Everything about Mogadishu totally explained
Mogadishu (pronEng|ˌmoʊgəˈdɪʃuː}};
Somali:
Muqdisho, popularly
Xamar;
Maqadīshū; ) is the largest city in
Somalia and the nation's
capital.
Located in the coastal
Benadir region on the
Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important regional
port for centuries.
With the collapse of the central government in 1991, Mogadishu has been the stage for 17 years of fighting between rival
militias. Years of civil unrest and uncontrolled insurgencies have transformed Mogadishu into one of the most dangerous and lawless cities in the world. Estimates of the city's current population vary greatly, with figures ranging from 1.5 million to 3 million.
History
Trade connected Somalis in the Mogadishu area to other communities along the Indian coast as early as the 1st century according to the
Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. With
Muslim traders from the
Arabian Peninsula arriving circa 900 AD, Mogadishu was well-suited to become a regional center for
commerce. The northernmost of the East African
city-states, Mogadishu prospered through trade with the interior, which spread
Islam throughout Somalia. The
Portuguese visited the city but never took it. In 1871
Barghash bin Said, the
sultan of
Zanzibar, occupied the city.
In 1892,
Ali bin Said leased the city to
Italy. Italy purchased the city in 1905 and made Mogadishu the capital of
Italian Somaliland. The surrounding territory came
under Italian control in 1936 after heavy resistance. In
World War II British forces from
Kenya captured Mogadishu on
February 26 1941. The British ruled until the Italian Trust Administration of Somalia (AFIS), established by the
United Nations, began on
1 April 1950 to administer the former Somali
colony as a
protectorate to prepare it for independence. Somalia became independent on
1 July 1960 with Mogadishu as its capital.
Rebel forces entered and took the city in 1990, forcing
President Mohamed
Siad Barre to resign and flee in January 1991 to
Lagos,
Nigeria. One faction proclaimed
Ali Mahdi Muhammad president, another
Mohamed Farrah Aidid. A contingent of
United States Marines landed near Mogadishu on
December 9,
1992 to spearhead the
United Nations peacekeeping forces during
Operation Restore Hope.
Mogadishu was scene of bitter warfare and devastation caused by
fighting between Ethiopian troops, which invaded Somalia to support a fragile government, and Islamist guerrillas. Fighting escalated in
March–April 2007,
November 2007 and
April 2008 with hundreds of civilian casualties.
Geography
Mogadishu is located at . The
Shebelle River (
Webe Shabelle) rises in central Ethiopia and comes within of the
Indian Ocean near Mogadishu before turning southwestward. Usually dry during February and March, the river provides water essential for the cultivation of
sugarcane,
cotton, and
bananas.
Features of the city include the
Hamarwein Old Town, the
Bakaara Market, and the former resort of
Gezira Beach.
Economy
Mogadishu serves as a commercial and financial center. The economy has recovered somewhat from the civil unrest although the
Somali Civil War still presents many problems. The effective absence of government yields free trade without taxes or regulatory expenditures, making business relatively inexpensive. Businesses have hired armed militias to provide security against gunmen, leading to a gradual reduction in street violence. However, because of the absence of federal authorities, extremely high levels of crime including frequent murders and occasional bombings are still rampant in the city.
Principal industries include food and beverage processing and textiles, especially
cotton ginning. The main market offers a variety of goods from food to electronic gadgets.
Telcom a
telecommunications network operator in Somalia has its headquarters in the city.
Transportation
Road
Roads leading out of Mogadishu connect the city to many other Somali locales and to
Ethiopia and
Kenya.
Air
Private airlines service Mogadishu at various airports within and around the city. The intense fighting largely destroyed the old
Mogadishu International Airport, which briefly reopened before the
War in Somalia (2006-present). As of 2007,
K50 Airport serves Mogadishu.
Sea
Mogadishu leads Somalia in port traffic and still serves as a major seaport.
International traders actively benefit from its de facto
duty-free status. However,
piracy is widespread around Somalia's coastal areas, making sea transport risky.
Government
Mogadishu has had no official government for many years now since the city was mostly controlled by various heavily-armed militias and factions. In recent years, however, the
Transitional Federal Government with the help of foreign troops appears to have finally amassed the necessary military wherewithal to engage the militias and reestablish the rule of law.
Education
The
Mogadishu University is a non-governmental university that's governed by the Board of Trustees and the University Council. The
Somalia National University has been closed indefinitely due to extensive damage. Benadir University was started in 2002 with the intention of training doctors but has expanded into other fields.
Somali Institute of Management and Administration Development (SIMAD) has given the priority to the areas of business administration, information technology and accountancy due to human capital shortage in the country's private sector management.
Sport
The city is home to the
Mogadiscio Stadium, which plays host to the
Somalia Cup and to
football (soccer) teams from the
Somalia League.
Notable Mogadishans
Further Information
Get more info on 'Mogadishu'.
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