Mogadishu مقديشو ("the Palace of Shah")
Mogadishu Skyline, July 2007
Nickname: Xamar
Mogadishu's location in Somalia
Coordinates: 2°02′N 45°21′E / 2.033, 45.35
Country	Somalia
Region	Banadir
Government [1]
- Mayor	Mohamed Omar Habeb Dhere
- Police chief	Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid
Population (2006)
- Total	1,700,000
Time zone	EAT (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EAT (UTC+3)

Mogadishu [mogaˈdɪʃu] (Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; Arabic: مقديشو‎ Maqadīshū; Italian: Mogadiscio) is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known Mohamed Omar Habeb ( Maxamed Cumar Xabeeb Dheere) is a Somali Warlord based out of the city of Jowhar. Abdi Hasan Awale or Abdi Qeybdiid ( Cabdi Xasan Cawaale (Qeybdiid) born in 1948 is a Somali militia leader or Warlord, affiliated with the East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. UTC+2 corresponds to the following Time zones Eastern European Time Egypt Standard Time Central Africa Time Daylight saving time ( DST East Africa Time, or EAT, is a time zone used in eastern Africa. UTC+3 is used in the following locations Moscow Time Eastern European Summer Time West Asian Summer Time Somali ( Af Soomaali, الصوماليه is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by ethnic Somalis Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known

Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important regional port for centuries. Benadir ( Somali: Banaadir; بنادر Banādir, the Arabic broken plural of the Persian term bandar "moorage" "port" The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo

With the collapse of the central government in 1991, Mogadishu has been the stage for 17 years of fighting between rival militias. The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary Citizens to provide defense emergency law enforcement or Paramilitary service Years of civil unrest and uncontrolled insurgencies have transformed Mogadishu into one of the most dangerous and lawless cities in the world. Estimates of the city's current population vary greatly, with figures ranging from 1. 5 million to 3 million.

History

Main article: History of Mogadishu

Aerial view of a residential area of Mogadishu, with a U. Mogadishu ( Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar; مقديشو Maqadīshū; Mogadiscio is the largest city in Somalia, and its S. Marine Corps helicopter in the foreground, December 1992.

Trade connected Somalis in the Mogadishu area to other communities along the Indian coast as early as the 1st century according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities With Muslim traders from the Arabian Peninsula arriving circa 900 AD, Mogadishu was well-suited to become a regional center for commerce. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The Arabian Peninsula (in Arabic: شبه الجزيرة العربية šibh al-jazīra al-ʻarabīya or جزيرة العرب jazīrat al-ʻarab) Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer The northernmost of the East African city-states, Mogadishu prospered through trade with the interior, which spread Islam throughout Somalia. A city-state is a Region controlled exclusively by a City, usually having Sovereignty. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Portuguese visited the city but never took it. The Portuguese people (os Portugueses literally the Portuguese) are the Ethnic group or Nation native to the country of Portugal, in the west In 1871 Barghash bin Said, the sultan of Zanzibar, occupied the city. Sayyid Barghash bin Said Al-Busaid, GCMG, (1837 – March 26, 1888) (برغش بن سعيد البوسعيد son of Said bin Sultan Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings Zanzibar ( is part of the East African republic of Tanzania. It consists of the Zanzibar Archipelago in the

In 1892, Ali bin Said leased the city to Italy. Sayyid Ali bin Said Al-Busaid, GCSI, ( 1854 - March 5, 1893) (علي بن سعيد البوسعيد was the fourth Sultan of Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Italy purchased the city in 1905 and made Mogadishu the capital of Italian Somaliland. Italian Somalia (also known as Italian Somaliland) was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy ( Regno d'Italia) from the 1880s until 1942 in the territory The surrounding territory came under Italian control in 1936 after heavy resistance. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known as the In World War II British forces from Kenya captured Mogadishu on February 26, 1941. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The British ruled until the Italian Trust Administration of Somalia (AFIS), established by the United Nations, began on 1 April 1950 to administer the former Somali colony as a protectorate to prepare it for independence. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. In International law, a protectorate is a autonomous territory that is "protected" by a stronger state or entity hense the protector which engages to protect Somalia became independent on 1 July 1960 with Mogadishu as its capital. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Rebel forces entered and took the city in 1990, forcing President Mohamed Siad Barre to resign and flee in January 1991 to Lagos, Nigeria. President is a Title leaders of Organizations companies, Trade unions universities, and countries. Mohamed Siad Barre (Maxamed Siyaad Barre محمّد سياد بري) (b Lagos ( pron ˈleɪgɒs or /ˈlɑːgoʊs/ overseas is the most populous Conurbation in Nigeria with Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal One faction proclaimed Ali Mahdi Muhammad president, another Mohamed Farrah Aidid. See also Somali Civil War, United Somali Congress Ali Mahdi Muhammad ( Cali Mahdi Maxamed, علي مهدي محمد (born 1938 was president of General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described A contingent of United States Marines landed near Mogadishu on December 9, 1992 to spearhead the United Nations peacekeeping forces during Operation Restore Hope. Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is "a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for sustainable peace Unified Task Force (UNITAF was a United States led United Nations sanctioned multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9

