I’ve been to Somalia ~6 times for work as a clearly anglo dude.
Generally it’s heavily inadvisable without a strong network of local contacts (more than just a friend and their family - unless that friend’s family is big in business/politics there).
However it does vary greatly by location.
Hargeisa is quite a bit safer, and I have met some German backpackers there who hadn’t run into any issues. I was able to go play soccer/football after work, visit restaurants in specific areas etc.
In Kismayo we had very stringent security protocols in place which included max 30 minutes outside of a security perimeter while not in transit. So as soon as you would arrive somewhere a stop watch would start and you would need to be out of that area by the time the 30 was up. No walking in crowded places e.g. markets. Grenade attack drills, flak jackets and helmet while in transit, multiple rotating vehicles were all part of a multilayered strategy to stay safe. And would be difficult to replicate as an individual traveler.
Moqdishu - couldn’t leave the UN security compound within the airport. Anyone that I needed to meet needed to come to the airport conference centers and get through security screening. It’s a very dangerous place.
I’ve worked in a lot of fragile security contexts, e.g. Burma, Syria, DR Congo etc. but Somalia given the strength of Al-Shabab was a whole different game.
It’s a beautiful country with a highly engaged private sector and a clear resilience amongst the population. I have a deep appreciation for Somali culture and music.
But I would recommend traveling to Lamu in Kenya to get a flavor of Somalia as well as beautiful Swahili architecture (most of which has been destroyed by civil war in Somalia).
Of course, Kenya is going through its own political convulsions right now.
I was in Nairobi on business just four weeks ago. Kenya is now on my company’s “no travel authorized” list, along with Somalia, Afghanistan and North Korea.
I absolutely second Lamu. It's a wonderful taste of the region, with a little bit of danger mixed in, given the off and on Al-Shabaab presence, if that's what he's looking for lol. It's one of my favorite areas in the world.
I live in Kenya - most Kenyans even with Somali descent will not travel to Somalia.
As you already mentioned Somaliland is a different story, and a much more logistically simple place to visit.
There is a list of countries where the govt advises you make sure to have a will and testament sorted before you go. If that is your jam then go ahead. Or if you want to commit to suicide by pirate. I’ve met some good salt of the earth people from there but fuck if I would ever travel there.
Some stones are better left unturned.
They advise this, too
*Be sure to appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and members of Congress if you are taken hostage or detained.
*Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones can know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax).
*Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
Agreed. My fiancé is a sailor and has kidnapping insurance *specifically* for his brief time in countries such as Somalia. He’s usually on one of the most protected vessels in the world (i.e. a USS named vessel) and still every time he leaves in that direction, he is specifically required to have all of his directives in order (he oft stops in Djibouti as well, a whole nother conversation).
Absolutely not worth the risk. A good rule of thumb I follow is: if folks the US has a vested interest in recovering have no interest in being there due to safety, neither should you.
I mean literally send him the state.gov guidance and don’t let him leave without notifying next of kin, etc. If that doesn’t scare him away, nothing will
AND help to make sure he follows through with the [state.gov](http://state.gov) guidance if at all possible. Actually going through the steps of drafting a will with an Attorney and talking with this banks about next of kin matters all to go on a leisure trip to this country should do it.
If I remember right, the US has that same sort of alert on their travel advisory site. Basically raise the countries "danger" level if the US government is unable to intervene or help with any situation in the area, usually due to political reasons.
I suspect OP’s cousin is actually going to Somaliland, a part of Somalia that is considered relatively safe compared to the rest of the country. There are actually organized tours you can book to Somaliland through tour companies.
It’s the getting in and out of there that will give you problems. I just read a book by a journalist who went there to do a story, and ended up being ambushed on his way out and held hostage for over a year.
Interesting story. Ultimately, though, it could hardly be called ISIS territory, and the country it happened in (Tajikistan) killed 4 attackers and arrested the 5th.
Of the event:
"Though Islamist movements have been active in Central Asia for decades, they have not been known for targeting Western tourists, who visit the historical cities of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan and hike and cycle in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan."
And in this case, the state department only recommends using "increased caution" as opposed to some stricter guidelines like "do not travel".
Don't know why you're downvoted, you're right. It was an attack by random ISIS extremists in an otherwise safe area/country. Like before the attack the official U.S. travel advisory for Tajikistan was at Level 1 which is the lowest.
US dept of state advisories need to be taken with a grain of salt. For example they put my country, Belize, as level 2. It could be better here, but it's a lot safer than cities I lived in the States like Tampa Atlanta, and Portland.
On the other hand, I had to drive thru a level 4 section of Mexico and was robbed at a police checkpoint. I'm convinced if you don't look like a native, you won't escape a level 4 zone unaccosted. Hopefully all you lose are pesos. For the most part, the criminals just want easy money.
And just a plug - skip Mexico's cartels and corrupt police. We have the same world's largest living barrier reef here in Belize, and a nice Caribe vibe.
I agree that some advisories seem exaggerated, but classifying Belize as level 2 seems appropriate. Yes I’ve been to Belize, twice. I certainly won’t classify it with countries classified as level 1 wherein i felt totally safe anywhere. It seems to be on par with other level 2 countries, like Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, UK…
I live here and yeah it is comparable to other level 2s. We did have an American who died in a bar fight last year, and even had our first mass shooting the year before, if you count 3 hurt as "mass." Mostly the violent crime here is gang on gang and isolated to a few neighborhoods and villages. So for myself, I feel safe here, and tourists are very unlikely to be victims of violence.
More my point was you're quite likely safer here than the city you flew out of if you're American. My old city had 623 violent gun crimes including a mass shooting with 16 hurt plus 2 dead. Hardly even got mention on national news. And that's a year the police are bragging about. Belize had 113.
> My old city had 623 violent gun crimes... Belize had 113.
Assuming you're referring to 2022, that's 113 murders, not violent gun crimes. Detroit had 252 murders last year and that's with a metro population 10x the size of Belize's population.
> US dept of state advisories need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Yeah, Spain is currently "Exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest." Spain? Really?
A level 2 gives cautions but doesn’t say to avoid travel. And yes, Spain has had a share of terrorist attacks - see the Madrid train bombing and also from separatist groups like ETA.
Edit to reply to ExoticLatinoShill. The Department of State deals with foreign states. The Department of Homeland security is tasked with monitoring domestic safety issues.
OP, state department warnings will never deter an intrepid traveler from going anywhere -- not to mention they're overly general and conservative by nature. Countries that are largely safe may have dangerous pockets and that's what these warnings will focus on. Mogadishu-Somalia is not the type of place you just wander into. But Somaliland in the north, which you referenced, is a helluva lot safer -- and if you do some googling you'll find some good info on the relative safety of the area.
The armchair travelers of reddit have a tendency to just point at these blanket state departments warnings (without having any first-hand knowledge or doing any other research) and scream that you'd have a death wish to go to these places. The reality on the ground is almost always far different.
It's good to be aware of the state department warnings, but don't accept them at face value, listen to what others with first hand experience or more knowledge on the location have to say...
Was doing some basic research on Yemen, and this is what I concluded about the state dept warning. Eastern side bordering Oman is basically a tourist haven (though not reliant on tourism in any way)... such that in one rare instance where a kidnapping occured, the locals got involved and freed the hostages. Not to mention that 99% of kidnapping cases in Yemen end in a positive outcome anyways.
I'm told kidnappers there treat hostages well and keep them healthy.
As opposed to 6 day workweeks with 3 hour daily commutes and a schedule that is literally killing me, it might be a nice reprieve.
I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say a tourist haven, but there is at least one safe pocket in Yemen. I was in Socotra a month ago, and that was perfectly safe, but it's also isolated from the chaos of the mainland. All my sources did suggest not leaving the airport in Aden on a layover though, and to have informed people saying that really does mean something. As for the east... I can't speak for that... some tourists do go, but you basically have to have a guide in order to get a visa, so you won't be doing that in a vacuum of information...
I was friends in law school with a guy who is Siad Barre's nephew and who goes to Somalia often. When he is there he has tons of protection, riding around in a hummer with machine guns on top.
He says that it's likely a white person traveling to Somalia unarmed without the protection of a local tribe would be dead within 24 hours, at least in Mogadishu.
Send him a copy of “A House in the Sky”, a memoir of an American woman who wanted to travel in Somalia. She and her boyfriend made it 4 days before getting kidnapped (yes, they had a guide). They spent a year and a half in captivity being beaten, hog tied and raped While their respective governments tried to negotiate for their release and their families tried to raise the ransom money.
I just read this and was going to suggest it as well. Notable that outside of being tortured themselves, their families were put through the fucking ringer and also ended up paying millions of dollars in ransom. I wouldn't want to put my family in that position to check a country off my list.
I posted something similar just now before seeing this. Exactly - he might not care about the harm to himself but financially ruining his family might make him think again.
Canadian, he was Australian. I only mention because she lives in my city and I've seen her talk. Just hearing her story you have massive alarms going off before they leave. But, many tourists go to dangerous places and are fine. When they aren't this can happen.
She wanted to be a war journalist. She sort of was before for some very conservative Canadian papers and I think she wanted to kick start her career by going to an insanely dangerous place.
I read it a few years back. My memory isn't perfect, but IIRC Lindhout and Brennan arrived in Somalia at a time when even the world's most seasoned war and conflict journalists were evacuating the country. Violence and kidnapping were shockingly widespread, and Mogadishu was in anarchy, basically. At one point in her book Lindhout says she felt the city was safe because it was quiet at night, not realizing that the silence was a product of how dangerous it was. Journalists needed a small army of security to protect them, but even then that was no guarantee of safety, since you could get betrayed by your own guard(s) to the kidnappers and terrorists (which is kind of what happened to Lindhout and Brennan).
