Somalia’s first modern bowling alley has opened in Mogadishu, reflecting the city’s slow but steady recovery after decades of conflict. The Feynuus Bowling Center, complete with music and laughter, represents a newfound sense of normalcy fueled by improved security and private investment. It caters specifically to a growing middle class and diaspora Somalis returning with capital and optimism, many of whom are visiting for the first time in years. While checkpoints and guarded zones remain stark reminders of ongoing threats from al-Shabab, venues like this provide a crucial psychological shift, offering safe social spaces for a younger generation. Economists see such businesses as vital signs of a private-sector-driven recovery, creating jobs and responding to the demands of a transforming society, even as the city’s revival remains delicate.
AP
