The ancient capital of Somalia is Mogadishu. It is also the largest city and major port in Somalia. It is located north of the equator on the Indian Ocean. It is also one of the oldest Arab settlements on the coast of East Africa.
But it had trade relations with the Portuguese and the imams of Muscat, before it came under the control of the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1871 AD. Do you know what its name was in the past? Follow the website article to identify The ancient capital of Somalia.
Somalia
- Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a sovereign country in the Horn of Africa.
- Bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Kenya to the southwest, Somalia has the longest coastline on mainland Africa.
- Its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains, and highlands, and hot conditions prevail throughout the year, with periodic monsoon winds and irregular rains.
- Somalia’s population is estimated at approximately 15 million, and it has been described as the most culturally homogeneous country in Africa.
- About 85% of its population is of Somali origin, who historically inhabited the north of the country.
- Ethnic minorities are largely concentrated in the South; The official languages in Somalia are Somali and Arabic.
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إقرأ أيضا:ما هي أفضل المطاعم في الكويت؟ ومنيو المطعم انظر حولكA historical overview of Somalia
- In ancient times, Somalia was an important trading centre, being among the most likely locations of the legendary ancient Land of Punt.
- During the Middle Ages, several powerful Somali empires dominated regional trade.
- Including the Sultanate of Ajuran, the Sultanate of Adal, and the Sultanate of Jaldi, and the Italian explorer Luigi Rubicchi-Bricchetti coined the geographical name of Somalia.
- In the late 19th century, the European powers, Britain and then Italy, colonized Somalia, and the British and Italians established colonies of British Somaliland, Italian Somaliland, and inland.
- The Dervish movement, led by Muhammad Abdullah Hassan, managed to thwart the British four times.
- This forced them to retreat to the coast, before their eventual defeat in the Somaliland campaign of 1920 AD.
- Italy gained full control over the northeastern, central, and southern parts of the region after successfully launching the Sultanate’s campaign against the ruling Majertin Sultanate and the Sultanate of Hobyo.
- In 1960, the two regions united to form the independent Republic of Somalia under a civilian government.
- The Supreme Revolutionary Council seized power in 1969 and established the Somali Democratic Republic, which collapsed 22 years later.
- In 1991 AD, with the outbreak of the Somali Civil War, during this period, most areas returned to customary and religious law.
- In the early 2000s, a number of temporary federal administrations were created.
Establishment of the transitional national government
- The Transitional National Government (TNG) was established in 2000, followed by the formation of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004.
- Which re-established the Somali Armed Forces, and in 2006, the Transitional Federal Government took control of most of the country’s southern conflict areas from the newly formed Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
- The Islamic Courts Union then split into more radical groups, such as Al-Shabaab, which fought the Transitional Federal Government, and its allies in AMISOM for control of the region.
- By mid-2012, the rebels had lost most of the territory they had seized, and the search for more permanent democratic institutions began.
- A new interim constitution was passed in August 2012, reforming Somalia as a federal federation.
- In the same month, the Somali federal government was formed, and the reconstruction period began in Mogadishu.
Capital of Somalia
- The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu (Somali: Muqdisho), which is the capital and most populous city in Somalia.
- The city also served as an important port connecting merchants throughout the Indian Ocean for thousands of years, and its population currently stands at 2,425,000.
- Mogadishu is the closest foreign city to Seychelles, 835 miles (1,344 km) over the Indian Ocean.
- Mogadishu is located in the coastal region of Benadir on the Indian Ocean, which, unlike other Somali regions, is a municipality rather than a maamulgoboleed (federal state).
- The capital of Somalia was called “Faadicho” in the past, during its occupation by Portugal in the sixteenth century AD.
- Where they established a camp for exiles, and this name means “the camp,” but this name was distorted, and its name then became “Mogadishu.”
A historical overview of Mogadishu
- Mogadishu has a long history extending from the ancient period until now, where the Mogadishu Union and the Mogadishu Sultanate were born, which was founded by Abu Bakr bin Fakhr al-Din, who founded the Fakhr al-Din dynasty.
- He was eventually replaced by the Muzaffar dynasty, who became allies of the Ajuran Sultanate in the late 16th century.
- In the seventeenth century, Mogadishu and the Benadir coast came under Omani-Zanzibar sovereignty until the nineteenth century.
- During the nineteenth century, as a result of the division that occurred in Muscat, power was shared with the Sultanate of Jaldi over Banadir in a balanced manner.
- Mogadishu reached the peak of its prosperity in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
- The beginning of Italian colonization occurred in gradual stages, with the Italian treaties of the 1880s.
- Followed by economic participation between various Somali clans, then direct rule, by the Italian government after 1906 AD.
- The British military administration of Somalia after World War II and the Italian territory of the United Nations in the 1950s.
- This was followed by independence in 1960 AD, the Hantiouadagh (socialist) era, during Barre’s presidency (1969 AD-1991 AD), a civil war that lasted three decades after that, and, as of the late 2010 AD and 2020 AD, the reconstruction period.
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إقرأ أيضا:أفضل مكان للعوائل في المدينة المنورة انظر حولكEconomy of Mogadishu
- Mogadishu has traditionally served as a commercial and financial centre, before the import of mass-produced cloth from Europe and America.
- The city’s textiles were also widely sent throughout the interior of the continent, as well as to the Arabian Peninsula and away from the Persian coast.
- Mogadishu’s economy has grown rapidly since the city was pacified in mid-2011, and the SomalFruit factory reopened, as did the local Coca-Cola factory, which was also renovated.