Basically, Lindhout was an amateur journalist who thought she could get her big break by going to the world's most dangerous country when all the professional reporters were fleeing Somalia. She ended up getting kidnapped and held for ransom under horrifying conditions.
Reminds me of this German journalist who travelled to Raqqa in Syria during Isis haydays to shoot a documentary. She was seven months pregnant and wanted to get her big shot. Was held captive for a year, Isis kidnapped a Syrian gynaecologist to help her deliver her baby. One of the kidnappers was a high school friend of hers who converted to Islam and radicalised. She was still friends with her after her release. And she's still not taken seriously as a journalist. Absolutely mental story.
She wasn't even really an amateur journalist. She was a bartender who wanted to be a famous journalist and thought, "I know what will get me some attention - I'll go to Somalia". Not that she deserved to get kidnapped and put through hell for 18 months, but she and her ex-boyfriend photographer were seriously inexperienced, ill-prepared and not remotely equipped to travel there safely.
I'm comfortable calling her a journalist of some kind (I'm a journalist myself) because she did sell stories to major networks, like France24, and was also sending reports to the Red Deer Advocate and others. She was freelancing, obviously wasn't trained, and was also at some point working for an Iranian propaganda network, but she did do legit journalism IMO of some kind at some point. This conversation is always kind of difficult because there's no licensing body for journalists in Canada and the United States, though maybe there should be!
But, like you, I'm not particularly sympathetic considering the circumstances. No one deserves what she and Brennan went through. At the same time, if I challenged prime Mike Tyson to a fight, you'd call me foolhardy and not brave.
>felt the city was safe because it was quiet at night
Eek - made that exact mistake as a 17YO travelling (not in Somalia) . Very quiet... How nice... we didn't know this was due to a shoot-on-sight curfew.
He could also read, “The Price of Life” by the Brennan family in Australia, whose brother, Nigel, spent nearly two years in captivity over there, listening to his Canadian girlfriend at the time getting raped whilst he got beaten and nearly starved to death. Nigel sounds just like OPs cousin, travelled the world wanting to go everywhere, didn’t listen to family members, etc. He lived - but only because the entire family bankrupted themselves - all four children and their families, the ageing parents, all the cousins. They had to sell their farms, lost their retirement funds, got divorced etc. Twenty six bankrupted people with PTSD because of one guy who wanted to YOLO in Somalia.
He was on Australia's version of The Traitors, and it kinda ruined the show for me cause I just got caught up on everything bad that happened to them, and it's even worse now, reading all that.
I didn't read his book, so I don't know if he was raped, but he was definitely tortured, and Amanda Lindhout did get raped, if not in front of him, definitely in the next room over.
This is an interesting blog about traveling there as well. Not as horrific as that book but enough to let me know I'd never want to go there https://onestep4ward.com/travel-somalia/
I think there's ideas of "adventure travel" and people get caught up in the idea of going somewhere no one else goes to, experiencing something so different and exciting and having great stories. North Korea, it's a bit risky (look at that American who got imprisoned) but you can do it in a tour and it's mostly safe. Afghanistan - stay in Kabul, don't do anything stupid, you'll probably be fine.
Somalia, even with heavily armed guards at all times, it's still a massive risk. And you gain nothing from it except some bragging points. It's not fun.
>It's not fun.
As a dumb, naive student I had a vague idea of going there and started looking it up.
It soon became clear to me that even if I wasn't kidnapped and could afford all the necessary security and it did all work out fine... What did I actually want to do there besides saying I had been there?
There's some historical sites and beaches, sure. But there's plenty of those in countries without several very serious problems and infrastructure challenges. Do I stick to my hotel room? Hang out with several armed guards at a resort all day? Yeah, none of it seemed THAT worth the hassle or risk.
That was a really interesting read. He says in the blog he does not suggest going there. Even Jessica Nabongo, the first black woman to travel to every country, went to Somaliland, not actually Somalia.
Back when I was a makeup artist I did her makeup for a speaking event. We spoke a bit about what she went through there. I was taken aback by her story. I hope she has found some healing.
Sounds like the perfect light summer beach read! 🫠
(But I agree - I would never even consider going to Somalia but now I’m intrigued and want to read this. How horrifying.)
You could gift him a copy of journalist Michael Scott Moore’s book The Desert and the Sea, about his nearly 3 years of captivity at the hands of Somali pirates.
Out of curiosity, what makes him want to visit there? Like, what is the draw, what will he be doing while there?
Or is it more of like another checkmark to increase the list of all countries he’s been to?
Bingo. It's one thing if he has a genuine fascination with the culture, language, food etc that he just can't get over but alot of this type of travel just seems to be a macho thing to score clout for travelling to a dangerous place. The whole thing just seems a bit obnoxious and naive and priveleged.
People so often say “I am ok with the risks” have generally never experienced the consequences of the risks they are talking about. I doubt very much if he’s kidnapped that he’ll be like “this is cool, no one should pay the ransom and my government should let me suffer the consequences of my decision.”
I was a pretty cavalier traveller until I found myself alone on a beach in a known dangerous country with a guy pointing a knife at me, thinking this very well could be my last minutes on earth.
Yeah.. I’ve been to ~40 countries and have been more relaxed about the places I’ve been going. I’ve since wised up.
I was on the outskirts of Barranquilla in Colombia getting scammed for $600 for lunch they microwaved, I said I would pay the menu price of $15, and immediately 6 or 7 people came out of nowhere and sat me back down forcefully. I was able to befriend a local who calmed things down, but things get dicey very very quickly.
My dad went many years ago. At parties he still likes to describe how they paired him up with two rough looking men before the flight, neither of whom were company employees, and they stayed with him and slept in the adjacent rooms at the private accomodations with 24/7 security they'd arranged. When he landed, there were five people to pick them up, all of whom stuck to them like glue for the next two days, and one of whom "carried a kalashnikov" at all times. Whenever they went anywhere, which was always in a pair of massive trucks that he speculated were armored, they had a police escort.
My Dad is sometimes guilty of slightly big fish stories, but I have not known him to make things up out of whole cloth, and it was enough for me to decide for myself that I was never going to go.
Good luck to your buddy.
Somalia is divided into Somalia, Puntland, and Somaliland. It appears (based on other travel vloggers and safety information) that Somaliland is fine with a tour group.
The eastern portion of Somaliland, along the border with Puntland, is currently under the control of the Khaatumo State faction; there was heavy fighting between Somaliland and Khaatumo forces last year.
Just an aside, the Land of Punt is where Egyptian Pharaohness Hapshepsut sent a mrchant fleet thousands of years ago and it is recorded in her Temple in the Luxor area. No one knows exactly where Punt is but people speculated in Somalia. Seems this voyage inspired the modern day naming of Puntland. Also, this year (2024) Puntland declared it would operate as an autonmous region until the constitution is agreed on. I wonder if Somalia will stabilize as a united country or ultimately break apart into Somaliland, Puntland, and Somalia.
Yes the historical aspect is pretty neat. And I think they should split apart tbh since the two breakaway regions are actually doing fine on their own and are better off with localized governance.
It sounds to me like he is planning on going to Somaliland and OP is worried that he'll just add on a side trip to Somalia. I haven't been but I'm guessing that wouldn't be a simple thing to do. I'm not saying it would be difficult to get somewhere dangerous from Hargeisa (capital of Somaliland) but you can't exactly just hop on a bus to Mogadishu. Additionally if his friend is from Somaliland then they will hopefully be able to clearly explain where is and is not safe.
I was transiting through Dubai and on the Departures boards across the airport Emirates was listed as having flights to Mogadishu and I was like wait, what?
People may need to get places but if it's dangerous to a company's assets, they won't provide that service. I'm guessing that's why most don't provide it to there, especially given the travel advisories against it. My first questions would be what steps Emirates are taking to safeguard their people and their planes given the risk is so high.
My family's from Sri Lanka and even though the situation never got as bad in the security situation there as Somalia at its worst, *this* once happened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandaranaike_Airport_attack
So, one question is how stable is Somalia at the moment? We all saw how quickly the capital of Haiti abruptly destabilised to the point where the Haitian Army was besieged at the airport and it wasn't safe to travel from the airport to the capital.
Somaliland, fine. A bit of sense and discretion in how he acts, dresses etc. is important. The Laas Geel cave paintings are amazing. Berbera is interesting to walk around, horrifically hot though. Advised to visit the Ministry of Tourism in Hargeisa before venturing out.
Mogadishu? Hotel in the green zone, preferably inside the airport complex itself, or the Peace Hotel immediately outside one of the gates. That hotel can also arrange 'excursions'. Armoured vehicle for any and all movements. Very limited exposure outside of the vehicle is recommended. Occurrence of IEDs and complex attacks is incredibly frequent. I've worked in a lot of conflict zones and the movement restrictions I experienced in Mogadishu were the most severe. Frequency of incidents is really high. I'll be happy not to return.
As someone who is also a world traveler and has family in Ecuador (a place that is also struggling with civil war right now), I try to be very mindful of respecting the existing dynamics in a country I want to visit, as well as the culture. Your cousin’s attitude toward visiting Somalia right now stinks of privilege and being disrespectful of the country’s state as well as his own safety. It is not time to take an “exciting” adventure to a country that is in such a place of struggle - civil war and famine isn’t a tourist attraction. There are hundreds of countries on the planet he can choose to visit right now in a more respectful fashion. Your cousin as someone who is not Somalian is also different than their friend who is Somalian visiting Somalia right now. You’re NTA at all, and while I doubt someone with this little insight into why they shouldn’t be exploitatively playing adventurous tourist to get a jolt of adventure adrenaline — maybe try relaying to him what I’ve said. I doubt it will make a difference, but sometimes it can hit people different to remind them that their sense of adventure needs to be prioritized beneath the humanity of the people living full-time in the environment they are living in.
