The young Somali woman changing how the world sees Mogadishu

What the report says

A BBC Africa report profiles Sucdi Abdul Fattah Abdul Khader, a 23-year-old Somali tour guide who is helping present Mogadishu as more than a conflict zone. Working with her father and a small team of guides, she leads visitors to places such as Jazeera beach, the fish market and historic areas of the capital, highlighting the city’s coastline, food and trading heritage. She also promotes her tours on social media, including TikTok, to reach audiences outside Somalia.

The article says tourism is still a relatively small and seasonal industry in Mogadishu, and many visitors remain concerned about safety before they travel. That caution reflects Somalia’s long history of insecurity after the collapse of the central government in 1991, the civil war that followed, and the later withdrawal of al-Shabab from most of Mogadishu in 2011. Since then, the capital has seen gradual rebuilding, with new hotels, restaurants and businesses contributing to a construction and commercial boom.

BBC Africa reports that Somalia’s tourism department says about 10,000 tourists visited the country in 2024, up 50% from the year before. Visitors quoted in the piece said their experience on the ground was often more positive than the image they had formed from international news. The story suggests that guides like Sucdi are part of a wider effort to reshape perceptions of Mogadishu and encourage more responsible tourism, while acknowledging that security concerns and the legacy of conflict still affect the city.