- In May 2012, the first Somali bank was established in the capital, and it represents the first commercial bank to be opened in southern Somalia since 1991.
- Somali civil engineer and entrepreneur Nusra Ajeel also opened the city’s first dollar store.
- In addition, the historic Central Bank was renovated, with a similarly secured business center created.
Demographics of Mogadishu
- With the beginning of Islam, Arab and Persian immigrants began to settle, and the first immigrants were formed.
- Centuries of intermarriage between various ethnic groups, which also included the Bantus, produced a minority called the “Abaad.”
- In the colonial period, European expatriates, especially Italians, also contributed to the city’s cosmopolitan population.
- After the security situation improved significantly in the city in 2012, many Somali expatriates began returning to Mogadishu in search of investment opportunities and to participate in the ongoing post-conflict reconstruction process.
- Through private efforts and public initiatives such as the Somali Diaspora Corps, they participated in the renovation of schools, hospitals, banks and other infrastructure.
- They have played a leading role in the capital’s recovery and helped drive the local real estate market.
- Mogadishu has a population of approximately 2,425,000 people as of April 2017, and it is the 210th most populous city.
- The urban area occupies 91 square kilometers (35 sq mi), with a population density of about 26,800 people per square kilometer (69,000 sq mi).
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إقرأ أيضا:الاماكن السياحية في مدينة العلا انظر حولكGeography of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia
Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia. Here is some geographical information about Mogadishu:
- the site: Mogadishu is located on the eastern coast of the Somali Peninsula in the Arabian Sea. It is bordered by the Gulf of Aden to the south, Mogadishu to the north and east, and the Somali mainland to the west.
- Geographical coordinates: Mogadishu’s coordinates are approximately 2.0371°N and 45.3438°E.
- nature: The city is located in a coastal area and extends along the coast, making the Arabian Sea touching its edge.
- Geopolitics: Mogadishu is the political and economic capital of Somalia, and the center of the Somali federal government.
- Infrastructure: The city includes multiple infrastructure facilities, including an international airport (Mogadishu International Airport) and sea ports that facilitate shipping and trade operations.
- Population: Mogadishu is the largest city in Somalia in terms of population, with an estimated population of millions.
- the climate: Mogadishu is known for its humid tropical climate, with two rainy and dry seasons. Rainfall is heavy during the wet season and subsides during the dry season.
Why was Somalia given this name?
- The name “Somalia” is a derivation of the word “Somal” in Arabic, and it has evolved over time to become “Somalia” in Arabic and English. The reason for calling Somalia by this name is due to the historical and linguistic origins of the region.
- The word “Somal” means “united land” or “one land” in Arabic.
- This name has been used to describe the unity of the land and people in the region.
- The use of this name dates back several centuries and is linked to Somali history and culture.
- Somalis consider Arabic and the Somali language an important part of their cultural identity.
The reason for Somalia’s poverty
Somalia’s poverty is due to several factors, including:
- Ongoing conflicts: Somalia has been affected by ongoing conflicts and civil wars over the years, which has greatly affected the stability and economic development of the country. Conflicts have destroyed infrastructure and dispersed resources.
- Drought and lack of resources: Somalia suffers from an ongoing drought problem, affecting agriculture and water availability. The lack of water resources makes things more complicated for farmers and rural people.
- Lack of infrastructure: Infrastructure in Somalia is limited, this includes roads, schools, hospitals and basic facilities. This makes it difficult to provide basic services to citizens.
- absence of security: Insecurity means there is little foreign investment and trade is limited, reducing economic opportunities.
- Lack of education: Quality education is considered one of the keys to development, but Somalia suffers from challenges in this area such as a lack of schools and educational materials.
- Weapon trading: The large circulation of weapons in Somalia increases levels of violence and unrest.
Somali language
- The official language of Somalia is Somali (Somali: Af-Soomaali).
- Somali is a Cushitic language and is spoken in Somalia and some border areas in other countries such as Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Kenya.
- Arabic is also widely recognized in Somalia and is used in official interactions, education, media and business.
- In addition to Somali and Arabic, there are other languages spoken by some minorities in Somalia.
Somali religion
- The main religion in Somalia is Islam.
- Most of the Somali population profess Islam as a major religion, and Islamic values and traditions play an important role in their daily lives.
- Somalia witnesses the presence of a number of mosques, Islamic institutions and schools that teach the Qur’an and Islamic law.
- Historically, Islam was embraced in Somalia as early as the 7th century by Arab traders and immigrants.
- Islam has greatly influenced Somali culture and society, and this is evident in customs, traditions and values.
- Although there are Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Somalia, most Somalis belong to the Sunni sect.
- Islam is considered a unity, politics, and an essential part of their identity and cultural heritage.
Frequently asked questions about the capital of Somalia
What is the location of Somalia?
Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, south of the Red Sea.
What is the capital of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu.
What is the official language in Somalia?
The official language in Somalia is Somali.
What is the main religion in Somalia?
The main religion in Somalia is Islam, and Muslims constitute the vast majority of the country’s population.
Is Somalia a big or small country?
Somalia is a medium-sized country strategically located in East Africa.
What are the challenges facing Somalia?
Somalia faces challenges such as political, economic and security turmoil, and has been suffering from internal conflicts and the impact of drought.
Does Somalia have beaches on the Red Sea?
Yes, Somalia has a coastline on the Red Sea and the Indian Sea which makes it a beautiful location for beach travel.