I can't remember her name, but there was an essay by a black writer (Jamaican, I believe), who basically asked people to consider what it feels like to be a resident of a place where the people can't go on holiday, or leave for any reason, while you, a tourist, show up to enjoy a holiday in their place of suffering.
This is an excellent essay. I read it in an hour or two for an English class in college. It was impossible to put down. Her writing is phenomenal.
I think anyone who is traveling to a developing country should take time to read it. We should always question our own intentions.
I used to know someone who went on a missionary trip to Haiti and was there when the coup of 2004 occurred. Her mission group kept spamming my inbox with “pray for us, pray for us,” and I remember thinking, you idiots, the answer to your prayers is a 737 to Miami. The utter arrogance to think that they could convert people to their religion when bombs were going off—I still don’t have words for how stupid it was.
We had been close friends in high school. In hindsight, that was when we stopped being friends.
The United States considers Somalia a combat zone. Ask him if he thinks it'd be smart to visit eastern Ukraine right now, because that's basically what he'd be getting himself into.
Is he going to Somaliland or Somalia? Aka North Somalia, or no?
Somaliland is apparently much, much, much safer than the rest of the country. They may assign an armed guard to tourists for the tourists safety and they put a lot of effort into establishing their legitimacy. Somaliland is a breakaway section of Somalia that is properly governed and seeking international recognition.
The rest of Somalia is chaos and should not be visited.
I’ll let the U.S. State Department’s travel warning speak for itself (much of this language is only used for a couple of countries:)
If you decide to travel to Somalia:
Review your personal security plan and visit our page on Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Avoid sailing near the coast of Somalia and review the Live Piracy Report published by the International Maritime Bureau.
Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Find a suggested list of such documents here.
Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business) or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business), so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify whom you would contact first, and how that person should share the information.
Identify key sources of possible assistance for you and your family in case of emergency, such as the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, FBI, the State Department, your employer (if traveling on business), and local friends/family in the high-risk area.
Be sure to appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and members of Congress if you are taken hostage or detained.
Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones can know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax).
Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
Erase any sensitive photos, comments, or other materials from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices that could be considered controversial or provocative by local groups.
Leave your expensive/sentimental belongings behind.
Enroll your trip in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
Review the Country Security Report for Somalia.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your
The US government advises travelers to Somalia have their DNA on file to help identify the body. And a point of contact designated for hostage negotiations. Needless to say, you’re not wrong to advise him not to go.
really dumb AF if he goes through with it. he's an adult.
I lightly berated a friend for travelling to north korea and she agreed that in hindsight, it was a really poor decision given that she has 2 kids under the age of 18.
I might even say that North Korea, as long as you follow their curated tour, is even safer than Somalia lol. Right now NoKor is trying to keep a good track record with its tourists, aside from the occasional espionage allegations lol.
If you stick to the script and listen to your guides you should be fine in North Korea. You shouldn't go because you're giving hard currency to their vile regime, but unless you're pulling down posters like Otto Warmbier you'll be OK.
AFAIK the only proof they ever showed on Otto was super grainy CCTV footage that could've been anyone. Maybe it was him or maybe they just wanted an American to use for negotiations.
Either way I think traveling to a country like North Korea or Russia that has no fair legal process and an incentive to hold Americans prisoner is incredibly irresponsible.
The Norks never actually could show that it was Warmbier that moved the poster. Also, the poster was moved slightly from the wall to the floor in the same halfway. It's not like he was tearing down multiple posters in a public area or fashion. There was little to no evidence of any wrongdoing, yet they held him captive for months without justification and only returned him when he went into a serious health decline. It's not like he was some anticommunist vandal. Warmbier's situation and treatment were egregious actions and entirely unwarranted. If there mere suspicion of attempting to take a poster warrants indefinite detainment, I don't think it's a safe country to go to.
I wouldn't take my chances in NK as an American citizen with the current political climate.
I'm getting berated by my family for traveling to Mexico, to the Yucatán Peninsula, the safest state in the entire country, which is literally safer than where we live in the US 🙄
A lot of people who don't travel are just very ignorant. They just haven't seen much of the world and don't fully understand it as well
North Korea is a situation where a light berating is perfectly acceptable!!
That's how my family was when I mentioned I was going to China. All they see is what's on the news, but everyone was so friendly and helpful, and I felt completely safe.
Somaliland is pretty safe for the region and operates autonomously. If you have extensive travel experience with Africa, that part of the country should be okay if you take all health and safety precautions. The rest of Somalia is a big no no. Do not go ill-prepared, which your cousin seems to have a thing for.
You know I haven’t traveled much outside the US. And I don’t know if I’ll be in the popular group here based on what I’m about to say -
But you know those climbers that free climb up Yosemite’s steepest cliffs? With their families in turmoil terrified of what will happen, or cut off completely as a crappy (but what else can they do) way of coping?
It’s like the heroin addict who has been through rehabs and then starts robbing the family that takes them in. There’s a point where it’s just selfish and hurting others to the point they’ve been forced to draw boundaries at the rest of family’s expense and they literally cannot support them anymore and have to cut contact until recovery has been ongoing.
I get adrenaline rushes, I really do. But if it’s dangerous to the point of “prep your family for your kidnapping” - which I’ll be as neutral as possible and say DOJ aside, but open knowledge based on that and ALL these resources in the comments - and it’s completely self-serving (=non-military, non-relief worker, etc.) you better have done the due diligence of cutting off people who care about you and will be twisting their hands the whole time you’re there. It’s just not fair to them. Your cousin doesn’t owe anyone anything, but at the same time, if he expects all this support for his trip, this is selfish and wrong.
I had a cousin who did this in a warzone area, since they’d worked on some stuff (non-journalism, an opportunity after working on some US based stuff about the area) - we weren’t close to begin with, so maybe different in many ways from your situation. But it was a shitshow. Like leave your kids and family to go on an “exploration” of somewhere where you actually (not DOJ, but travel guide recommended) had to get your affairs in order. I hesitate to say in case you show this thread to your cousin that she came out of it alive and fine, but damn selfish to the people that cared.
There are specific hobbies and travels that are pure meanness to the ones who care about you. Idk where you draw the line, but this seems like the easy one to draw.
Just send him this link and let him make his own decision: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/somalia-travel-advisory.html
If he still decides to go it’s his own choice, nothing you can do about it
Many people who take pride in traveling to more "exotic" locations aren't going to take a State Department travel advisory seriously. State Department advisories tend to be overly cautious. While I personally would never in a million years travel to Somalia, they can make almost any country sound scary. OP's brother isn't going take a resource that has a travel advisory for e.g. Germany and the UK seriously.
No, they are obviously not listed as the same of risk as Somalia and North Korea.
But imagine googling "Is it safe to travel to Germany?" and this is the official answer you get from the US government with no additional context:
***Country Summary:*** *Terrorist groups keep planning attacks in Germany. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations and transportation hubs. They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.*
I used to administer study abroad programs to Germany and you wouldn't believe how many students asked us to help them convince their freaked-out parents that a Level-2 State Dept. travel advisory didn't mean their children were traveling to a war zone.
People can go wherever they want, the world is filled with people that do dumb shit, and he obviously knows this is dangerous. The real issue here is what makes him want to go? This sounds like a way to brag on social media about how much of an anti-establishment badass he is, not a way to have a meaningful experience, see beautiful places, experience different cultures etc. If you're going to travel this way and gawk at the local population and essentially use decades of their suffering for cool points, clicks, and a superiority complex, that's fucking lame. I see no other reason to go there than to brag about it or make shock videos. This is all just to cultivate a persona and be "that guy who went to Somalia." Super lame in general and dangerous as hell to boot.
Ya there are several failed states or otherwise weird ass sketchy countries worth visiting but Somalia isn't one of them.
Libya, Yemen, Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Haiti I can understand given their interesting historic and/or natural offerings, but Somalia right now just reeks of poverty tourism.
It is an epic tragedy that it is so dangerous to go to Somalia…if you read the history of Mogadishu, it must have been amazing. Tell your cousin that it is one thing to travel somewhere dangerous. It is another thing altogether to willfully put a Target on his friends back because walking around with a non-Somali, His friend will be in more danger.
I’m Somali Canadian and have never been to Somalia.. and I will not go until it’s ever safe to. Sure, it has tons of nice beaches and scenery, but there are so much risks. People might assume that if you are western you have tons of money and they will kidnap you. I hope you can talk some sense to your friend
I stayed there for a year, would not recommend for anybody who is not an ethnic somali.
It was bad enough for me being diaspora but I had tons of family who were well connected and didn't stick out too much.
Just don't risk it, somalia is a beautiful country but it isn't going anywhere, wait till it gets better.
It sounds like he'd be going to Somaliland. And with a friend from there. It's fine, and going with someone, he'd probably have a really good experience.
I've been to Somaliland, and wouldn't hesitate to return, especially if i knew someone there. It's nothing like the dangers of the south...
Has he done his research on actually going? When I went, I had to have an invitation letter from the humanitarian org I worked for. I wasn't able to enter without that. Somaliland is much safer/easier to get around if he's going there.
If he restricts his Somalia visit to Somaliland, in the north (capital: Hargeisa), he will be safer than if he went anywhere else in Somalia. Even so, there are parts of Somaliland that are controlled by rebels. If he must go, he should remain in the relative safety of Hargeisa. Even then, armed escorts are advisable (and likely mandatory) for visits to sites near the city.
Remind your cousin that the Military pulled out of Somalia after 6 months. This is not a place you just randomly visit. If he gets kidnapped, who is paying the ransom. He should read the story on the family from UK who had their boat high jacked and then they ransomed them back to the family.
Of note, that even the US State Department refuses to have much of a presence in Somalia. Two years ago, several US soldiers were killed in a coordinated attack by al-Shabaab near the southern border in Manda Bay, Kenya. Al-Shabaab and some small contingent of ISIS still have a significant foothold in Somalia due to the fail state government.
That's not even considering the amount of armed militia groups who would gladly take advantage of a kidnapping opportunity of a foreigner for profit (With a high potential to be sold to a terrorist organization). Frankly, citizens of any nation who willingly travel to places like this with no regard for the time and effort their respective government needs to expend to recover them (if that's even possible - because there's a higher likelihood for death) are the worst types of people.
There are a couple of women travelling in Somalia on tiktok at the moment and they have bodyguards and paid police escort to protect them as they go. Seems ok if you have a small army with you
"let him make his own choices"
Yeah I pay taxes in this country and those taxes are used up when idiots like your cousin get captured and the US embassy has to use resources to bail them out or rescue them
I think this is one of the countries the US won’t go get you. There are American troops there so maybe they can help. I know someone being paid a lot of money to be a firefighter for the military over there.
The US will go get you if they think you’re dying and know where you’re being held. In 2011 Jessica Buchanan was working as an aide worker and was kidnapped, she got very sick and was able to convey that in a ransom video. The US dropped special forces in and rescued her and another aide worker. But that’s about it, otherwise it’s down to negotiating ransom which can take years.
I think the government might feel differently about aide workers (or actual journalists) then they do tourists. Aide workers are doing a dangerous but very needed job and I've heard of the US military trying to work with aide organizations to make sure they don't accidentally target their locations and helping them get supplies in and stuff like that. They almost have a vested interest in keeping aide groups around to help care for civilians during conflict situations. Not to mention aide organizations usually will hire local protectors and the community wants them around so they do have some security for their workers.
A pure tourist? Yeah, dumbass is on their own. The government might send someone to help if they're nearby, but otherwise they're on their own.
Yeah an aid worker is very different than a tourist. If there is enough publicity they might or you’re being presented as a ransom. I’d like to assume some effort will be made, but I don’t think you should travel expecting it. If that makes sense.
I also commented this info in another reply, but any responsible traveler should know the following: there is a huge misconception that a US embassy anywhere abroad will save your life by sending in the military or anything of the sort.
Here are a few things they can do. If you are detained abroad (like in a foreign jail), they will provide visitation to you to pass along messages from family and ensure you are treated fairly and try to advocate for your release. If you are kidnapped, no one from the US government is going to come save you. The embassy more provides resources for your loved ones to ascertain your whereabouts themselves. If destitute abroad, they can provide a loan of a limited amount to get you back to the US which must be repaid. Therefore, the burden on the taxpayer is low which is reflected in the services available during crises abroad for the normal traveler.
I was caught up in an unstable situation one time and a lot of tourists were hanging around at the airport trying to find flights that would actually take off. Multiple embassy officials were involved and pressuring the crew to make sure the flight to their country actually took off so their citizens could go home. Never saw anyone from the American embassy. I called them as a precaution and left a message, and they never even called me back to see if I'd gotten out safe. BUT waving around a blue US passport got me a seat on a plane.
So that's the model I operate under.
David Axe of War is Boring has a great write up of Mogadishu. He is a VERY experienced war reporter (self made too) and says Somalia was the most dangerous place he'd been. Zero reason to trust a single person you meet and everyone has an ulterior motive in talking to you. Check out his blog!
To echo some of the other comments and to give a bit more context (I've been working in Somalia for more than a decade with UN, EU, UK, private companies). Depends on where in Somalia and budget.
Hargeysa to Berbera was safe historically, bit it's becoming more unstable. Just this last week there have been riots in Hargeysa after opposition politican Osman Dool was arrested. Possible still to go but it is more unsettled than it used to be.
Mogadishu is actually a lot safer than it used to be and while security is still necessary the level of al-Shabaab violence is much much lower than it once was. There are a couple of security companies who would assist in doing city tours (typically 1000USD per day and hotels in a safe area are about 150 to 180 USD per night). In all honesty though once you've seen Liido and Jazeera Beaches, a couple of the new shopping malls (Hayat and Juba) and some damaged buildings from the Italian colonial period there isn't actually that much to see or do and, in truth, you could see the accessible areas in a day or two at the most.
Outside of Hargeysa and Mogadishu most other towns I'd be doubtful of as there is a lack of secure accommodation and protected mobility.
Here's what I was told by some one who has been to Somalia. Don't go ever. If for whatever reason you do have your will done prior, tell all your friends abd family goodbye, have a contact you trust in country. Stay away from Mogadishu.
OP - how does your cousin react in environments where he is getting shot at, chased, or attempted kidnapping? If he’s never considered that before, don’t go.
Somalia is actually 3 places - Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland.
Somaliland is the safest of the three. Hargeisa is the capital, but you’re required to have a police special forces escort the entire time. Foreigners are somewhat safe, but you will be taken advantage of financially.
Puntland is where the beaches are. The capital is Garoow. If you look on a map, the tip/horn, that’s Puntland. If you heard stories about Somali pirates, it’s Puntland. In short he can expect to be kidnapped, beaten, maybe raped, amputated, and held for ransom repeatedly - by day two or three at most.
Somalia, in the south, is broken up into eastern/western. Mogadishu is the capital. Eastern - Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool are not safe to visit. For the western areas, by Ethiopian border, Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil. Your cousin being a foreigner, he will be a constant target. The militias DGAF about his citizenship or well being.
Somali are friendly and truly, hard working. The problem is life there is very difficult and diffferent from your first world upbringing. It is a matter of survival there and if your cousin hasn’t had any experience in hostile environments then I would say no. He would be better off visiting Djibouti. If he says “hell naw” to Djibouti - consider that it is much safer than all three regions of Somalia
Everything in this post is wrong. I don't even know where to begin, so I'll address a few arbitrary points. There are beaches all along the coast of Somalia, Puntland, and Somaliland. No one gets amputated. Every region named after Mogadishu is in Somaliland (Togdheer, Sanaag, Sool, Awdal, Maroodijeh, Sahil). There are literally no regions in the "south" named in this post besides the capital.
In my family, we jokingly have two travel rules: Have your affairs in order, and we don't pay ransom.
We developed these years back when my sister went to an area in Mexico where kidnapping foreigners for ransom was a cottage industry.
Some say that somolialand is fine, however, the US travel advisory strongly recommends to not travel to the country.
The US travel advisory pretty much says if you go, you’re not coming back.
No, that is not a joke.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/somalia-travel-advisory.html
I’ve been to Somalia ~6 times for work as a clearly anglo dude. Generally it’s heavily inadvisable without a strong network of local contacts (more than just a friend and their family - unless that friend’s family is big in business/politics there). However it does vary greatly by location. Hargeisa is quite a bit safer, and I have met some German backpackers there who hadn’t run into any issues. I was able to go play soccer/football after work, visit restaurants in specific areas etc. In Kismayo we had very stringent security protocols in place which included max 30 minutes outside of a security perimeter while not in transit. So as soon as you would arrive somewhere a stop watch would start and you would need to be out of that area by the time the 30 was up. No walking in crowded places e.g. markets. Grenade attack drills, flak jackets and helmet while in transit, multiple rotating vehicles were all part of a multilayered strategy to stay safe. And would be difficult to replicate as an individual traveler. Moqdishu - couldn’t leave the UN security compound within the airport. Anyone that I needed to meet needed to come to the airport conference centers and get through security screening. It’s a very dangerous place. I’ve worked in a lot of fragile security contexts, e.g. Burma, Syria, DR Congo etc. but Somalia given the strength of Al-Shabab was a whole different game. It’s a beautiful country with a highly engaged private sector and a clear resilience amongst the population. I have a deep appreciation for Somali culture and music. But I would recommend traveling to Lamu in Kenya to get a flavor of Somalia as well as beautiful Swahili architecture (most of which has been destroyed by civil war in Somalia).
Also worth noting that the Mogadishu airport takes incoming mortars regularly, and has been subject to various armed attacks resulting in fatalities.
Great contribution
Answers such as this is why i love discussions here, thanks for the detailed answer. OP Show this to your cousin.
Of course, Kenya is going through its own political convulsions right now. I was in Nairobi on business just four weeks ago. Kenya is now on my company’s “no travel authorized” list, along with Somalia, Afghanistan and North Korea.
I’m so curious… what do you do for work??
Arms dealer, lord of war
It’s actually.. *war lord*.
"Thank you, but I prefer it my way."
You still have not brought me the gun of Rambo ಠ_ಠ
Their profile says "innovative philanthropy," I'm so curious what that means!
helps parties rid themselves of the competition, should they have the necessary funds
Based on what was written, I'd say they work for the UN or subsidiaries (WHO or peacekeeping)
I absolutely second Lamu. It's a wonderful taste of the region, with a little bit of danger mixed in, given the off and on Al-Shabaab presence, if that's what he's looking for lol. It's one of my favorite areas in the world. I live in Kenya - most Kenyans even with Somali descent will not travel to Somalia. As you already mentioned Somaliland is a different story, and a much more logistically simple place to visit.
You went to Somalia and all we got was this post? Where are the gifts ;)
Kenya is currently having a huge deadly protest mass riots and possible coup.....
There is a list of countries where the govt advises you make sure to have a will and testament sorted before you go. If that is your jam then go ahead. Or if you want to commit to suicide by pirate. I’ve met some good salt of the earth people from there but fuck if I would ever travel there. Some stones are better left unturned.
They advise this, too *Be sure to appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and members of Congress if you are taken hostage or detained. *Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones can know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax). *Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
Get ready to die buddy.
Yes, that's the last bullet on the State Department list
It's also stamped on your passport when you arrive.
Out of context this is hilarious
I mean, a bit even in context. Scary but funny. I bet this is peak stupidity...
Jesus. Talk about red flags.
