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	Africa
	Somalia

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Somalia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Somalia is bounded on the north by the Gulf of Aden, on the east and south by the Indian Ocean, on the southwest by Kenya, on the west by Ethiopia, and on the northwest by Djibouti. The total area is 637,657 sq km (about 246,200 sq mi). The northern part of Somalia is known as Somaliland and is a de facto semi-autonomous region, not recognized by the international community as an independent country, however. Mogadishu is the capital and largest city of the country. Most travelers will find that it is the most convenient place to start their trip to this fascinating country. It's the only place with an Internet Cafe, for example. Somalia has a long coastline, extending for about 3025 km (about 1880 mi), but it has few natural harbors. A sandy coastal plain borders on the Gulf of Aden in the north. A series of mountain ranges, with average elevations between about 915 and 2135 m (about 3000 and 7000 ft), dominates the northern part of the country. To the south, the interior consists of a rugged plateau, ranging in elevation from about 500 m (about 1640 ft) in the north to less than 180 m (less than 600 ft) in the south. In the south, a wide coastal plain, which has many sand dunes, borders on the Indian Ocean. The country's two major rivers are found on the southern plateau, the Jubba in the southern part and the Shabeelle in the south central section. The climate of Somalia ranges from tropical to subtropical and from arid to semiarid. Temperatures usually average 28° C (82° F), but may be as low as 0° C (32° F) in the mountain areas and as high as 47° C (116° F) along the coast. The monsoon winds bring a dry season from September to December and a rainy season from March to May. The average annual rainfall is only about 280 mm (about 11 in). Vegetation in Somalia consists chiefly of coarse grass and stunted thorn and acacia trees. Aromatic flora, producing frankincense and myrrh, are indigenous to the mountain slopes. In southern Somalia, eucalyptus, euphorbia, and mahogany trees are found. Wildlife is abundant and includes crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, leopards, lions, zebras, and many poisonous snakes. The vast majority of the population consists of Somali, a Cushitic people. A small minority of Bantu-speaking people live in the southern part of the country. Other minority groups include Arabs, Indians, Italians, and Pakistanis. Some 70 percent of the people are nomadic or seminomadic pastoralists. The remainder are either crop farmers or inhabitants of the few urban centers. Islam is the state religion in Somalia, and most of the people are Sunni Muslims. The official languages are Somali and Arabic; English and Italian are also used. Getting around in Somalia can be tough. The country has no railroads; of about 22,500 km (about 14,000 mi) of roads, about 25 percent are paved or gravel. Mogadishu is the leading port. A government-owned airline provides international service. Until the early 1990s, two government-owned radio stations broadcast in Arabic, English, Italian, Somali, and several other languages, but the collapse of Somalia's infrastructure because of the civil war has caused much of the country's telecommunications to be disrupted. Three of the competing factions provide some broadcasting. __________History Edit This Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire in 1905 Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire in 1905 Rechard.F.Burton Early history traces the development of the Somali people to an Arab sultanate which was founded in the seventh century A.D. by Koreishite immigrants from Yemen. During the 10th and 11th centuries Portuguese traders landed in present Somali territory and ruled several coastal towns. The sultan of Zanzibar subsequently took control of these towns and their surrounding territory. The Warsangeli Sultante was an imperial power centered around the borders of the North East of British Somaliland and some parts of South East of Italian Somaliland. It was one of the largest Sultanates of all times in Somalia, and, at the height of its power, it included the Sanaag region, parts of North East of Bari region. It was established by a tribe of Warsangeli in North of Somalia and ruled by the descendents of the Gerad Dhidhin. The Sultan also known as the Gerad, in some parts of Somalia, sometimes the Sultan or Gerad, was the sole regent and government of the Sultanate, at least officially. The dynasty is most often called the Gerad or the House of North East Somaliland Sultan. The sultan enjoyed many titles such as Sovereign of the House of North East of Somaliland Sultanate , Sultan of Sultans of Somaliland. Note that the first rulers never called themselves sultan s. The sultan title was established by Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire in 1897 Gerad Dhidhin (1298–1311) Gerad Hamar Gale(1311–1328) Gerad Ibrahim (1328–1340) Gerad Omer (1340–1355) Gerad Mohamud (1355–1375) Gerad Ciise (1375–1392) Gerad Siciid (1392–1409) Gerad Ahmed (1409–1430) Gerad Siciid (1430–1450) Gerad Mohamud (1450–1479) Gerad Ciise (1479–1491) Gerad Ali dable (1491–1503) Gerad Liban (1503–1525) Garad Yuusuf (1525–1555) Garad Mohamud (1555–1585) Garad Abdale (1585–1612) Garad Ali (1612–1655) Gerad Mohamud (1655–1675) Garad Naleye (1675–1705) Garad Mohamed (1705–1750) Gerad Ali (1750–1789) Gerad Mohamud Ali (1789–1830) Gerad Aul (1830-1870) Gerad Ali Shire (1870–1897) Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire (1897–1960) Sultan Abdul Sallan (1960–1997) Somalia's modern history began in the late l9th century when various European powers began to trade and