Mogadishu was scene of bitter warfare and devastation caused by fighting between Ethiopian troops, which invaded Somalia to support a fragile government, and Islamist guerrillas. The War in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG forces versus the Somali Fighting escalated in March–April 2007, November 2007 and April 2008 with hundreds of civilian casualties. The Battle of Mogadishu began on March 21, 2007 in the Shirkole area of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The November 2007 Battle of Mogadishu began when dragging of mutilated bodies of Ethiopian soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu provoked The 2008 Battle of Mogadishu began when Ethiopian soldiers started entering insurgent-held parts of the city which sparked heavy street fighting

Geography

Mogadishu is located at 2°4′N, 45°22′E. The Shebelle River (Webe Shabelle) rises in central Ethiopia and comes within 30 kilometers (19 mi) of the Indian Ocean near Mogadishu before turning southwestward. The Shebelle River ( Webi Shabeelle) begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface Usually dry during February and March, the river provides water essential for the cultivation of sugarcane, cotton, and bananas. Sugarcane ( Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation of tall perennial grasses (family Poaceae tribe Andropogoneae Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp For the fruit see Banana. For other meanings see Banana (disambiguation.

Features of the city include the Hamarwein Old Town, the Bakaara Market, and the former resort of Gezira Beach. The Bakaara Market ( Somali: Suuqa Bakaaraha) is a Mogadishu open market and the largest in Somalia

Economy

Mogadishu serves as a commercial and financial center. The economy has recovered somewhat from the civil unrest although the Somali Civil War still presents many problems. The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988 The effective absence of government yields free trade without taxes or regulatory expenditures, making business relatively inexpensive. Businesses have hired armed militias to provide security against gunmen, leading to a gradual reduction in street violence. However, because of the absence of federal authorities, extremely high levels of crime including frequent murders and occasional bombings are still rampant in the city.

Principal industries include food and beverage processing and textiles, especially cotton ginning. A Cotton Gin' (short for cotton engine) is a machine that quickly and easily separates the Cotton fibers from the seedpods and the sometimes sticky seeds a job The main market offers a variety of goods from food to electronic gadgets.

Telcom a telecommunications network operator in Somalia has its headquarters in the city. Telcom is a telecommunications network operator in Somalia. Telcom is the first major privately owned company providing Telecommunications to Somali cities A telephone company (or telco) provides Telecommunications services such as Telephony and Data communications Most of the largest telcos whatever

Transportation

Aerial view of the Port of Mogadishu in 1992. Three cargo ships, large, medium and small sized vessels are moored to the docks. A tugboat is heading out of the port.

Road

Roads leading out of Mogadishu connect the city to many other Somali locales and to Ethiopia and Kenya. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south

Air

Private airlines service Mogadishu at various airports within and around the city. The intense fighting largely destroyed the old Aden Adde International Airport, which briefly reopened before the War in Somalia (2006-present). Aden-Adde International Airport, (formerly Mogadishu International Airport) is the international Airport for Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia The War in Somalia is an ongoing armed conflict involving largely Ethiopian and Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG forces versus the Somali As of 2007, K50 Airport serves Mogadishu. K50 Airport or Km N° 50 Airport is a commercial airport in Somalia. ^[2]

Sea

Mogadishu leads Somalia in port traffic and still serves as a major seaport. International traders actively benefit from its de facto duty-free status. International trade is exchange of Capital, Goods, and Services across International borders or Territories. See also Taxation, Indirect Tax In Economics, a duty is a kind of Tax, often associated with Customs, a payment due to the However, piracy is widespread around Somalia's coastal areas, making sea transport risky. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering ^[3][4]

Government

Mogadishu has had no official government for many years now since the city was mostly controlled by various heavily-armed militias and factions. In recent years, however, the Transitional Federal Government, with the help of foreign troops, appears to have finally amassed the necessary military wherewithal to engage the militias and reestablish the rule of law. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG of the Somali Republic ( Dowladda federaalka kumeelgaarka) is the present internationally recognized government of Somalia

Education

The Mogadishu University is a non-governmental university that is governed by the Board of Trustees and the University Council. Mogadishu University ( جامعة مقديشو) is non-governmental university in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The Somalia National University has been closed indefinitely due to extensive damage. Jaamacada Ummada Soomaaliyeed or the Somali National University (SNU is the national University of the Northeast African nation of Somalia. Benadir University was started in 2002 with the intention of training doctors but has expanded into other fields. Somali Institute of Management and Administration Development (SIMAD) has given the priority to the areas of business administration, information technology and accountancy due to human capital shortage in the country's private sector management.

Sport

The city is home to the Mogadiscio Stadium, which plays host to the Somalia Cup and to football (soccer) teams from the Somalia League. Mogadiscio Stadium is the national Stadium of Mogadishu, Somalia. The Somalia Cup is the top knockout tournament of football in Somalia. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Somalia League is the top football division in Somalia, it was created in 1967

Notable Mogadishans

Born in Modagishu, supermodel Iman was the first Somali woman to appear on the cover of Vogue in 1979 and to sign a cosmetics contract. Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid ( Cimaan Maxamed Cabdimajiid, إيمان محمد عبد ماجد (born July 25, 1955) professionally known as Iman Somalis ( Soomaaliyeed, الصوماليون are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula.

• Iman, Model
• K'naan, Artist

See also

• Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
• Battle of Mogadishu (2006)
• Fall of Mogadishu
• Battle of Mogadishu (2007)

References

External links

• GlobalSecurity.org page on the city's history
• Mogadishu at Google Maps
• Map of Mogadishu (1997)