In Mogadishu, the Sudanese community has built a strong support system, finding comfort in shared traditions and collective resilience.
During Ramadan, this bond is even more evident as families gather for iftar, sharing familiar dishes like aseeda and balila.
The community also organizes a five-a-side football tournament, bringing together both Sudanese and Somali players in the spirit of unity.
“As you can see behind me, love brings us together,”said Ishag Ali Mohamed, a Sudanese academic who now teaches Arabic at the Somali Digital Media Academy.
Watching a match from the sidelines, he added, “This is how we spend all of Ramadan, filled with beautiful activities. And it almost feels like you’re not in a foreign land.”
But Mohamed’s journey to this new home was far from easy. Fleeing the violence in Sudan, he was forced to leave everything behind. In 2023, the country descended into war as tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted into full-scale conflict.
Trapped for months in his home, Mohamed and his family lived in constant fear”One of the most painful incidents was when I was at home with my family, and a massive ‘dana’ explosive (shell) fell on our house,” he said.
“It destroyed a wall, cut down trees, and shattered doors. The entire neighborhood thought we had died.”
The war has taken a devastating toll, with over 20,000 lives lost and more than 14 million people displaced.
Many have been forced to seek refuge elsewhere, including Somalia, where Mohamed has managed to rebuild his life.
Despite the trauma of war, the Sudanese in Mogadishu have created a sense of home away from home.
In their gatherings, meals, and shared experiences, they find solace—and in the face of adversity, they hold onto hope.