A young Somali woman presents Mogadishu to visitors away from the image of violence and conflict

According to what was published by BBC News Arabic, the 23-year-old Somali woman, Sukdi Abdel Fattah Abdel Qader, seeks to present a different image of the city of Mogadishu, beyond the image of suicide attacks and militants with whom many are linked to the capital. She is one of a number of local tour guides who take visitors to discover the natural and historical sites and culture of the city.

Its tours often start from the island's shore, then move to the nearby sand dunes and fish market. Visitors can also sample Somali dishes. such as camel meat, samosas, and traditional tea.

Sokdi belongs to a family that inherited the profession of tourist guide, where her father worked for more than three decades. She started working about three years ago, posting clips of her tours on TikTok, and is considering producing English-language content to reach a wider audience.

According to the country's Tourism Department, about 10,000 tourists visited Somalia in 2024, a 50 percent increase from the previous year. Receiving five tourists a week is a success. Although tourism is still a relatively new field. Many visitors inquire about their safety before traveling, but Sokdi says their experience on the ground is generally positive.

Mogadishu suffered decades of civil war and destruction after the collapse of the central government in 1991, and then witnessed a gradual transformation after the withdrawal of Al-Shabaab from most of its parts in 2011, and the establishment of the federal government in 2012. Insecurity and the legacy of conflict remain part of everyday life.

Foreign visitors include American content creator Chris Rees. Visiting the city twice, he described the nearby desert as beautiful, only a 30-minute drive away. As for the Romanian tourist Mihaela Batap, she said that she feels safe and that the people of the country are friendly.

Source: BBC News Arabic - https://www.bbc.com/arabic/articles/cwn8dd3vj7yzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss