Lido Beach (Somali: Xeebta Liido) is a beach in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, which overlooks the Somali Sea. The name Lido derives from the Italian word for "beach". The name Liido is also very popular among locals.[citation needed]
History edit
The beach in northern Mogadishu was initially developed in the late 1930s for the Italian colonists living in the capital of Italian Somalia.[1]
In the 1950s, it was fully developed by the Italian administration under United Nations rule, with the enlargement of a nearby hotel that was Mogadishu's tallest building during those years.[citation needed]
After decades of civil war and anarchy in the capital, the beach fell into disuse. However, it has experienced a revival in the last decade.[2][unreliable source?]
Al-Shabaab attacks edit
In January 2016, al-Shabaab carried out a suicide car bombing and mass shooting at a restaurant, killing about 20 people.
In August 2020, al-Shabaab attacked a hotel, detonating a car bomb and engaging in a firefight with Somali security forces. Eleven victims and five attackers were killed; over 200 people were rescued by Somali special forces. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, strongly condemned the terrorist attack and said the UN "expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims."[3][4]
In April 2022, a restaurant was attacked by an al-Shabaab suicide bomber.[5] In June 2023, a hotel was attacked by militants.[6]
Present edit
Many people visit Mogadishu's coastline each weekend.[7] Somalia has the longest coastline in mainland Africa with 3100 km along the Indian Ocean, which has beaches valuable for tourism. Lido Beach has seafood restaurants, hotels, and parks. The Somali diaspora plays an important role in recovering Mogadishu, building new luxury downtown and beaches and restaurants, and many more that attract international tourists. There are many newly established businesses there.[8][cleanup needed]
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Video of the "Lido beach" in the late 1930s
- ^ Lido beach is back!
- ^ "United Nations condemns deadly terrorist attack on Mogadishu hotel". UNSOM. 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ "Somalia: UN condemns 'brazen' terrorist attack on beachside hotel". UN News. 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
- ^ "Somalia: At least six killed in Mogadishu attack near beach". BBC News. 2022-04-22. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
- ^ "Nine people killed in attack by al-Shabaab in Somali capital Mogadishu". The Guardian. 2023-06-10. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
- ^ Lido Beach in 2018
- ^ "Mogadishu's Lido beach: Sun, surf and... grenades?". BBC News. 21 May 2015.