Somalia's senior Olympic Committee officials suspended over alleged misconduct

Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has suspended senior officials of the Somali Olympic Committee (SOC) over allegations of misconduct, abuse of office, and violations of sports governance laws.

In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that it had suspended the SOC Chairman, Ahmed Abdi Hassan, known as Wataac, and the Secretary-General, Mohamed Abdow Haji. The Ministry stated that the decision was made to safeguard integrity and accountability within the country’s sports institutions.

It further announced that a formal complaint had been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General to launch an investigation into the allegations.

According to the Ministry, the matter involves other senior officials, including Deputy Chairman Duran Ahmed Farah and Assistant Secretary Farah Ali Moalin.

The statement indicated that all the accused individuals would be subjected to due legal process. It added that the outcome of the investigation and any resulting actions would be made public once the process is complete.

The suspension comes after weeks of tension and reports of malpractice within the SOC.

The Ministry accused the leadership of committing administrative violations that undermined the credibility and effectiveness of the national sports organisation. Officials from the Ministry said the decision to suspend the leaders was necessary to restore order and ensure proper management of Somali sports institutions.

However, the suspended officials have dismissed the allegations and criticised the government’s move.

In a joint statement, Chairman Wataac and Secretary-General Haji described the Ministry’s action as politically driven and contrary to international sports governance principles.

“The allegations are baseless. This is a clear attempt to interfere with the independence of an institution that operates under the international Olympic framework and not under government authority,” the statement read.

Speaking to local media outlets, Wataac accused the Minister of Youth and Sports of acting out of personal motives and seeking to take over property belonging to the SOC. He claimed that the dispute began after the Committee refused to surrender its headquarters to the Ministry.

“When we refused to hand over the centre, the minister issued an illegal letter terminating our positions,” he said.

Wataac alleged that the Ministry had previously suggested that the property was no longer needed and that it had been allocated to private businessmen with vested interests.

The disagreement has raised questions about the limits of the Ministry’s authority over the SOC.

As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the SOC is recognised as an independent body that operates separately from government control.

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Sports analysts say the move by the Ministry could trigger intervention from international sports bodies if it is viewed as political interference.

Observers believe the dispute highlights deeper governance problems within Somali sports administration. They warn that the ongoing conflict could disrupt the country’s preparations for upcoming regional and international competitions.

Some have also expressed concern that prolonged disputes between government institutions and sports federations may discourage development in the sports sector, which has faced years of instability and underfunding.

The Ministry has maintained that its actions are within the law and that no official is above accountability. It said that the suspension does not imply guilt but is a procedural step to allow investigations to proceed without interference.

The Attorney General’s Office is expected to review the complaint and determine whether formal charges will be filed after the investigation concludes.

Meanwhile, the suspended officials have vowed to defend the autonomy of the Somali Olympic Committee.

In their statement, they said they would continue to work in accordance with international sports regulations and maintain communication with the International Olympic Committee to ensure that the independence of Somali sports institutions is protected.