World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
The young Somali woman changing how the world sees Mogadishu
Sucdi Abdul Fattah Abdul Khader, a 23-year-old guide in Mogadishu, is introducing visitors to the city’s beaches, history and food, challenging the image of Somalia shaped by years of conflict and insecurity. Her tours offer a view of Mogadishu as a welcoming place with natural beauty and a rich Indian Ocean heritage.
Working with her father, a guide for more than three decades, Sucdi leads visitors to Jazeera beach, sand dunes and the fish market, as well as historic areas and local eateries. Tourism is still small and seasonal: five tourists a week is considered a success, though about 10,000 people visited Somalia in 2024, 50% more than in 2023. Security concerns remain, and visitors may encounter checkpoints, but Mogadishu has changed since the federal government was established in 2012 and al-Shabab withdrew from most of the city in 2011.
In short
- A young guide is showing visitors Mogadishu’s beaches, history and culture.
- Somalia received about 10,000 tourists in 2024, up 50% year on year.
- Security concerns persist despite the capital’s gradual transformation.