Sucdi Abdul Fattah Abdul Khader, a 23-year-old Somali woman, is changing the way the world sees Mogadishu. She leads tourists on tours to the city's beautiful beaches, historic sites, and cultural attractions, showcasing a side of Somalia rarely seen by the international community. Her tours take visitors to Jazeera beach, where they can enjoy the sea and nearby sand dunes, often described as reminiscent of the Sahara desert.
Sucdi's tours go beyond scenic views, exploring the city's history as a busy Indian Ocean trading centre, with influences from Ottoman and Italian former rulers. Visitors can sample Somali food, including camel meat, samosas, and traditional tea, and discover the variety of marine life at the fish market. Many tourists arrive with expectations shaped by years of hearing about insecurity in Somalia, but Sucdi says they are often surprised by the country's beauty and the welcoming nature of its people.
Guiding tours runs in Sucdi's family; her father worked in the profession for over three decades, taking journalists, photographers, and visitors from different countries around Somalia. She started working alongside her father nearly three years ago and now uses social media to reach a wider audience, sharing videos of her tours on TikTok. Sucdi is considering producing content in English to reach audiences who do not speak Somali.
Tourism remains a relatively new field in Somalia, with only a handful of guides working in Mogadishu. The business is seasonal, but Sucdi says this year has been encouraging, with about five tourists a week, a number she is confident will grow. However, many visitors are still concerned about security, despite the city's gradual transformation since the withdrawal of al-Shabab in 2011 and the establishment of the federal government in 2012.
Mogadishu has undergone significant development, with a growing commercial hub and new hotels, restaurants, businesses, and residential developments. About 10,000 tourists visited Somalia in 2024, a 50% increase on the previous year, according to the country's tourism department. Many visitors ask about their safety before travelling and often encounter security checkpoints around the city, but Sucdi says their experience on the ground is generally positive.
Some tourists, like American travel content creator Chris Reese, have had positive experiences in Mogadishu, enjoying the city's coastal setting, food, and atmosphere. Chris visited Mogadishu twice, first solo and then with a group of friends, and was struck by the contrast between the city's reputation and what he experienced. He encourages others to visit Somalia, saying there is more to the country than what is shown in the headlines.
Other visitors, like Mihaela Patap from Romania, have also been inspired by Somalia's natural beauty and the friendliness of its people. Mihaela hopes to share her experience and encourage others to visit Somalia, promoting the country's hidden beauty. For Sucdi, that potential is personal, and she is determined to continue promoting Mogadishu's beauty, despite some questioning her safety as a young woman working as a tour guide.
Key points
- Sucdi Abdul Fattah Abdul Khader leads tourists on tours to Mogadishu's hidden attractions, challenging negative perceptions of the city.
- Tourism in Somalia is growing, with 10,000 visitors in 2024, a 50% increase on the previous year.
- Visitors to Mogadishu often have positive experiences, despite initial concerns about security, and are inspired by the city's beauty and culture.
