Rendezvous with Mogadishu | Long weekend in Somalia

Fri Jan 07 2022 at 02:00 am to Tue Jan 11 2022 at 04:30 pm

Dubai International | Dubai

Trekkup Dubai
Publisher/HostTrekkup Dubai
Rendezvous with Mogadishu | Long weekend in Somalia
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Among the most Godforsaken places on this planet, Mogadishu is way up there. Known as the capital city of the “failed state” of Somalia, it has been plagued by pirates, civil war and sectarian violence for years. So, it’s no wonder that it is the least annually visited tourist destination, worldwide. And if it wasn’t for the brave journalists who venture into these parts, the world wouldn’t actually know the extent of the brutality taking place.
So yes, although not exactly a coveted holiday destination, visits are possible – and worth it – for the most daring of travelers. Most of the buildings that line the streets of Mogadishu, some would say, look like swiss cheese because of the sheer amount of bullet holes in them. While shop signage is literally spray painted on, graffiti style. And the multi-coloured, cardboard-shaped facades almost symbolically emphasize the fragility of the reconstruction of Somalia, as the seeds of commercialisation make an appearance on a shot-up canvas.
In Mogadishu, you can easily buy uniforms and weapons everywhere since they’re openly available in numerous bazaars – at which Al Shabab provides uninterrupted deliveries to corrupt officials. And because of this, each roadblock or military checkpoint is approached with great trepidation, since you never know who is actually wearing a legitimate uniform.
In August 2011, Turkey became the foreign representative of Somalia's interests after the then Prime Minister of Turkey, now President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, visited Somalia, thus breaking the 20-year period in which no state official, outside the African continent, had made an official visit to Somalia.
Somalia's Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh, recently wrote in a press article that his country has "turned a corner". Yet, according to the Turkish ambassador, that’s not exactly accurate – since according to him, Somalia is about to turn a corner, but hasn’t quite managed it yet.
These are literally the building blocks for this country that for 20 years (1991-2021) has had no central government, although it was taken over by the parliament in 2012. To stonewall the change process however, Al Shabab has continued to consistently attack any officials advocating change, and in 2014, murdered five members of parliament.
However, change does take time, as the Turkish ambassador stressed, and with the determination of certain authorities, he’s confident it will come. Right now though in Somalia, there is a military mission called AMISOM (African Union Mission to Somalia), set up by a coalition of African nations.
Dick Olum, commanding the 6,000 Ugandan contingent, and strategically responsible for order in Sector One, is far from calm however, as he’s recently stressed that a strike by Al Shabab is imminent.
In Olum's bunker there is a large poster showing the Al Shabab hierarchy, and there is a red cross through the image of Ahmed Abdi Godan - a man who looks like a bandit, but actually regarded as an emir. He was killed by an American drone in September – hence the strike out. Now that Barawe, a port city 250km south of Mogadishu, is under AMISOM control, Sector One has practically been freed from Al Shabab’s militia. The situation is similar in other sectors i.e. in Sector Two, Kenyans, while in Sector Three, Ethiopians – are clearing the area.
During our trip to Sector One however, we will be accompanied by armored security, as we visit the highlights of the capital. And our plan is to go to the fish market, the Mogadishu lighthouse, the Daljirka Dahsoon monument, Lido beach, Mogadishu mile, Bakara Market (Black Hawk Down), Camel camps and the Mogadishu Peace Park.
Included: visa letters, armed guards, single rooms, meals.
Excluded: visa fees 60 USD, PCR test 30 USD.
Cost: 9,850 AED incl. flights.
See yah in Mogadishu x
Piotr
050 4848238
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