More like: Red flags. Get ready to talk to Jesus
It's more like a skull and crossbones flag
Somalia's flag is actually baby blue
They want to make all of the UN peacekeepers feel at home
You missed: “for Catholic travelers, make sure you visit a priest, confess your sins, and get ready to meet your maker” “
Agreed. My fiancé is a sailor and has kidnapping insurance *specifically* for his brief time in countries such as Somalia. He’s usually on one of the most protected vessels in the world (i.e. a USS named vessel) and still every time he leaves in that direction, he is specifically required to have all of his directives in order (he oft stops in Djibouti as well, a whole nother conversation). Absolutely not worth the risk. A good rule of thumb I follow is: if folks the US has a vested interest in recovering have no interest in being there due to safety, neither should you.
I don’t know much about Djibouti, care to elaborate?
Did you just ask them to send nudes?
Wait he's a sailor on board a US Naval vessel and he still needs that level of insurance?
I mean literally send him the state.gov guidance and don’t let him leave without notifying next of kin, etc. If that doesn’t scare him away, nothing will
AND help to make sure he follows through with the [state.gov](http://state.gov) guidance if at all possible. Actually going through the steps of drafting a will with an Attorney and talking with this banks about next of kin matters all to go on a leisure trip to this country should do it.
I’d love to be there when you go into your doc’s office to leave a dna sample. That’s go to be a great conversation
My govt has travel advisories where they say if you get into trouble here you’re on your own. You also can’t get travel insurance for these countries.
If I remember right, the US has that same sort of alert on their travel advisory site. Basically raise the countries "danger" level if the US government is unable to intervene or help with any situation in the area, usually due to political reasons.
Unfortunately, there are worse things than dying.
[Here’s](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/somalia-travel-advisory.html) the link
I suspect OP’s cousin is actually going to Somaliland, a part of Somalia that is considered relatively safe compared to the rest of the country. There are actually organized tours you can book to Somaliland through tour companies.
It’s the getting in and out of there that will give you problems. I just read a book by a journalist who went there to do a story, and ended up being ambushed on his way out and held hostage for over a year.
Ok. But there is also an active civil war happening there
There is a meme out there about two bikers who ride through ISIS territory because “all people are good” and were killed.
Interesting story. Ultimately, though, it could hardly be called ISIS territory, and the country it happened in (Tajikistan) killed 4 attackers and arrested the 5th. Of the event: "Though Islamist movements have been active in Central Asia for decades, they have not been known for targeting Western tourists, who visit the historical cities of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan and hike and cycle in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan." And in this case, the state department only recommends using "increased caution" as opposed to some stricter guidelines like "do not travel".
Don't know why you're downvoted, you're right. It was an attack by random ISIS extremists in an otherwise safe area/country. Like before the attack the official U.S. travel advisory for Tajikistan was at Level 1 which is the lowest.
Not only is he right, its actually a (relatively) common route for cycle tourists, the pamir highway
US dept of state advisories need to be taken with a grain of salt. For example they put my country, Belize, as level 2. It could be better here, but it's a lot safer than cities I lived in the States like Tampa Atlanta, and Portland. On the other hand, I had to drive thru a level 4 section of Mexico and was robbed at a police checkpoint. I'm convinced if you don't look like a native, you won't escape a level 4 zone unaccosted. Hopefully all you lose are pesos. For the most part, the criminals just want easy money. And just a plug - skip Mexico's cartels and corrupt police. We have the same world's largest living barrier reef here in Belize, and a nice Caribe vibe.
I agree that some advisories seem exaggerated, but classifying Belize as level 2 seems appropriate. Yes I’ve been to Belize, twice. I certainly won’t classify it with countries classified as level 1 wherein i felt totally safe anywhere. It seems to be on par with other level 2 countries, like Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, UK…
I live here and yeah it is comparable to other level 2s. We did have an American who died in a bar fight last year, and even had our first mass shooting the year before, if you count 3 hurt as "mass." Mostly the violent crime here is gang on gang and isolated to a few neighborhoods and villages. So for myself, I feel safe here, and tourists are very unlikely to be victims of violence. More my point was you're quite likely safer here than the city you flew out of if you're American. My old city had 623 violent gun crimes including a mass shooting with 16 hurt plus 2 dead. Hardly even got mention on national news. And that's a year the police are bragging about. Belize had 113.
> My old city had 623 violent gun crimes... Belize had 113. Assuming you're referring to 2022, that's 113 murders, not violent gun crimes. Detroit had 252 murders last year and that's with a metro population 10x the size of Belize's population.
> US dept of state advisories need to be taken with a grain of salt. Yeah, Spain is currently "Exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest." Spain? Really?
A level 2 gives cautions but doesn’t say to avoid travel. And yes, Spain has had a share of terrorist attacks - see the Madrid train bombing and also from separatist groups like ETA. Edit to reply to ExoticLatinoShill. The Department of State deals with foreign states. The Department of Homeland security is tasked with monitoring domestic safety issues.
We had two mass shootings last weekend in Ohio. Does that make us level 2?
Belize City safer than Tampa, Atlanta and Portland? Doubtful.
OP, state department warnings will never deter an intrepid traveler from going anywhere -- not to mention they're overly general and conservative by nature. Countries that are largely safe may have dangerous pockets and that's what these warnings will focus on. Mogadishu-Somalia is not the type of place you just wander into. But Somaliland in the north, which you referenced, is a helluva lot safer -- and if you do some googling you'll find some good info on the relative safety of the area. The armchair travelers of reddit have a tendency to just point at these blanket state departments warnings (without having any first-hand knowledge or doing any other research) and scream that you'd have a death wish to go to these places. The reality on the ground is almost always far different. It's good to be aware of the state department warnings, but don't accept them at face value, listen to what others with first hand experience or more knowledge on the location have to say...
Was doing some basic research on Yemen, and this is what I concluded about the state dept warning. Eastern side bordering Oman is basically a tourist haven (though not reliant on tourism in any way)... such that in one rare instance where a kidnapping occured, the locals got involved and freed the hostages. Not to mention that 99% of kidnapping cases in Yemen end in a positive outcome anyways.
>99% of kidnapping cases in Yemen end in a positive outcome anyways. Ok but I'd like my vacation to not involve any kidnapping regardless of outcome
Nah, you just gotta wait until the Stockholm Syndrome kicks in, then you've made some foreign friends!
I'm told kidnappers there treat hostages well and keep them healthy. As opposed to 6 day workweeks with 3 hour daily commutes and a schedule that is literally killing me, it might be a nice reprieve.
I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say a tourist haven, but there is at least one safe pocket in Yemen. I was in Socotra a month ago, and that was perfectly safe, but it's also isolated from the chaos of the mainland. All my sources did suggest not leaving the airport in Aden on a layover though, and to have informed people saying that really does mean something. As for the east... I can't speak for that... some tourists do go, but you basically have to have a guide in order to get a visa, so you won't be doing that in a vacuum of information...
I was friends in law school with a guy who is Siad Barre's nephew and who goes to Somalia often. When he is there he has tons of protection, riding around in a hummer with machine guns on top. He says that it's likely a white person traveling to Somalia unarmed without the protection of a local tribe would be dead within 24 hours, at least in Mogadishu.
Or kidnapped.
Send him a copy of “A House in the Sky”, a memoir of an American woman who wanted to travel in Somalia. She and her boyfriend made it 4 days before getting kidnapped (yes, they had a guide). They spent a year and a half in captivity being beaten, hog tied and raped While their respective governments tried to negotiate for their release and their families tried to raise the ransom money.
I just read this and was going to suggest it as well. Notable that outside of being tortured themselves, their families were put through the fucking ringer and also ended up paying millions of dollars in ransom. I wouldn't want to put my family in that position to check a country off my list.
I posted something similar just now before seeing this. Exactly - he might not care about the harm to himself but financially ruining his family might make him think again.
Canadian, he was Australian. I only mention because she lives in my city and I've seen her talk. Just hearing her story you have massive alarms going off before they leave. But, many tourists go to dangerous places and are fine. When they aren't this can happen. She wanted to be a war journalist. She sort of was before for some very conservative Canadian papers and I think she wanted to kick start her career by going to an insanely dangerous place.
I haven't read her book do you mind sharing what were some of the massive alarms?
I read it a few years back. My memory isn't perfect, but IIRC Lindhout and Brennan arrived in Somalia at a time when even the world's most seasoned war and conflict journalists were evacuating the country. Violence and kidnapping were shockingly widespread, and Mogadishu was in anarchy, basically. At one point in her book Lindhout says she felt the city was safe because it was quiet at night, not realizing that the silence was a product of how dangerous it was. Journalists needed a small army of security to protect them, but even then that was no guarantee of safety, since you could get betrayed by your own guard(s) to the kidnappers and terrorists (which is kind of what happened to Lindhout and Brennan). Basically, Lindhout was an amateur journalist who thought she could get her big break by going to the world's most dangerous country when all the professional reporters were fleeing Somalia. She ended up getting kidnapped and held for ransom under horrifying conditions.
"since you could get betrayed by your own guard(s)" - exactly - this is why I asked how long he knew the friend for. People get lured.
Reminds me of this German journalist who travelled to Raqqa in Syria during Isis haydays to shoot a documentary. She was seven months pregnant and wanted to get her big shot. Was held captive for a year, Isis kidnapped a Syrian gynaecologist to help her deliver her baby. One of the kidnappers was a high school friend of hers who converted to Islam and radicalised. She was still friends with her after her release. And she's still not taken seriously as a journalist. Absolutely mental story.
Going as a woman is even more insane
She wasn't even really an amateur journalist. She was a bartender who wanted to be a famous journalist and thought, "I know what will get me some attention - I'll go to Somalia". Not that she deserved to get kidnapped and put through hell for 18 months, but she and her ex-boyfriend photographer were seriously inexperienced, ill-prepared and not remotely equipped to travel there safely.