establish themselves in the area that thet were located in. The British East India Company's desire for unrestricted harbor facilities led to the conclusion of treaties with the sultan of Tajura as early as 1840. It was not until 1886 however that the British gained control over northern Somalia through treaties with various Somali chiefs who were guaranteed British protection. British objectives centered on safeguarding trade links to the east and securing local sources of food and provisions. The boundary between Ethiopia and British Somaliland was established in 1897 through treaty negotiations between British negotiators and King Menelik. During the first two decades of this century British rule was challenged through persistent attacks led by the Islamic nationalist leader Mohamed Abdullah. A long series of intermittent engagements and truces ended in 1920 when British warplanes bombed Abdullah's stronghold at Taleex. Although Abdullah was defeated as much by rival Somali factions as by British forces he was lauded as a popular hero and stands as a major figure of Somali national identity. In 1885 Italy obtained commercial advantages in the area from the sultan of Zanzibar and in 1889 concluded agreements with the sultans of Obbia and Caluula who placed their territories under Italy's protection. Between 1897 and 1908 Italy made agreements with the Ethiopians and the British that marked out the boundaries of Italian Somaliland. The Italian Government assumed direct administration giving the territory colonial status. Italian occupation gradually extended inland. In 1924 the Jubaland Province of Kenya including the town and port of Kismayo was ceded to Italy by the United Kingdom. The subjugation and occupation of the independent sultanates of Obbia and Mijertein begun in 1925 were completed in 1927. In the late 1920s Italian and Somali influence expanded into the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia. Continuing incursions climaxed in 1935 when Italian forces launched an offensive that led to the capture of Addis Ababa and the Italian annexation of Ethiopia in 1936. Following Italy's declaration of war on the United Kingdom in June 1940 Italian troops overran British Somaliland and drove out the British garrison. In 1941 British forces began operations against the Italian East African Empire and quickly brought the greater part of the Italian Somaliland under British control. From 1941 to 1950 while Somalia was under British military administration transition toward self-government was begun through the establishment of local courts planning committees and the Protectorate Advisory Council. In 1948 Britain turned the Ogaden and neighboring Somali territories over to Ethiopia. In Article 23 of the 1947 peace treaty Italy renounced all rights and titles to Italian Somaliland. In accordance with treaty stipulations on September 15 1948 the Four Powers referred the question of disposal of former Italian colonies to the UN General Assembly. On November 21 1949 the General Assembly adopted a resolution recommending that Italian Somaliland be placed under an international trusteeship system for 10 years with Italy as the administering authority followed by independence for Italian Somaliland. In 1959 at the request of the Somali Government the UN General Assembly advanced the date of independence from December 2 to July 1 1960. Meanwhile rapid progress toward self-government was being made in British Somaliland. Elections for the Legislative Assembly were held in February 1960 and one of the first acts of the new legislature was to request that the United Kingdom grant the area independence so that it could be united with Italian Somaliland when the latter became independent. The protectorate became independent on June 26 1960; 5 days later on July 1 it joined Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic. In June 1961 Somalia adopted its first national constitution in a countrywide referendum which provided for a democratic state with a parliamentary form of government based on European models. During the early post-independence period political parties reflected clan loyalties and brought a basic split between the regional interests of the former British-controlled north and the Italian-controlled south. There also was substantial conflict between pro-Arab pan-Somali militants intent on national unification with the Somali-inhabited territories in Ethiopia and Kenya and the "modernists " who wished to give priority to economic and social development and improving relations with other African countries. Gradually the Somali Youth League formed under British auspices in 1943 assumed a dominant position and succeeded in cutting across regional and clan loyalties. Under the leadership of Mohamed Ibrahim Egal prime minister from 1967 to 1969 Somalia greatly improved its relations with Kenya and Ethiopia. The process of party-based constitutional democracy came to an abrupt end however on October 21 1969 when the army and police led by Maj. Gen. Mohamed Siad seized power in a bloodless coup. Following the coup executive and legislative power was vested in the 20-member Supreme Revolutionary Council (SRC) headed by Maj. Gen. Siad as president. The SRC pursued a course of "scientific socialism" that reflected both ideological and economic dependence on the Soviet Union. The government instituted a national security service centralized control over information and initiated a number of grassroots development projects. Perhaps the most impressive success was a crash program that introduced an orthography for the Somali language and brought literacy to a large percentage of the population. The SRC became increasingly radical in foreign affairs and in 1974 Somalia and the Soviet Union concluded a treaty of friendship