Is Mogadishu safe?

[ChamonixMountainBum]

I know extremist group al-Shabaab are known for instigating bombings and the odd kidnapping and other armed militia are not shy of robbery and murder but I hear the beaches are really nice. I suffer anxiety but want to step outside of my comfort zone.

FCDO is advising against all but essential travel to Somalia. Travel insurance is therefore invalid, and you are advised to make your own arrangement in case of evacuation.

I think this is excellent advice. Can also recommend gadventures.

I suggest you start off gently.
I hear Luton is nice at this time of year, & the airport is very near the Town Centre.

As if people think the OP is being serious.

I've heard "them" say that London is a bit like Mogadishu on a Friday night.

Would you go to London on a Friday night?

HTH

Now that's a step too far.

Any good Mumsnetter would never bring herself to visit Luton but would probably happily visit Mogadishu just so she can show off how wordly and adventurous she is.

If you have family in Somalia and are visiting, it's a perfectly reasonable question. I think you'd be better of asking - if this is a serious question - in a more specialist forum than this.

I have regularly visited places that are on the "no go" list, which have actually been perfectly safe, but not without some risk. You need extra insurance to cover you in these areas, as medical evacuation and treatment can be expensive. But it just depends on your preferred level of risk if you would go or not. I have, and will, but with good insurance (which is £££, obviously). But I might not go to Somalia with the issues in the Middle East right now.

I think it's a great holiday destination!
Adventure guaranteed, beaches, wildlife and mingling with the locals. If you are lucky enough they will make you extend your stay at very little extra cost. Really what's not to like?

Thanks everyone. Sadly it sounds like Mogadishu isn’t for us. We were thinking about going to Mordor instead, anyone been there? Will be taking a newborn and a buggy so am particularly interested in step-free access.

Hmm, you might be flying over Dubai airspace so be aware there might be delays.

There's a lovely little crowd pleasing Tom Hanks drama about a boating holiday in Somalia. It's the Under the Tuscan Sun of the Horn of Africa.

Awww. You're taking this seriously.

That's so cute 🤗

I would avoid Mordor in April it’s too windy. Lovely in July and good clubbing for teens.

Back in 2004, I did a hostile environments training course - learning how to navigate your way out of a minefield with a grass stem, treat gunshot wounds in the field, make a mental map based on landmarks if you are kidnapped etc. Everyone was headed to places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan… except for a Japanese journalist whose newspaper was sending him to Athens to cover the Olympics 😂

As an aside, threads like this make it easy to spot the bots 😂

Fortunately we are thinking of July! For April (1986) we’ve booked Chernobyl Reactor 4. Should we take sunscreen?

Well I’ve done a lot of travelling and the only place I’ve actually seen a bomb is in Manchester (thanks iRA it was a shit shopping centre anyway) so on that basis you’ll be fine.

Stepping out of your comfort is always a good thing to do. Going to Mogadishu has never been a good thing to do. Maybe back pack around the Greek Islands instead.

I hope you’re not disappointed. I found Chernobyl a bit tame. This year I’m going to fire myself straight into the sun ( transiting in Dubai natch)

They said DH did actually cycle up a live volcano in 2023 🙄. It erupted a few days after we left shutting the nearby airport

This reminds me of the time about a decade ago when a female colleague's work travel risk assessment was "low" for Saudi but "very high" for Germany. When she queried it, it was because the likelihood of a car crash was higher in Germany. No fucking shit - women couldn't drive in Saudi at the time which suggested a slightly more risk general environment for women, no?!

I’d definitely go, but have you considered Tehran? I hear it’s lovely in the Spring.

A lot of Mners don't open their front door let alone go to areas near war zones especially if they have 'anxiety', so good for you OP.

That’s because they’re introverts despite not knowing what introvert actually means.

Much, much safer than Paris, I hear!

I had a job interview for a charity where there’d be a huge meeting in Rwanda. It sounded quite exciting to me. Didn’t get the job.

Yes you'll have a blast.

I heard they are bringing back Club 18 - 30 and Mogadishu is on the list because of the cheap booze.

Have fun!