Somalia is the only country in the world where there is no single power apparatus. Located on the east coast of the peninsula of the same name of the African continent, at the intersection of international sea trade routes.
A bit of history
Even in the days of Ancient Egypt, the state of Somalia was known. Then this region was called "Punt". For 500 years, from the 2nd century AD, the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum existed on the territory of the Somali Peninsula. Then, in the 7th century, the Arabs took possession of the territory and created the Sultanate of Adel. The rule of the Arabs was quite long, almost a thousand years, until the 17th century.
In 1884, in the north of the peninsula, the British occupied the territory of Somalia, and the south of the country in 1905 came under Italian rule. Subsequently, these colonies united and formed a single sovereign state.
Somalia today
Due to constant civil wars, the state of Somalia is currently divided into three autonomous parts. The northwestern part of the country belongs to the state formation of Somaliland, in the northeast - Puntland and the southern part of the country with a transitional government. However, all of them are currently not recognized by the world community.
Somalia is a multi-tribal state (several hundred ethnic groups and tribes), still plunged into the chaos of a civil war. All tribes and local clans have long and very often been at enmity with each other. The local currency is now so weak that money has to be weighed rather than counted.
The armed conflict in Somalia, which has lasted for decades, has recently caused increasing concern in the world community, primarily with the aggravated problem of piracy, the spread of Islamic extremism and terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
Tourism
And yet the country is replete with sights and monuments of ancient civilizations. But due to the incessant civil wars, all the monuments of bygone eras are now in desolation and are inaccessible for visits. However, some antiquities are available to tourists in the capital of Somalia - Mogadishu, founded by the Arabs in the 12th century.
13th century Afro-Arab architecture with patterned walls. Palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar Gares, built in the 19th century. Phoenician, Coptic temples and settlements of ancient Punta. Not far from the coastal towns of Hargeisa and Boram are the ruins of ancient trading settlements from the 12th century of the Sultanate of Adel. In ancient times, only the coast fell into dependence on Egypt, Phenicia, Oman, Portugal. The population of the hinterland remained independent. Therefore, the most ancient cultural monuments are located on the coast.
And yet, despite the many cozy and safe places for a relaxing holiday, Somalia today is an excellent place for visiting extreme tourists - lovers of exotic.