and cooperation. As early as 1972 tensions began increasing along the Somali-Ethiopian border. In the mid-1970s the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) began guerrilla operations in the Somali region, recently known as (Kilil Five) of Ethiopia. Fighting increased and in July 1977 the Somali National Army (SNA) crossed into Kilil Five (Somali State of Ethiopia) to support the insurgents. The SNA moved quickly toward Harer, Jijiga and Dire Dawa the principal cities of the region. Subsequently the Soviet Union, Somalia's most important source of arms embargoed weapons shipments to Somalia. The Soviets switched their full support to Ethiopia with massive infusions of Soviet arms and 10 000-15 000 Cuban troops. In November 1977 President Siad Barre expelled all Soviet advisers and abrogated the friendship agreement with the U.S.S.R. On March 1978 Somali forces were terribly beaten by the Ruso-Cuban backed Ethiopians and were forced to retreat back into Somalia; however the WSLF continues to carry out sporadic but greatly reduced guerrilla activity in the Ogaden. Following the 1977 Ethio-Somali war, President Siad looked to the West for international support military equipment and economic aid. The United States and other Western countries traditionally were reluctant to provide arms because of the Somali Government's support for insurgencies in Ethiopia. In 1978 the United States reopened the U.S. Agency for International Development mission in Somalia. Two years later an agreement was concluded that gave U.S. forces access to military facilities in Somalia. In the summer of 1982 Ethiopian forces invaded Somalia along the central border and the United States provided two emergency airlifts to help Somalia defend its territorial integrity. From 1982 to 1990 the United States viewed Somalia as a partner in defense. Somali officers of the National Armed Forces were trained in U.S. military schools in civilian as well as military subjects. Within Somalia Siad Barre's regime became increasingly a victim of insurgencies in the northeast and northwest whose aim was to overthrow his government. By 1988 Siad Barre was openly at war with sectors of his nation. At the President's order aircraft from the Somali National Air Force bombed the cities in the northwest province attacking civilian’s indiscriminately as well as insurgent targets. Some cities in the north mainly, Hargeisa were carpet bombed and razed to rubble. The warfare in the north sped up the decay already evident elsewhere in the republic. Economic crisis brought on by the cast of the anti-insurgency caused further hardship as Siad Barre and his cronies looted the national treasury. By 1990 little remained of the Somali Republic. The insurgency in the northwest was largely successful. The army dissolved into competing armed groups loyal to former commanders or to clan-tribal leaders. The economy was in shambles and hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled their homes. In 1991 Siad Barre and forces loyal to him fled the capital; he died in exile in Nigeria. In 1992 responding to the political chaos and death in Somalia the United States and other nations launched Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force (UNITAF) the operation was designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from the effects of dual catastrophes--one man-made and one natural. UNITAF was followed by the United Nations Operation in Somalia. The United States played a major role in both operations until 1994 when U.S. forces withdrew after a pitched gun battle with Somali gunmen that left hundreds dead or wounded. __________Economy Edit This Economy—overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries Somalia has few resources. Moreover much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and semi-nomads who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood make up a large portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. After livestock bananas are the principal export; sugar sorghum corn and fish are products for the domestic market. The small industrial sector based on the processing of agricultural products accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. Moreover ongoing civil disturbances in Mogadishu and outlying areas are interfering with any substantial economic advance. GDP: purchasing power parity—$8 billion (1996 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$600 (1996 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 59% industry: 10% services: 31% (1995 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: NA% Labor force: total: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71% industry and services 29% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA including capital expenditures of $NA Industries: a few small industries including sugar refining textiles petroleum refining (mostly shut down) Industrial production growth rate: NA% Electricity—capacity: 144 000 kW prior to the civil war but now largely shut down due to war damage; some localities operate their own generating plants providing limited municipal power; note—UN and relief organizations use their own portable power systems Electricity—production: 245 million kWh (1995 est.) Electricity—consumption per capita: 33 kWh (1995 est.) Agriculture—products: bananas sorghum corn sugarcane mangoes sesame seeds beans; cattle sheep goats; fishing potential largely unexploited Exports: total value: $130 million (1994 est.) commodities: bananas live animals fish hides (1997) partners: Saudi Arabia 57% Yemen 14% Italy 13% UAE 10% US (bananas) (1995 est.) Imports: total value: $269 million (1994 est.) commodities: manufactures petroleum products foodstuffs construction materials (1995) partners: Kenya 24% Djibouti 18% Pakistan 6% (1995 