Police storm Djibouti FA headquarters as clubs move to oust President

Police have occupied the headquarters of the Djibouti Football Federation (FDF) as a group of club presidents moves to oust federation president Souleiman Hassan Waberi, who also sits on the FIFA Council, according to The Guardian.The standoff came to a head on Monday after mounting opposition to Waberi and his executive committee led to an extraordinary general assembly, reportedly called by clubs seeking their removal.The FDF says police first entered its national technical centre around 5:30pm on Sunday without showing an administrative document or court order.A larger force allegedly returned on Monday and ordered Waberi, executive committee members, staff and other officials to leave. The federation says 16 club presidents then entered the building under police escort and held what it calls a “purported” extraordinary general assembly.The FDF has rejected the meeting as illegitimate, arguing that the notice periods and procedures required by its statutes and electoral code were not observed, and has declared any decisions taken “null and void.”Sources in Djibouti dispute this, insisting the necessary number of delegates attended. They say the delegates voted unanimously to remove Waberi and his executive committee and set up an interim committee to run the federation.Weeks of pressureWaberi, who is also a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee, has faced growing pressure in recent weeks.In September, a coalition of 27 clubs said it would seek the executive committee’s removal, claiming it had the two-thirds backing required by the statutes.The FDF contested that figure, saying it has 67 members and that 45 would be needed to trigger an extraordinary assembly.As more clubs and delegates joined the campaign, the government stepped in. Secretary of State for Sport Fatouma Ali Abdallah ordered the FDF to hold an extraordinary general assembly within 72 hours.Appeal to FIFA and CAFThe FDF has appealed to both bodies, warning that state security forces removing elected football officials could amount to government interference in a national association.That could expose Djibouti to FIFA sanctions, including suspension from international competition, exclusion of its clubs and national teams, and the freezing of development programmes and funding.Financial investigationThe crisis coincides with a separate probe into the federation’s finances. Waberi and several other officials were arrested in September 2024 after a government inspection flagged alleged financial and administrative irregularities, including weak procurement, cash management and financial controls.Investigators also raised concerns about payments to third parties, unpaid taxes on salaries and wages, and alleged misuse of cash payments totalling almost 500,000 Pounds. Waberi has consistently denied wrongdoing.In August, after a club official accused the federation of misusing funds, Waberi said FIFA’s monitoring mechanisms had found no sign of wrongdoing involving money provided by football’s world governing body.FIFA and CAF are understood to give the FDF more than USD 1 million a year through development programmes that support infrastructure and youth projects, including the Douda academy and artificial-pitch projects in Arta and Dikhil.Some of these projects and their procurement processes have reportedly come under investigation, and concerns have also been raised about unfinished infrastructure.The legitimacy of Monday’s assembly is likely to become a central issue for FIFA and CAF, and leaves Djibouti’s football administration at a critical crossroads. FIFA has yet to state its position publicly.



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