A dramatic confrontation unfolded at the Djibouti football federation (FDF) headquarters on Monday as police occupied the building, and 16 club presidents voted to remove Souleiman Waberi as president. The move is part of a long-standing attempt to oust Waberi, a member of the Fifa council and Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee. The FDF has rejected the vote as illegitimate, citing improper procedures and notice periods.
According to the FDF, police first occupied its national technical centre on Sunday at 5:30 pm without presenting an administrative document or court order. On Monday, a larger police contingent ordered Waberi, executive committee members, staff, and other federation members to leave the premises. The 16 club presidents then entered the building under police escort and held an extraordinary general assembly, which the FDF described as "purported."
The FDF has declared any decisions taken during the meeting "null and void," while sources in Djibouti insist that the required number of delegates was present and that they unanimously voted to remove Waberi and the executive committee. An interim committee has been established to oversee the federation. The confrontation follows weeks of mounting opposition to Waberi, a close ally of Gianni Infantino.
The dispute began in early September when a coalition of 27 clubs announced its intention to vote on the removal of the executive committee, claiming to have secured the required two-thirds support. However, the FDF disputed this calculation, saying 45 club signatures were needed to trigger an extraordinary assembly. The government intervened, ordering the FDF to convene an extraordinary general assembly within 72 hours.
The FDF has appealed to Fifa and Caf, arguing that using state security forces to remove elected officials could constitute interference in the affairs of a national football association. The consequences of such interference could include suspension, exclusion of Djiboutian clubs and national teams from international competitions, and a freeze on development programs and funding.
Waberi and other officials are facing charges after a police investigation into suspected embezzlement and money laundering was completed. They were arrested in September 2024 following a government inspection that identified financial and administrative irregularities. The investigation raised concerns about anomalies in payments to third parties, failure to pay tax on salaries and wages, and "misuse of cash payments" totaling almost £500,000.
Waberi has denied wrongdoing, stating in August that Fifa's "monitoring mechanisms have revealed no indication of wrongdoing regarding the funds it disbursed." The Guardian has requested a comment from Fifa. The situation remains tense as the FDF and Waberi navigate the complex and contentious landscape of Djibouti football.
Key points
- The Djibouti football federation has rejected the vote to remove Souleiman Waberi as president, citing improper procedures and notice periods.
- Waberi and other officials are facing charges after a police investigation into suspected embezzlement and money laundering.
- The FDF has appealed to Fifa and Caf, arguing that government interference could lead to severe consequences for Djibouti football.