est.) Debt—external: $2.6 billion (1994 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA $NA Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1—7 500 (November 1997 est.) 7 000 (January 1996 est.) 5 000 (1 January 1995) 2 616 (1 July 1993) 4 200 (December 1992) note: the Republic of Somaliland a self-declared independent country not recognized by any government issues its own currency the Somaliland shilling (Sol. Sh.); estimated exchange rate Sol. Sh. per US$1—4 000 (November 1997) Fiscal year: NA ____________People Edit This i Population: 7,253,137 note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated year by year between census years by factoring growth rates into them and by taking account of refugee movements and of losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 million to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1 512 014; female 1 511 858) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1 833 922; female 1 786 261) 65 years and over: 3% (male 90 475; female 107 165) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 4.43% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 46.75 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 18.5 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 16.08 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 125.77 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.23 years male: 44.66 years female: 47.85 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 7.01 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali Ethnic groups: Somali 85% Bantu Arabs 30 000 Religions: Sunni Muslim Languages: Somali (official) Arabic Italian English Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 24% male: 36% female: 14% (1990 est.) ::::::::::Badhan Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Badhan Badhan Alishireh Badhan, Sanaag Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: s ::::::::::::Bossaso Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_4 eng.abdiyasin Bossaso is the provisional capital of Bari state. It has international airport as well as sea port which is most imortant in the country. :::::::::Dusa Mareb Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Dusa Mareb is most beautiful town in Central Somalia. Dusa Mareb ( Somali: Dhuusamareeb ) is a capital town of Galguduud, Somalia. It is located at around 5°31'0?N, 46°23'60?E . :::::Galdogob Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Galdogob City Galdogob City Fiqi Xaji Goldogob is the second largest city in the Mudug region of Somalia . It lies approximately 16 kilometers southeast of the border with Ethiopia , and it is a strategic border city. Galdogob is a rapidly growing city. It has the 2nd largest hospital in central Somalia. It has a very reliable electricity and telecommunications sector. The city's fresh water is provided by the Galdogob Water System (GWS), which was founded by a group of local businessmen. All this has helped Galdogob develop into a large metropolitan city. It was, and still is, one of the most peaceful districts of Somalia during and after the fifteen-year absence of a central Somali national government. Visitors to Galdogob will find high-speed internet cafés, hotels, taxis, and all kinds of personal care. Education plays a vital role in the lives of the people, and private schools teach computer skills, English , mathematics, science, and Islamic studies. Galdogob International Airport is undergoing the final stages of the AFIN project, and is expected to be finished in early 2008. Galdogob also has a thriving livestock industry: thousands of camels , sheep , goats and cattle are bought from Galdogob every year. Livestock in Galdogob District is highest during the Islamic Pilgrimage, when over a thousands of heads of livestock are sold and shipped to Arab states. ::::::::Galkayo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Aireal view of Galkayo Aireal view of Galkayo WFP Galkayo is in central Somalia (GalMudug}. It is a busy trading town. ::::Garowe Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Garowe, Puntland, Somalia Garowe, Puntland, Somalia Garowe is the capital of Puntland region. It is situated in north eastern Somalia. It is a city with about 40'000 inhabitants. ::::::::Gendershe Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Beautiful coastal village located 73kms South of Mogadishu is home to one of the best white sand beaches in Africa. This unspoiled oasis has a history dating back to thousands of years, with it's old houses, narrow streets, old tombs and mosques as well as it is rich history will make an ideal place for history lovers. :::::::: Hobyo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see hobyo landscape with camels hobyo landscape with camels hobyo is the capital city of galmudug State of Somalia, more information go to website: www.mudug.com ::::::::Kismayu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Kismaayo is located in southern Somalia and it is the third largest city in Somalia, It has an Airport as well as a port that's working now. Since civil war started, Kismaayo was the target and startigic place that many clans once fought for. It is the richest city in Somalia in natural source because of it is located in southern Somalia; both sea and river pass through. ::::::Las-anod Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Lasanod is one of the most beautiful cities in Somalia. It literally means The milky stream. The city is modernizing rapidly due do to the contributions from abroad. Internet cafes (cheapest int the nation), large villas , gas stations, nice hotels are all visible in the city. It lies between two mountains. In recent years the city became famous with farming , thanks to many locals who moved from the south with the experties in