ocean. In 2000, the population was estimated to be 1,219,000.

Mogadishu is the country's largest city, a seaport, and a commercial and financial center. Its principal industries are food and beverages, and textiles. The city is linked by road with Kenya and Ethiopia and has an international airport. Among its historic buildings are the Mosque of Fakr ad-Din (1269) and Garesa Palace, built in the late 19th century for the local administrator of the sultan of Zanzibar and now housing a museum and library. Mogadishu is the seat of the Somalia National University.

Mogadishu was settled by Arab colonists c.900, and by the early 12th century had become an important trade center for the east coast of Africa. It was visited by Zheng He's armada and came under the control of Portugal in the 16th century. The origin of the name is unclear; one version claims it as the Somali version of the Arabic name "maqad shah" (imperial seat of the shah), another version claims that it is a Somali version of the Swahili "mwyu ma" (last northern city).

In 1871 the city was occupied by the sultan of Zanzibar, who leased it to the Italians in 1892. In 1905 Italy purchased the city and made it the capital of its colony of Italian Somaliland. Mogadishu was captured and occupied during World War II by British forces operating from Kenya. During Somalia's long civil war from the 1970s, rebel forces took the city in 1990. Intense battling between clan-based rebel factions damaged many parts of Mogadishu in 1991 and 1992. UN peacekeeping forces were stationed in the city between 1992 and 1995.

On October 3, 1993, an attempt by the United States Army to capture lieutenants of the warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid while successful, ended in disaster. In the ensuing battle, 19 American soldiers were killed and several dozen were injured. The events were later dramatised in the novel and film Black Hawk Down.

Today Mogadishu continues to be one of the world's most dangerous cities, as clan and faction fighting rages unabated. The city is also the seat of the internationally-recognized Transitional National Government, ostensibly an interim government for the entire nation of Somalia which in reality has no influence outside the radius of a few blocks beyond its headquarters.

Near cities to Mogadishu

• Garoowe travel guide 780 km
• Malindi travel guide 830 km
• Meru travel guide 890 km
• Berbera travel guide 930 km
• Mombasa travel guide 930 km
• Nyeri travel guide 950 km
• Nairobi travel guide 1 000 km
• Tanga travel guide 1 100 km
• Addis Ababa travel guide 1 100 km
• Moshi travel guide 1 100 km

Near webcams to Mogadishu

• Zanzibar - Stone Town webcam 1 100 km
• Daressalam webcam 1 200 km
• Abu Dhabi Corniche webcam 2 700 km
• Saint Denis webcam 2 800 km
• Saint Denis webcam 2 800 km
• Dubai webcam 2 800 km
• Dubai webcam 2 800 km
• Dubai webcam 2 800 km
• Mafatte webcam 2 800 km
• Reunion - Le Piton de la Fournaise webcam 2 800 km

back to top

Mogadishu travel services

cheap flights to Mogadishu

• book cheap flights to Mogadishu »
• book cheap flights to Somalia »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Mogadishu, cheap flights Mogadishu, also available cheap airline tickets to Somalia and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Mogadishu deals also available.

cheap Mogadishu hotels

• book cheap hotels to Mogadishu »
• book cheap hotels to Somalia »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Mogadishu, Somalia hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Mogadishu hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Mogadishu vacations

• book Mogadishu vacations »
• book Somalia vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Mogadishu, Somalia vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Mogadishu vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Mogadishu

• book cheap car rental in Mogadishu »
• book cheap car rentals in Somalia »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Mogadishu, car hire in Somalia and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Mogadishu car hire deals also available.

Mogadishu travel insurance

• Mogadishu cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for Somalia »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Mogadishu, accident health Mogadishu travel insurance, all using our online Mogadishu travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Somalia. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Mogadishu real estate

• Mogadishu real estate guide »
• real estate listings in Somalia »

City Travel Guide comes with Mogadishu real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Mogadishu property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Somalia, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Mogadishu.

back to top

Mogadishu travel books

Mogadishu travel guide books

• Mogadishu travel guide books »
• Somalia travel guide books »

Mogadishu maps and atlases

• Mogadishu maps and atlases »
• Somalia maps and atlases »

back to top