Jawhar, Somalia

Capital City

Living in Jawhar, Somalia is a far cry from the idyllic vision of a "precious stone" city. The administrative capital of the Middle Shabelle region has an estimated population of just under 270,000, and the legacy of Italian colonial rule and a turbulent history of conflict looms large. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city's status as a former joint capital of the Transitional Federal Government adding an extra layer of complexity. And safety remains a concern, with the city changing hands between various factions during the Somali Civil War. Overall, Jawhar is a challenging environment that requires a high tolerance for uncertainty and a willingness to navigate thorny political and security realities.