The international public as well as people who have even stayed in Somalia for a while especially non Somalis like UN/AU, NGOs, and Embassy staffs all those who work under strict security rules may have quite a different narrative of the real life in Somalia. One would say reading from a borrowed script in movie production jargons.
Despite the long list of challenges with incessant sensational media headlines of “breaking news” of devastation and disasters, thrilling stories of development and recovery lie underneath.
Some journalists either out of sheer prejudice or other motives don’t go beyond stories of Explosions, Fighting, and Famine and recently the NGO sponsored sensationalized Human rights abuse yarns that have come into spotlight.
As a matter of fact there are great stories behind those alarming headlines; however I must contend that Journalists especially foreign journalist who “dictate” the international news frames about Somalia are always not lucky enough to move around beyond or even all over Mogadishu and see real life in Somalia.
As BBC’s mark Doyle noted in his article, he admits that despite having been in Somalia several times his assumptions and beliefs have not been very perfect on the real life in Somalia until recently when he travelled hundreds of miles around south and central Somalia.
“On this trip, I travelled for hundreds of miles through south and central Somalia and saw some of the real life in between the fighting. I saw farms, rivers and canals – I saw vast herds of camels and goats. There are forests, fruit trees and quarries. Says Doyle.
Indisputably security is still an issue in Somalia with Al-Shabaab still capable of making sporadic terror incidents; nevertheless Somalia’s renaissance goes beyond media sensationalism.
There have been great improvements especially in the area of reconstruction and hospitality with a number of hotels and restaurants.
There are a number of luxury hotels and modern restaurants that have opened throughout the city, many restaurants offering diverse menus, including sea-food on the beaches along the pristine Indian Ocean.
Lido Beach Seafood restaurant, a base strip of gorgeous white sand, with its beautiful viewpoint is one of those typical beach restaurants that stands strategically postured to the azure of the Indian Ocean waters.
Lido beach Restaurant overlooks the Indian Ocean, with intimate Quiet atmosphere, white sparkle sandy shores, serene environment where their patrons feel the sand between their toes on the lagoon as they sip cocktail juice.
Every weekend, families flock to the scenic Beach to recapture the leisure time and feel the nostalgia. With kids and the youth swimming, beach playing football on the sandy shores.
People stay out at Lido Beach way past dusk, watch the beautiful night skyline, the deep blue ocean, a really perfect place to get the fresh perspective of a rediscovered Somalia.
Somalia has the biggest coast line in Africa with 3100km along the Indian Ocean which can be home to prettiest beaches precious for tourism and beach business to make Somalia the biggest recreational and tourist destination spots in Africa.
Abdukim Sheik Ahmed came from south Africa in December 2011 he is the manager of Lido beach restaurant, he says the business is booming and there is a very great potential for progress.
“ We are devoted to keeping luxury standards, where you can come relax and enjoy the types of foods you can find anywhere in the world as you take pleasure in the sun, and a white sandy beach front.”
On such a good day like IDD day or other big holidays Abdukim says they can make over Ten thousand dollars in a day, and $2000-$3000 on a normal weekend (Friday and Thursday) not bad business for a small Restaurant notes Abdukim.
Insecurity still remains a concern as pockets of violence sometimes flare up,as some Al-Shabaab members melted into the population after losing control of the city to government and African Union Forces.Once in a while they take advantage of the weak security structure in the city to cause incidents.
It was only few months ago when much of the world’s community regarded Mogadishu as the most dangerous city in the world, today the city is slowly rediscovering its steps to get to the right direction replaced by resilience and optimism.
Despite significant obstacles over the past two decades, Somali with strong entrepreneurial and business abilities have demonstrated an incredible resourcefulness and resilience that it now looks unstoppable.
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