Somali Olympic Committee Accuses Sports Minister of Undermining Country’s Sports Governing Body

Somalia’s Olympic Committee accuses sports minister of interference, escalating power struggle in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s National Olympic Committee on Wednesday accused the country’s sports minister of attempting to disrupt its work and interfere in the administration of national sports, deepening a public rift between two institutions at the heart of Somali athletics.

In a statement, the Olympic body alleged the minister orchestrated “fake contacts” to undermine its operations and tried to take control of its headquarters in Mogadishu. The committee said it is the legally recognized authority charged with managing and representing Somali sports internationally.

The Sports Ministry did not immediately respond to the accusations.

The dispute lands at a sensitive time for Somalia’s sports sector, long hampered by insecurity, chronic underfunding and periodic political interference. The National Olympic Committee, affiliated with international sporting bodies, coordinates Somalia’s participation in regional and global competitions and acts as a key link between Somali athletes and the international sports system.

In its statement, the committee criticized the minister’s administration for what it described as a lack of policy direction and insufficient financial support for sports development. It further claimed that stadiums intended for youth competitions and training had been shut, stalling grassroots programs that are essential to talent identification and community engagement.

The committee also alleged that the minister dispatched letters to international sports organizations that, in the committee’s view, tarnished Somalia’s national identity and reputation. The statement did not disclose details of those communications or to which entities they were sent.

Warning of the risks to the country’s sports governance if the situation persists, the Olympic body said ongoing interference could produce competing or parallel institutions—an outcome it argued would fracture authority, confuse athletes and officials, and diminish Somalia’s credibility in international arenas.

“We call on national leaders to urgently address this matter to prevent the fragmentation of independent institutions,” the statement said.

Tensions between the ministry and the Olympic committee have simmered in recent months over the management of sporting activities and administrative authority, according to the committee. Disputes between government officials and national sports bodies are not uncommon in countries where institutional boundaries remain fluid and political competition reaches into civil sectors.

Key allegations detailed by the committee include:

• Attempts to organize “fake contacts” to undercut the Olympic body’s operations.
• Efforts to assume control of the National Olympic Committee’s headquarters in Mogadishu.
• Failure to provide clear policies and adequate funding for sports development.
• Closure of stadiums designated for youth competitions and training.
• Sending communications to international sports organizations that the committee says harmed Somalia’s image.

The committee positioned itself as the sole legally recognized representative of Somali sports internationally, emphasizing that any duplication of authority would undermine unity and jeopardize orderly participation in competitions. It urged senior Somali leaders to mediate swiftly to preserve the integrity of national sports administration.

As of late Wednesday, the Sports Ministry had not issued a public response to the allegations.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.

Thursday March 5, 2026