farming. Becouse of the it's peacefull environment the city attracted interpenuers from North america and Europe to invest in their hometown. large communities from all around the country also came to work ,specially farming and construction. Lasanod has been the capital of Sool Region since 1984, as well as capital of Lasanod District. Sool Region has other five districts, Taleh, Hudun, Yagori and Ainabo, (, Taleex, Xuddun and Ceynabo) as shown on the Map. Geographically, Lasanod is located at the centre of a prime grazing area known as the Nugal Valley. The city is also close to the other high potential grazing areas of Hawd and Sool plateaus. Thus, Lasanod's location gives the city a unique characteristic of strong urban- pastoral linkage Before the collapse of the government in 1991, Lasanod was a town with a population of about 40,000. However, within one decade, the population skyrocketed to 90,000 by 2001 (WHO, 2001). A study conducted by SC-UK in 1998 on IDP and returnee population in Somalia revealed that 73% of the population in the town were returnees from other parts of the country. Of the returnees, most came from other parts of Somalia, especially Mogadishu. These households had been displaced by 1991 civil war and armed clan conflicts in the capital. However, many others in Lasanod have returned from the main towns in the North western due to ethnic tensions and clan affiliation. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Somaliland.org ___________Sights Edit This Lasanod is one of the most beautiful cities in Somalia. It literally means The milky stream. The city is modernizing rapidly due do to the contributions from abroad. Internet cafes (cheapest int the nation), large villas , gas stations, nice hotels are all visible in the city. It lies between two mountains. In recent years the city became famous with farming , thanks to many locals who moved from the south with the experties in farming. Becouse of the it's peacefull environment the city attracted interpenuers from North america and Europe to invest in their hometown. large communities from all around the country also came to work ,specially farming and construction. Lasanod has been the capital of Sool Region since 1984, as well as capital of Lasanod District. Sool Region has other four districts, Taleh, Hudun, Ainabo, (, Taleex, Xuddun, Ceynabo, ) as shown on the Map. Geographically, Lasanod is located at the centre of a prime grazing area known as the Nugal Valley. The city is also close to the other high potential grazing areas of Hawd and Sool plateaus. Thus, Lasanod's location gives the city a unique characteristic of strong urban- pastoral linkage Before the collapse of the government in 1991, Lasanod was a town with a population of about 40,000. However, within one decade, the population skyrocketed to 90,000 by 2001 (WHO, 2001). A study conducted by SC-UK in 1998 on IDP and returnee population in Somalia revealed that 73% of the population in the town were returnees from other parts of the country. Of the returnees, most came from other parts of Somalia, especially Mogadishu. These households had been displaced by 1991 civil war and armed clan conflicts in the capital. However, many others in Lasanod have returned from the main towns in the North western due to ethnic tensions and clan affiliation. :::::::::::Merca Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see merca lighthouse merca lighthouse tahir turk Merca, also Merka or Marka, is a small town in southeastern Somalia, just south of Mogadishu. The town had its fifteen minutes of fame when it became the centre of the Banana war, when two warlords disputed the town because it was a major centre of banana exports. The Bananas are grwon in the irrigated area around Janhale on the Shabeelle (Shebele) River. Merca also has a beach, called Sinbusi, which is okay. ::::::::Mogadishu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see one of the beautiful region in somalia one of the beautiful region in somalia adar saqadhi With a population of about 1,5 million, Mogadishu is the largest city and chief seaport. The city has a rich 1,000-year history. Persian and Arab traders founded Mogadishu in the 10th century and intermarried with the local population. One of the earliest Arab settlements on the East African coast, the city was a leading commercial port by the 13th century; it went into a period of decline by the 16th century. The port was under the control of the sultan of Zanzibar, and of the Italian government in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mogadishu finally became capital of an independent Somalia in 1960. From 1992 to 1995 Mogadishu became the center of a United Nations (UN) operation intended to restore government and to ease famine caused in part by Somalia's civil war. With a new government it seems like peace is returning to the city. There are still many refugees in town but slowly life is getting back to normal. For visitors the main landmarks in town are the Arba-Rucun Mosque (Mosque of the four pillars) and the cathedral the Italians built right next to it. They are close to the waterfront and the old city with its many white houses and small streets. Other attractions include the beach, which is okay, although the tow can be dangerous and there are often sharks. But if Mogadishu is your next travel destinations fear will probably not stop you. ::::::::::.. galmudug State Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see looking for informtion about galmudug State of Somalia, please contact: www.mudug.com Government Adviser Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: galmudug ::::::::::hobyo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hobyo - Galmudug state Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: somalia