Airport of Mogadishu

This Airport may not seem like much to the people who use it every day, but the history is deep. This airport was built by the Italians in 1928 and was the first airport in the "Horn of Africa." It was called the Petrella-Mogadiscio Aeroporto and served as the military base for Mogadiscio. However, in the 1930's it was opened to the public and commercial flights began with planes carrying up to 18 people at a time, which was also a new record for Africa. This is proof yet again, of a significant structure that was built by the Italians and still makes an impact in today's society.

According to Mary Harper, an African writer for the BBC World Service, the airport runs rather differently today. When tourists land at the airport, they are met by unfamiliar faces and many armed white men. There are unmarked planes flying and landing in military structures that are enclosed by barbed wire and more armed guards. Mary describes people leaving the airport as a "gauntlet" of tasks and rude and stern men. This is all due to the uncertainty of the city of Mogadishu and the safety of both the people and the state.

“Aden Adde International Airport,” December 6, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden_Adde_International_Airport.

Harper, Mary. “Somalia: Whose Country Is It, Anyway?” HeinOnline, 2013. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals%2Fforwa37.

Higbee, Faye, By, and Faye Higbee. “Somalia - Drone Strikes ISIS, US Mission Staffers Ordered to Leave.” Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, November 5, 2017. https://www.unclesamsmisguidedchildren.com/somalia-drone-strikes-isis-us-mission-staffers-ordered-leave/.