Living in Somalia: the ultimate expat guide
Everything you need to know for a successful life in Somalia.
Located in the Horn of Africa, Somalia is not a quite popular destination among expatriates. Security is one of the main concerns of the ones wishing or already living here, especially in Mogadishu, its capital city. However, the country offers beautiful landscapes and a bright side to discover: deserts, mountains, forests and also beaches... here is the unknown scenery of Somalia.
Somalia covers 637,657 square kilometres and has over 11.4 million people. Over 85% of the country's residents are ethnic Somalis ' the rest are ethnic minorities (Bravanese, Bantus, Bajuni, Ethiopians, Indians, Persians, Italians, and Britons) residing in the south of the country. The country's official language is Somali and Arabic, but English and Italian are also widely spoken. The capital city of Somalia is Mogadishu ' currently considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Hargeisa is the capital of the country's autonomous region of Somaliland, and when compared to the rest of the country, it is considered a safe city. Kismayo, Bosaso, and Berbera are port cities, and Garowe is the capital of Puntland, another autonomous region.
Somalia's informal economy is primarily based on agriculture and, specifically, livestock. Lack of political stability has rendered the collection of domestic revenue impossible and has led to the country's accumulation of a large amount of foreign debt. However, economic activity in the region is increasing through the telecommunications sector and money transfer services.
The country is home to the beautiful Laas Geel cave formations with some of the earliest cave paintings in Africa; Lag Badana National Park on Somalia's southern coast, and Mount Shimbiris (the highest peak of Somaliland).
Citizens of all countries require a visa to Somalia. However, as mentioned earlier, travel to the region is currently strongly discouraged for all foreign nationals.
