Mogadishu: The somali Pompei comes to life…
March 2002. First trip. End of the allied military campaign in Afghanistan, first trip to Somalia in the same breath, tracking Al Quaida in the Horn of Africa. We discover Mogadishu, a city thrown into violence and anarchy under the control of a handful of so called « war Lords », in fact nothing but wealthy gangsters. We also notice the aggressive proselytism of certain NGO’s preaching their intransigent vision of Islam, benefiting the social misery in the backdrop.
March 2007, second experiment. The stone lace of the « Green line » buildings shredded by impacts still irresistibly evokes Pompeii. But everything has changed. Islamic Courts are on the loose, some international djihadists in jail, the "war Lords" had to give their weapons back. One can see movie theaters, bars, snooker clubs, Internet cafes, football matches… Bashfully, the city comes back to life. A life as fragile as hope.
