Lido Beach, Mogadishu | |
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Beach | |
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| Coordinates: 2°2′25″N45°21′49″E / 2.04028°N 45.36361°E | |
| Location | Mogadishu, Somalia |
Lido Beach (Somali : Xeebta Liido) is a beach in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, which overlooks the Somali Sea. It derives its name (Italian : Lido) from the Italian word for "beach". Commonly, the name Liido is colloquially used by locals. [1] [2]
The beach in northern Mogadishu was initially developed in the late 1930s for the Italian colonists living in the capital of the then-protectorate of Italian Somalia. [3]
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. [4] [ unreliable source? ]
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." [5] [6]
In April 2022, a restaurant was attacked by an al-Shabaab suicide bomber. [7] In June 2023, a hotel was attacked by militants. [8]
On August 2, 2024, a suicide bombing and mass shooting occurred at the beach and the Beach View Hotel by Al-Shabaab militants leaving at least 56 people dead, including six of the seven militants and a soldier. According to Twitter posts, heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard at the beach and at least 18 bodies could be seen in videos and pictures of the attack. [9]
Many people visit Mogadishu's coastline each weekend. [10] 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. [11] [ cleanup needed ]
The Somali Civil War (2009–present) is the ongoing phase of the Somali Civil War which is concentrated in southern and central Somalia. It began in late January 2009 with the present conflict mainly between the forces of the Federal Government of Somalia assisted by African Union peacekeeping troops and al-Shabaab militants who pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda during 2012.
An attack occurred on 21 January 2016 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Al-Shabaab drove a suicide car bomb at the gate of the Beach View Café, a seafood restaurant overlooking the city's Lido Beach. Another blast struck about an hour later as government soldiers laid siege to the restaurant. After the blasts, militants entered the building, some of them by boat, and attacked civilians within. About 20 people were killed and 17 others wounded. Several perpetrators were also killed and one was arrested.
This is a 2016 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
This is a 2017 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
This is a 2018 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
On 28 February 2019 at least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in three car bombing attacks followed by a siege in Mogadishu. The cars exploded near the Makka Al-Mukarama hotel. The attack happened in Makka Al-Mukarama road which was very busy at the time. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 19 February, 2022, an al-Shabaab suicide bomber killed 14 people at a restaurant in Beledweyne, Somalia.
This is a 2022 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
This is a 2019 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
On 22 April 2022, at least six people were killed and seven injured in a suicide bombing at a restaurant in Mogadishu, Somalia. The Pescatore Seafood Restaurant had recently opened in the seaside area of Lido Beach. The explosion was detonated by an Al-Shabaab suicide bomber who had been denied access inside the restaurant, where the Somali Police Commissioner and several lawmakers gathered to have an Iftar meal to break the Ramadan fast. None of the legislators were harmed in the explosion, but some of the security personnel were among those killed in the blast. Local police did not specify how many, but did say those killed were mostly civilians.
On 16 August 2020, Five Al-Shabaab attackers killed at least eleven people at the Elite Hotel in Lido Beach, Mogadishu, Somalia.
On 29 October 2022, 121 people were killed and over 300 were injured by a double car bombing in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accused Sunni jihadist group al-Shabaab of carrying out the attacks, which they admitted. The bombing marks the deadliest attack in Somalia since the 14 October 2017 Mogadishu bombings at the same junction.
Events in the year 2023 in Somalia.
This is a 2023 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
On 10 June 2023, al-Shabaab militants attacked a hotel in Lido Beach, Mogadishu, Somalia, resulting in the killing of six civilians, three soldiers and seven attackers.
This is a 2024 timeline of events in the Somali Civil War (2009–present).
On 14 July 2024, a car bomb exploded near Daljirka Daahsoon in Boondheere, Mogadishu. The explosion happened at 10:28 p.m. local time. The target was Top Coffee, a Coffeehouse where people were watching the Euro 2024 final football match between England and Spain.
On 2 August 2024, Al-Shabaab attacked Lido Beach in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. The attack started with a suicide bombing, followed by a mass shooting inside a hotel. Explosions and gunfire shook a hotel near the beach, with restaurants and other hotels in the area also being targeted. A suicide bomber blew themselves up near the Beach View Hotel, leading to the deaths of at least 50 people and injuries to hundreds of others.
On August 17, 2024, at around 2:15pm local time, an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Al-Shabaab killed 20 people at a tea shop in Daynile District in northwest Mogadishu. Another 10 people were seriously injured in the attack, and the death toll is expected to rise due to the severity of the injuries. This was Al-Shabaab's second-largest attack in Mogadishu in August, following an attack on Lido Beach.
