Mogadishu

Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, is one of the oldest cities on the East African coast, a historic Indian Ocean trading port whose origins reach back over a thousand years. Long a crossroads where Arab, Persian, Indian and Swahili worlds met, it grew wealthy on trade in gold, ivory and cloth, and its old quarters preserve traces of that heritage in ancient mosques, among them one of the oldest in the region, and weathered coral-stone architecture. The city fronts the warm Indian Ocean along a sweep of long white beaches, and its markets, seafaring life and blend of cultures reflect the enduring maritime spirit of the Somali coast.

History

Mogadishu is believed to succeed Sarapion, a port listed in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea in the first century AD. From the 9th to the 13th century it was the capital of the Sultanate of Mogadishu, which long controlled the Indian Ocean gold trade; it came under the Ajuran Sultanate in the 13th century, was at its most prosperous in the 14th and 15th, and Ibn Battuta visited it in the 14th century (Wikipedia, Mogadishu).

What to look for

• The old mosques - among the oldest in the region.
• The coral-stone quarters - the weathered historic architecture.
• The beaches - the long white Indian Ocean shore.
• The markets - the trading and seafaring life of the port.

When to go

December to March, the cooler and drier season, is the most pleasant time on the coast, avoiding the hottest and wettest months; the warm Indian Ocean and beaches are inviting, and the mild weather suits exploring the old quarters. Coastal breezes temper the tropical heat.

Before you go

Mogadishu is a historic but much-weathered city whose old architecture has suffered over the years, so its appeal lies in its ancient heritage, seafront and everyday life more than grand intact monuments.

Nearby

The Indian Ocean beaches and the southern Somali coast lie around the city.

Key facts