Mogadishu

American  

[maw-gah-dee-shoo] / ˌmɔ gɑˈdi ʃu /

noun

1. a seaport in and the capital of Somalia, in the S part.

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Mogadishu British  

/ ˌmɒɡəˈdɪʃuː /

noun

1. Local spelling: Muqdisho.  Italian name: Mogadiscio.  the capital and chief port of Somalia, on the Indian Ocean: founded by Arabs around the 10th century; taken by the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1871 and sold to Italy in 1905. Pop: 1 257 000 (2005 est)

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Usage

Where is Mogadishu? Mogadishu is the capital of the African country of Somalia, which has been besieged by a civil war since 1991.

Example Sentences

In December, Israel became the first to recognise Somaliland's independence since it seceded from Somalia in 1991, drawing angry condemnation from the federal government in Mogadishu, even though it has been self-governing for 35 years.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

This is the latest example of the deteriorating relations between Washington and Mogadishu.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

It has been decades since Mogadishu exerted authority of any kind within Somaliland’s 68,000 square miles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

Somaliland has been diplomatically isolated since its unilateral declaration of independence, even if it has generally experienced greater stability than Somalia, where Al-Shabaab Islamic militants periodically mount attacks in the capital Mogadishu.

From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025

It was established in October 2004 to replace the TNG   but has not yet moved to Mogadishu.

From The 2004 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency