Drew Binsky, 34, returned to Mogadishu, Somalia earlier this year, 5 years after his first visit. He described the capital as "lawless" due to the war-torn landscape and the frequent presence of heavily armed patrols.
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Drew Binsky on his second trip to Mogadishu. Photo: DrewBinsky/YouTube |
Drew Binsky on his second trip to Mogadishu. Photo: DrewBinsky/YouTube
The American traveler, who has visited 195 countries, noted the prevalence of AK-47s while visiting Liido Beach.
"I felt like I was about to be caught in crossfire when I saw 6 men on the other side of the beach, another group of six nearby, and a man in a blue shirt approaching," Binsky said, explaining that he quickly left, feeling every eye on him.
The al-Shabaab terrorist group, linked to al-Qaeda, attacked the beach in 8/2024, killing 56 people and injuring over 200. Somali police now frequently patrol the area to enhance security.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Somalia due to the high risk of bombings and terrorist attacks. A well-traveled lecturer at the University of Arizona described the city as "scary and unpredictable," or the "most dangerous in the world."
Despite this, Binsky said locals believe the danger has passed and encourage tourists to visit Mogadishu. He observed dozens of people enjoying the beach, young men playing soccer, and women in Islamic dress boating, despite the presence of armed police.
During his first trip to Mogadishu in 2019, he said he was accompanied by 8 men with AK-47s every time he left his hotel, hindering his ability to explore freely. This time, he still had a security escort, but they carried handguns instead of assault rifles.
Binsky noted the city's ongoing instability, with security checkpoints every few miles and streets still scarred by over three decades of war.
The traveler recounts his journeys. Video: DrewBinsky/YouTube
"The checkpoints, barricades, and barbed wire are all the same as 5 years ago, and the hostile feeling on the streets hasn't changed," Binsky said, noting that bombings, kidnappings, and fighting make life in the city feel like a war zone.
Conflicts in Somalia since 1991 are estimated to have killed over 500,000 people. Binsky also mentioned the instability extends offshore, with Somali pirates attacking and robbing ships on commercial shipping routes.
Despite the dangers, Binsky said he enjoyed his time in Somalia, finding it thrilling.
Ha Phuong
