Djibouti: Ministry postpones Football Federation (FDF) elections
Crisis within the FDF intensifies
Following renewed tensions between members of the Djibouti Football Federation (FDF) and its Steering Committee, the Ministry of Sports has announced the suspension and postponement of elections to an undetermined date. This decision comes in a context of deep crisis, marked by revelations of irregularities in the governance and financial management of the FDF since the resignation of Souleiman Waberi last March.
Internal conflicts and judicial interventions
An audit commissioned by the Ministry of Sports uncovered “significant irregularities,” leading to the arrest of Waberi and four other executives on suspicion of embezzlement and money laundering. Although all have been released pending the outcome of the judicial investigation, internal tensions remain high. Despite his resignation, Waberi is running for a fourth term, which has sparked strong reactions within the Djiboutian football community.
The candidates in the running and the obstacles encountered
Three candidates are running for office, although the process has been fraught with difficulties. In addition to Waberi, the contenders are:
- Farah Daher Barreh , president of the Republican Guard team, whose candidacy was invalidated due to a suspension in 2021 for an altercation, a fact he still disputes.
- Aden Robleh Rayaleh , a former referee and former member of the FDF Steering Committee, who was refused access to the federation’s premises to submit his application, requiring the intervention of a bailiff and a lawyer.
The Ministry’s decision for an “inclusive” electoral process
In a letter dated November 7, the Ministry of Sports notified its intention to postpone the elections, citing a “lack of transparency and flagrant irregularities” in the current electoral process. This decision is based on Article 27 of Law No. 17/AN/07/5th L of May 3, 2007, which governs physical and sporting activities in Djibouti.
Waberi, between optimism and protests
Despite the obstacles, Waberi remains confident and has reportedly told several members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that he will win the elections and be exonerated in the ongoing legal cases. This optimism contrasts with critics who say that his resignation should automatically invalidate his candidacy due to the loss of his membership status in the federation.
Conclusion
The postponement of the FDF elections reflects the tensions undermining Djiboutian football. The actions of the Ministry of Sports underline the desire to establish more transparency, while the future of the FDF remains uncertain in the face of governance issues.