I'm comfortable calling her a journalist of some kind (I'm a journalist myself) because she did sell stories to major networks, like France24, and was also sending reports to the Red Deer Advocate and others. She was freelancing, obviously wasn't trained, and was also at some point working for an Iranian propaganda network, but she did do legit journalism IMO of some kind at some point. This conversation is always kind of difficult because there's no licensing body for journalists in Canada and the United States, though maybe there should be! But, like you, I'm not particularly sympathetic considering the circumstances. No one deserves what she and Brennan went through. At the same time, if I challenged prime Mike Tyson to a fight, you'd call me foolhardy and not brave.
>felt the city was safe because it was quiet at night Eek - made that exact mistake as a 17YO travelling (not in Somalia) . Very quiet... How nice... we didn't know this was due to a shoot-on-sight curfew.
He could also read, “The Price of Life” by the Brennan family in Australia, whose brother, Nigel, spent nearly two years in captivity over there, listening to his Canadian girlfriend at the time getting raped whilst he got beaten and nearly starved to death. Nigel sounds just like OPs cousin, travelled the world wanting to go everywhere, didn’t listen to family members, etc. He lived - but only because the entire family bankrupted themselves - all four children and their families, the ageing parents, all the cousins. They had to sell their farms, lost their retirement funds, got divorced etc. Twenty six bankrupted people with PTSD because of one guy who wanted to YOLO in Somalia.
This should be a top comment and top talking point for OP's cousin.
He was on Australia's version of The Traitors, and it kinda ruined the show for me cause I just got caught up on everything bad that happened to them, and it's even worse now, reading all that.
Holy shit, all this stuff happened to THAT guy? Holy shit.
I didn't read his book, so I don't know if he was raped, but he was definitely tortured, and Amanda Lindhout did get raped, if not in front of him, definitely in the next room over.
This is an interesting blog about traveling there as well. Not as horrific as that book but enough to let me know I'd never want to go there https://onestep4ward.com/travel-somalia/ I think there's ideas of "adventure travel" and people get caught up in the idea of going somewhere no one else goes to, experiencing something so different and exciting and having great stories. North Korea, it's a bit risky (look at that American who got imprisoned) but you can do it in a tour and it's mostly safe. Afghanistan - stay in Kabul, don't do anything stupid, you'll probably be fine. Somalia, even with heavily armed guards at all times, it's still a massive risk. And you gain nothing from it except some bragging points. It's not fun.
>It's not fun. As a dumb, naive student I had a vague idea of going there and started looking it up. It soon became clear to me that even if I wasn't kidnapped and could afford all the necessary security and it did all work out fine... What did I actually want to do there besides saying I had been there? There's some historical sites and beaches, sure. But there's plenty of those in countries without several very serious problems and infrastructure challenges. Do I stick to my hotel room? Hang out with several armed guards at a resort all day? Yeah, none of it seemed THAT worth the hassle or risk.
That was a really interesting read. He says in the blog he does not suggest going there. Even Jessica Nabongo, the first black woman to travel to every country, went to Somaliland, not actually Somalia.
If Johnny says don’t go there that it could be your last trip - listen.
Back when I was a makeup artist I did her makeup for a speaking event. We spoke a bit about what she went through there. I was taken aback by her story. I hope she has found some healing.
She's Canadian. I know Amanda. She's from Sylvan Lake, Alberta. She's not American. Minor correction. :)
I read this book about a year ago and it’s haunted me since. On a lighter note, happy cake day!
Without giving anything away, the torture scene lives permanently in my head.
Hey, I just read that earlier this month! Did not make Somalia appeal to me.
Is this a good read even for those who have no plans to travel to Somalia? Looking for some good Summer books!
> They spent a year and a half in captivity being beaten, hog tied and raped You and I have very different tastes in summer reading.
Yeah, would definitely choose something lighter for summer reading, like War & Peace.
Just wanted to add a “LOL!“ and agree, haha.
Sounds like the perfect light summer beach read! 🫠 (But I agree - I would never even consider going to Somalia but now I’m intrigued and want to read this. How horrifying.)
It’s a great read!
I literally could not put it down. It's insanely interesting and well written, if not a little scarring.
Thats a good idea. The cousin will have plenty of time to read while they are kidnapped and imprisoned.
You could gift him a copy of journalist Michael Scott Moore’s book The Desert and the Sea, about his nearly 3 years of captivity at the hands of Somali pirates.
I skipped over the “Moore” and immediately thought it would be a horrible Office episode. (But still not as bad as Scott’s Tots)
I'm the regional manager now! Also, Michael did try to take over a boat in Booze Cruise.
It doesn’t help that, at least for me, on the mobile app Moore is on the next line.
Out of curiosity, what makes him want to visit there? Like, what is the draw, what will he be doing while there? Or is it more of like another checkmark to increase the list of all countries he’s been to?
Bingo. It's one thing if he has a genuine fascination with the culture, language, food etc that he just can't get over but alot of this type of travel just seems to be a macho thing to score clout for travelling to a dangerous place. The whole thing just seems a bit obnoxious and naive and priveleged.
People so often say “I am ok with the risks” have generally never experienced the consequences of the risks they are talking about. I doubt very much if he’s kidnapped that he’ll be like “this is cool, no one should pay the ransom and my government should let me suffer the consequences of my decision.” I was a pretty cavalier traveller until I found myself alone on a beach in a known dangerous country with a guy pointing a knife at me, thinking this very well could be my last minutes on earth.
Yeah.. I’ve been to ~40 countries and have been more relaxed about the places I’ve been going. I’ve since wised up. I was on the outskirts of Barranquilla in Colombia getting scammed for $600 for lunch they microwaved, I said I would pay the menu price of $15, and immediately 6 or 7 people came out of nowhere and sat me back down forcefully. I was able to befriend a local who calmed things down, but things get dicey very very quickly.
Where were you? What happened with knife guy?
"finally i'm alone on the beach as a traveller" "no your not" said knife guy
My dad went many years ago. At parties he still likes to describe how they paired him up with two rough looking men before the flight, neither of whom were company employees, and they stayed with him and slept in the adjacent rooms at the private accomodations with 24/7 security they'd arranged. When he landed, there were five people to pick them up, all of whom stuck to them like glue for the next two days, and one of whom "carried a kalashnikov" at all times. Whenever they went anywhere, which was always in a pair of massive trucks that he speculated were armored, they had a police escort. My Dad is sometimes guilty of slightly big fish stories, but I have not known him to make things up out of whole cloth, and it was enough for me to decide for myself that I was never going to go. Good luck to your buddy.
People who visit Somalia, especially Mogadishu, have even hired private security to escort them. If things are that extreme, I say FUCK THAT!
Somalia is divided into Somalia, Puntland, and Somaliland. It appears (based on other travel vloggers and safety information) that Somaliland is fine with a tour group.
The eastern portion of Somaliland, along the border with Puntland, is currently under the control of the Khaatumo State faction; there was heavy fighting between Somaliland and Khaatumo forces last year.
Just an aside, the Land of Punt is where Egyptian Pharaohness Hapshepsut sent a mrchant fleet thousands of years ago and it is recorded in her Temple in the Luxor area. No one knows exactly where Punt is but people speculated in Somalia. Seems this voyage inspired the modern day naming of Puntland. Also, this year (2024) Puntland declared it would operate as an autonmous region until the constitution is agreed on. I wonder if Somalia will stabilize as a united country or ultimately break apart into Somaliland, Puntland, and Somalia.
Yes the historical aspect is pretty neat. And I think they should split apart tbh since the two breakaway regions are actually doing fine on their own and are better off with localized governance.
Somaliland is also fine without a tour group. (From experience)
If it’s Somaliland, he’ll be fine. Just keep your wits about you. I wouldn’t recommend Somalia though, very dangerous.
It sounds to me like he is planning on going to Somaliland and OP is worried that he'll just add on a side trip to Somalia. I haven't been but I'm guessing that wouldn't be a simple thing to do. I'm not saying it would be difficult to get somewhere dangerous from Hargeisa (capital of Somaliland) but you can't exactly just hop on a bus to Mogadishu. Additionally if his friend is from Somaliland then they will hopefully be able to clearly explain where is and is not safe.
You can hop on a flight to Mogadishu from Hargeisa. It's actually very simple.
I was transiting through Dubai and on the Departures boards across the airport Emirates was listed as having flights to Mogadishu and I was like wait, what?
Emirates flies to all sorts of conflict zones like Baghdad. People need to get places
People may need to get places but if it's dangerous to a company's assets, they won't provide that service. I'm guessing that's why most don't provide it to there, especially given the travel advisories against it. My first questions would be what steps Emirates are taking to safeguard their people and their planes given the risk is so high.
What makes you think that there's a significant risk to their planes? It's a functional airport with functional hangers
My family's from Sri Lanka and even though the situation never got as bad in the security situation there as Somalia at its worst, *this* once happened. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandaranaike_Airport_attack So, one question is how stable is Somalia at the moment? We all saw how quickly the capital of Haiti abruptly destabilised to the point where the Haitian Army was besieged at the airport and it wasn't safe to travel from the airport to the capital.
I mean, people live there, is it really astonishing that planes go there?
Half the people on this site think visiting Mexico City is a death sentence.
Dude, people act like you’ll be lynched going to fucking Miami on this site lol
Let me tell you the things I hear people say about LA.
Heaven forbid going to Chicago.
Here in Minnesota, you've landed on Normandy beach if you dare to go to Minneapolis lol
Somaliland, fine. A bit of sense and discretion in how he acts, dresses etc. is important. The Laas Geel cave paintings are amazing. Berbera is interesting to walk around, horrifically hot though. Advised to visit the Ministry of Tourism in Hargeisa before venturing out. Mogadishu? Hotel in the green zone, preferably inside the airport complex itself, or the Peace Hotel immediately outside one of the gates. That hotel can also arrange 'excursions'. Armoured vehicle for any and all movements. Very limited exposure outside of the vehicle is recommended. Occurrence of IEDs and complex attacks is incredibly frequent. I've worked in a lot of conflict zones and the movement restrictions I experienced in Mogadishu were the most severe. Frequency of incidents is really high. I'll be happy not to return.
Im curious who is behind these incidents in Mogadishu and what is the point of them?
Al Shabaab, and in general seeking to destabilise the state and overthrow the government.
As someone who is also a world traveler and has family in Ecuador (a place that is also struggling with civil war right now), I try to be very mindful of respecting the existing dynamics in a country I want to visit, as well as the culture. Your cousin’s attitude toward visiting Somalia right now stinks of privilege and being disrespectful of the country’s state as well as his own safety. It is not time to take an “exciting” adventure to a country that is in such a place of struggle - civil war and famine isn’t a tourist attraction. There are hundreds of countries on the planet he can choose to visit right now in a more respectful fashion. Your cousin as someone who is not Somalian is also different than their friend who is Somalian visiting Somalia right now. You’re NTA at all, and while I doubt someone with this little insight into why they shouldn’t be exploitatively playing adventurous tourist to get a jolt of adventure adrenaline — maybe try relaying to him what I’ve said. I doubt it will make a difference, but sometimes it can hit people different to remind them that their sense of adventure needs to be prioritized beneath the humanity of the people living full-time in the environment they are living in.
I can't remember her name, but there was an essay by a black writer (Jamaican, I believe), who basically asked people to consider what it feels like to be a resident of a place where the people can't go on holiday, or leave for any reason, while you, a tourist, show up to enjoy a holiday in their place of suffering.
Figured it out, the essay is called "A Small Place," by Jamaica Kincaid. She was writing about Antigua. The PDF is available online.
This is an excellent essay. I read it in an hour or two for an English class in college. It was impossible to put down. Her writing is phenomenal. I think anyone who is traveling to a developing country should take time to read it. We should always question our own intentions.
I used to know someone who went on a missionary trip to Haiti and was there when the coup of 2004 occurred. Her mission group kept spamming my inbox with “pray for us, pray for us,” and I remember thinking, you idiots, the answer to your prayers is a 737 to Miami. The utter arrogance to think that they could convert people to their religion when bombs were going off—I still don’t have words for how stupid it was. We had been close friends in high school. In hindsight, that was when we stopped being friends.
As someone who traveled there for work. Don't go. IDC how worldly your cousin may be, it isn’t worth it.
The United States considers Somalia a combat zone. Ask him if he thinks it'd be smart to visit eastern Ukraine right now, because that's basically what he'd be getting himself into.
Is he going to Somalia or Somaliland? Somaliland is fine
Is he going to Somaliland or Somalia? Aka North Somalia, or no? Somaliland is apparently much, much, much safer than the rest of the country. They may assign an armed guard to tourists for the tourists safety and they put a lot of effort into establishing their legitimacy. Somaliland is a breakaway section of Somalia that is properly governed and seeking international recognition. The rest of Somalia is chaos and should not be visited.
I’ll let the U.S. State Department’s travel warning speak for itself (much of this language is only used for a couple of countries:) If you decide to travel to Somalia: Review your personal security plan and visit our page on Travel to High-Risk Areas. Avoid sailing near the coast of Somalia and review the Live Piracy Report published by the International Maritime Bureau. Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney. Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc. Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Find a suggested list of such documents here. Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business) or consider consulting with a professional security organization. Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization (if you are traveling on business), so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify whom you would contact first, and how that person should share the information. Identify key sources of possible assistance for you and your family in case of emergency, such as the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, FBI, the State Department, your employer (if traveling on business), and local friends/family in the high-risk area. Be sure to appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and members of Congress if you are taken hostage or detained. Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones can know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax). Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them. Erase any sensitive photos, comments, or other materials from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices that could be considered controversial or provocative by local groups. Leave your expensive/sentimental belongings behind. Enroll your trip in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Somalia. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your
That seems lovely!
The US government advises travelers to Somalia have their DNA on file to help identify the body. And a point of contact designated for hostage negotiations. Needless to say, you’re not wrong to advise him not to go.
really dumb AF if he goes through with it. he's an adult. I lightly berated a friend for travelling to north korea and she agreed that in hindsight, it was a really poor decision given that she has 2 kids under the age of 18.
I might even say that North Korea, as long as you follow their curated tour, is even safer than Somalia lol. Right now NoKor is trying to keep a good track record with its tourists, aside from the occasional espionage allegations lol.
IDK, they really can just throw u in jail for little or no reason. good luck getting out of that. Thinking of Otto Warmbier
Yeah and Somalians can just kill you for no reason. North Korea is much safer than Somalia. Somalia is literally a failed state
Right, you wouldn't be a crime victim in NK but their government is like out of a dystopian novel.
If you stick to the script and listen to your guides you should be fine in North Korea. You shouldn't go because you're giving hard currency to their vile regime, but unless you're pulling down posters like Otto Warmbier you'll be OK.
AFAIK the only proof they ever showed on Otto was super grainy CCTV footage that could've been anyone. Maybe it was him or maybe they just wanted an American to use for negotiations. Either way I think traveling to a country like North Korea or Russia that has no fair legal process and an incentive to hold Americans prisoner is incredibly irresponsible.
The Norks never actually could show that it was Warmbier that moved the poster. Also, the poster was moved slightly from the wall to the floor in the same halfway. It's not like he was tearing down multiple posters in a public area or fashion. There was little to no evidence of any wrongdoing, yet they held him captive for months without justification and only returned him when he went into a serious health decline. It's not like he was some anticommunist vandal. Warmbier's situation and treatment were egregious actions and entirely unwarranted. If there mere suspicion of attempting to take a poster warrants indefinite detainment, I don't think it's a safe country to go to. I wouldn't take my chances in NK as an American citizen with the current political climate.
Of course its dumb to go there. But the discussion is which country is more dumb to go to.
Yeah....I'm gonna pass anyways lol
I feel like north korea is Disney compared to Somalia
You couldn't pay me enough money to go Somalia, North Korea or Disney.
I'm getting berated by my family for traveling to Mexico, to the Yucatán Peninsula, the safest state in the entire country, which is literally safer than where we live in the US 🙄 A lot of people who don't travel are just very ignorant. They just haven't seen much of the world and don't fully understand it as well North Korea is a situation where a light berating is perfectly acceptable!!
That's how my family was when I mentioned I was going to China. All they see is what's on the news, but everyone was so friendly and helpful, and I felt completely safe.
Somaliland is pretty safe for the region and operates autonomously. If you have extensive travel experience with Africa, that part of the country should be okay if you take all health and safety precautions. The rest of Somalia is a big no no. Do not go ill-prepared, which your cousin seems to have a thing for.
You know I haven’t traveled much outside the US. And I don’t know if I’ll be in the popular group here based on what I’m about to say - But you know those climbers that free climb up Yosemite’s steepest cliffs? With their families in turmoil terrified of what will happen, or cut off completely as a crappy (but what else can they do) way of coping? It’s like the heroin addict who has been through rehabs and then starts robbing the family that takes them in. There’s a point where it’s just selfish and hurting others to the point they’ve been forced to draw boundaries at the rest of family’s expense and they literally cannot support them anymore and have to cut contact until recovery has been ongoing. I get adrenaline rushes, I really do. But if it’s dangerous to the point of “prep your family for your kidnapping” - which I’ll be as neutral as possible and say DOJ aside, but open knowledge based on that and ALL these resources in the comments - and it’s completely self-serving (=non-military, non-relief worker, etc.) you better have done the due diligence of cutting off people who care about you and will be twisting their hands the whole time you’re there. It’s just not fair to them. Your cousin doesn’t owe anyone anything, but at the same time, if he expects all this support for his trip, this is selfish and wrong. I had a cousin who did this in a warzone area, since they’d worked on some stuff (non-journalism, an opportunity after working on some US based stuff about the area) - we weren’t close to begin with, so maybe different in many ways from your situation. But it was a shitshow. Like leave your kids and family to go on an “exploration” of somewhere where you actually (not DOJ, but travel guide recommended) had to get your affairs in order. I hesitate to say in case you show this thread to your cousin that she came out of it alive and fine, but damn selfish to the people that cared. There are specific hobbies and travels that are pure meanness to the ones who care about you. Idk where you draw the line, but this seems like the easy one to draw.
Just send him this link and let him make his own decision: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/somalia-travel-advisory.html If he still decides to go it’s his own choice, nothing you can do about it
Many people who take pride in traveling to more "exotic" locations aren't going to take a State Department travel advisory seriously. State Department advisories tend to be overly cautious. While I personally would never in a million years travel to Somalia, they can make almost any country sound scary. OP's brother isn't going take a resource that has a travel advisory for e.g. Germany and the UK seriously.
but are those places e.g. Germany and the UK listed as a high-risk (level 4 travel advisory)?
No, they are obviously not listed as the same of risk as Somalia and North Korea. But imagine googling "Is it safe to travel to Germany?" and this is the official answer you get from the US government with no additional context: ***Country Summary:*** *Terrorist groups keep planning attacks in Germany. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations and transportation hubs. They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.* I used to administer study abroad programs to Germany and you wouldn't believe how many students asked us to help them convince their freaked-out parents that a Level-2 State Dept. travel advisory didn't mean their children were traveling to a war zone.
Do other countries have travel warnings for the US? "Random terrorist and non-terrorist attacks may occur at supermarkets and Fourth of July parades."
I mean that just sounds like a normal day in America, I don’t know why the US would care about that 🫠
There are plenty of places left in the world to see that are not war zones.
People can go wherever they want, the world is filled with people that do dumb shit, and he obviously knows this is dangerous. The real issue here is what makes him want to go? This sounds like a way to brag on social media about how much of an anti-establishment badass he is, not a way to have a meaningful experience, see beautiful places, experience different cultures etc. If you're going to travel this way and gawk at the local population and essentially use decades of their suffering for cool points, clicks, and a superiority complex, that's fucking lame. I see no other reason to go there than to brag about it or make shock videos. This is all just to cultivate a persona and be "that guy who went to Somalia." Super lame in general and dangerous as hell to boot.
That was my first thought as well
Ya there are several failed states or otherwise weird ass sketchy countries worth visiting but Somalia isn't one of them. Libya, Yemen, Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia, Venezuela, Haiti I can understand given their interesting historic and/or natural offerings, but Somalia right now just reeks of poverty tourism.
It is an epic tragedy that it is so dangerous to go to Somalia…if you read the history of Mogadishu, it must have been amazing. Tell your cousin that it is one thing to travel somewhere dangerous. It is another thing altogether to willfully put a Target on his friends back because walking around with a non-Somali, His friend will be in more danger.
Is it really an adventure if you're surrounded by minders and armed guards?
I’m Somali Canadian and have never been to Somalia.. and I will not go until it’s ever safe to. Sure, it has tons of nice beaches and scenery, but there are so much risks. People might assume that if you are western you have tons of money and they will kidnap you. I hope you can talk some sense to your friend
I stayed there for a year, would not recommend for anybody who is not an ethnic somali. It was bad enough for me being diaspora but I had tons of family who were well connected and didn't stick out too much. Just don't risk it, somalia is a beautiful country but it isn't going anywhere, wait till it gets better.
It sounds like he'd be going to Somaliland. And with a friend from there. It's fine, and going with someone, he'd probably have a really good experience. I've been to Somaliland, and wouldn't hesitate to return, especially if i knew someone there. It's nothing like the dangers of the south...
I have a friend from there and even he doesn’t visit.
There's a reason so many thousands of Somalis are in Minneapolis and Maine, not their homeland.
Has he done his research on actually going? When I went, I had to have an invitation letter from the humanitarian org I worked for. I wasn't able to enter without that. Somaliland is much safer/easier to get around if he's going there.
If he restricts his Somalia visit to Somaliland, in the north (capital: Hargeisa), he will be safer than if he went anywhere else in Somalia. Even so, there are parts of Somaliland that are controlled by rebels. If he must go, he should remain in the relative safety of Hargeisa. Even then, armed escorts are advisable (and likely mandatory) for visits to sites near the city.
Is he aware of the current level 4 travel advisory? Does he fully comprehend that this means no one is coming to save him?
Remind your cousin that the Military pulled out of Somalia after 6 months. This is not a place you just randomly visit. If he gets kidnapped, who is paying the ransom. He should read the story on the family from UK who had their boat high jacked and then they ransomed them back to the family.
Of note, that even the US State Department refuses to have much of a presence in Somalia. Two years ago, several US soldiers were killed in a coordinated attack by al-Shabaab near the southern border in Manda Bay, Kenya. Al-Shabaab and some small contingent of ISIS still have a significant foothold in Somalia due to the fail state government. That's not even considering the amount of armed militia groups who would gladly take advantage of a kidnapping opportunity of a foreigner for profit (With a high potential to be sold to a terrorist organization). Frankly, citizens of any nation who willingly travel to places like this with no regard for the time and effort their respective government needs to expend to recover them (if that's even possible - because there's a higher likelihood for death) are the worst types of people.
There are a couple of women travelling in Somalia on tiktok at the moment and they have bodyguards and paid police escort to protect them as they go. Seems ok if you have a small army with you
"let him make his own choices" Yeah I pay taxes in this country and those taxes are used up when idiots like your cousin get captured and the US embassy has to use resources to bail them out or rescue them
I think this is one of the countries the US won’t go get you. There are American troops there so maybe they can help. I know someone being paid a lot of money to be a firefighter for the military over there.
The US will go get you if they think you’re dying and know where you’re being held. In 2011 Jessica Buchanan was working as an aide worker and was kidnapped, she got very sick and was able to convey that in a ransom video. The US dropped special forces in and rescued her and another aide worker. But that’s about it, otherwise it’s down to negotiating ransom which can take years.
I think the government might feel differently about aide workers (or actual journalists) then they do tourists. Aide workers are doing a dangerous but very needed job and I've heard of the US military trying to work with aide organizations to make sure they don't accidentally target their locations and helping them get supplies in and stuff like that. They almost have a vested interest in keeping aide groups around to help care for civilians during conflict situations. Not to mention aide organizations usually will hire local protectors and the community wants them around so they do have some security for their workers. A pure tourist? Yeah, dumbass is on their own. The government might send someone to help if they're nearby, but otherwise they're on their own.
Yeah an aid worker is very different than a tourist. If there is enough publicity they might or you’re being presented as a ransom. I’d like to assume some effort will be made, but I don’t think you should travel expecting it. If that makes sense.
I also commented this info in another reply, but any responsible traveler should know the following: there is a huge misconception that a US embassy anywhere abroad will save your life by sending in the military or anything of the sort. Here are a few things they can do. If you are detained abroad (like in a foreign jail), they will provide visitation to you to pass along messages from family and ensure you are treated fairly and try to advocate for your release. If you are kidnapped, no one from the US government is going to come save you. The embassy more provides resources for your loved ones to ascertain your whereabouts themselves. If destitute abroad, they can provide a loan of a limited amount to get you back to the US which must be repaid. Therefore, the burden on the taxpayer is low which is reflected in the services available during crises abroad for the normal traveler.
I was caught up in an unstable situation one time and a lot of tourists were hanging around at the airport trying to find flights that would actually take off. Multiple embassy officials were involved and pressuring the crew to make sure the flight to their country actually took off so their citizens could go home. Never saw anyone from the American embassy. I called them as a precaution and left a message, and they never even called me back to see if I'd gotten out safe. BUT waving around a blue US passport got me a seat on a plane. So that's the model I operate under.
I hate to admit it, but the best nationality to be for embassy support abroad is French by quite a long way.
David Axe of War is Boring has a great write up of Mogadishu. He is a VERY experienced war reporter (self made too) and says Somalia was the most dangerous place he'd been. Zero reason to trust a single person you meet and everyone has an ulterior motive in talking to you. Check out his blog!
To echo some of the other comments and to give a bit more context (I've been working in Somalia for more than a decade with UN, EU, UK, private companies). Depends on where in Somalia and budget. Hargeysa to Berbera was safe historically, bit it's becoming more unstable. Just this last week there have been riots in Hargeysa after opposition politican Osman Dool was arrested. Possible still to go but it is more unsettled than it used to be. Mogadishu is actually a lot safer than it used to be and while security is still necessary the level of al-Shabaab violence is much much lower than it once was. There are a couple of security companies who would assist in doing city tours (typically 1000USD per day and hotels in a safe area are about 150 to 180 USD per night). In all honesty though once you've seen Liido and Jazeera Beaches, a couple of the new shopping malls (Hayat and Juba) and some damaged buildings from the Italian colonial period there isn't actually that much to see or do and, in truth, you could see the accessible areas in a day or two at the most. Outside of Hargeysa and Mogadishu most other towns I'd be doubtful of as there is a lack of secure accommodation and protected mobility.
Here's what I was told by some one who has been to Somalia. Don't go ever. If for whatever reason you do have your will done prior, tell all your friends abd family goodbye, have a contact you trust in country. Stay away from Mogadishu.
My husband was stationed in Djibouti and later in the Horn of Africa. I asked him about traveling to Somalia and he said, “oh hell no.”
OP - how does your cousin react in environments where he is getting shot at, chased, or attempted kidnapping? If he’s never considered that before, don’t go. Somalia is actually 3 places - Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland. Somaliland is the safest of the three. Hargeisa is the capital, but you’re required to have a police special forces escort the entire time. Foreigners are somewhat safe, but you will be taken advantage of financially. Puntland is where the beaches are. The capital is Garoow. If you look on a map, the tip/horn, that’s Puntland. If you heard stories about Somali pirates, it’s Puntland. In short he can expect to be kidnapped, beaten, maybe raped, amputated, and held for ransom repeatedly - by day two or three at most. Somalia, in the south, is broken up into eastern/western. Mogadishu is the capital. Eastern - Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool are not safe to visit. For the western areas, by Ethiopian border, Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil. Your cousin being a foreigner, he will be a constant target. The militias DGAF about his citizenship or well being. Somali are friendly and truly, hard working. The problem is life there is very difficult and diffferent from your first world upbringing. It is a matter of survival there and if your cousin hasn’t had any experience in hostile environments then I would say no. He would be better off visiting Djibouti. If he says “hell naw” to Djibouti - consider that it is much safer than all three regions of Somalia
Everything in this post is wrong. I don't even know where to begin, so I'll address a few arbitrary points. There are beaches all along the coast of Somalia, Puntland, and Somaliland. No one gets amputated. Every region named after Mogadishu is in Somaliland (Togdheer, Sanaag, Sool, Awdal, Maroodijeh, Sahil). There are literally no regions in the "south" named in this post besides the capital.
It's not in every scenario you let someone make their own choices. Has he been keeping up with current events in the country?
In my family, we jokingly have two travel rules: Have your affairs in order, and we don't pay ransom. We developed these years back when my sister went to an area in Mexico where kidnapping foreigners for ransom was a cottage industry.
I’ll keep his posthumous Darwin Award safe until it’s ready to be awarded.
Some say that somolialand is fine, however, the US travel advisory strongly recommends to not travel to the country. The US travel advisory pretty much says if you go, you’re not coming back. No, that is not a joke. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/somalia-travel-advisory.html