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Somalia Sports Ministry Refers SNOC Senior Officials to Attorney General Over Governance, Corruption and Human Trafficking Allegations
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Thursday January 15, 2026 - 15:10:17 in Latest News by Super Admin
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Mogadishu, Somalia — The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports has submitted a formal criminal notification to the Office of the Attorney General following an administrative investigation into serious allegations involving senior officials of the Somali National Olympic Committee (SNOC), including Secretary-General Mohamed Cabdow (Abdow) Haji, amid claims of institutional abuse, corruption, and the misuse of official sports delegations for human trafficking and irregular migration schemes.
approvals for international travel,
conflicts with multiple national federations,
According to preliminary findings reviewed by the Ministry, the SNOC has suffered from deep governance breakdowns marked by alleged concentration of power, interference in the autonomy of national sports federations, and systematic disruption of institutional checks and balances.
The investigation was launched after formal complaints were submitted by national federations, athletes, and key stakeholders, in addition to months of internal disputes within SNOC leadership structures.
Governance Collapse and Control Over Federations
The Ministry’s review describes what it calls a pattern of abusive governance practices inside the SNOC, alleging that Mr. Abdow Haji exercised administrative access and influence across national sports federations beyond his mandate, effectively centralizing decision-making power in the hands of a small internal circle.
Officials familiar with the investigation stated that federations that questioned SNOC directives or refused to comply with internal decisions were reportedly removed, threatened, or sidelined.
In multiple documented instances, the Ministry found evidence suggesting that parallel federations were allegedly created or informally recognized to replace legally established bodies — a practice that severely undermined athlete participation systems, federation legitimacy, and the integrity of national sports administration.
"This was not merely a leadership dispute,” a source close to the federations’ complaint process told Waagacusub.net. "It was a deliberate campaign to capture institutions by force of administrative influence.”
Corruption Allegations: Travel Approvals, Delegations and External Funding
The Ministry also cites allegations of corruption and lack of transparency in both financial and administrative procedures, particularly in relation to:
approvals for international travel,
selection of official delegations,
and management of external funding and resources.
The investigation indicates that irregular practices allegedly enabled misuse of resources and weakened oversight mechanisms, raising concerns over public funds, donor confidence, and Somalia’s compliance with international sports governance norms.
Observers warn that such allegations, if proven, could expose Somalia to significant reputational damage at a time when Somali athletes rely heavily on external institutional credibility to access training programs, sponsorship, and international competitions.
Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration Networks
The most serious element in the Ministry’s preliminary report concerns findings linked to human trafficking and facilitation of irregular migration, alleging that official sports delegations and international competitions were manipulated as channels to traffic or smuggle individuals under the cover of sports participation.
According to records reviewed by the Ministry, Mr. Abdow Haji himself traveled abroad in 2009 as part of an official sports delegation and later sought asylum in Europe — a matter now viewed by investigators as relevant within a broader pattern of trafficking-linked allegations involving SNOC officials.
Sources familiar with the evidence described to Waagacusub.net that delegation systems were allegedly turned into recruitment channels, allowing non-athlete individuals to travel under sports documentation, with limited accountability for return or verification procedures.
If substantiated, the allegations would represent one of the gravest scandals in the history of Somali sports administration, effectively weaponizing sports diplomacy for illegal cross-border migration operations.
Escalation to Cabinet and Criminal Referral
Due to the seriousness of the findings, the Ministry escalated the issue to the Council of Ministers, which approved further action, according to government sources.
Following Cabinet authorization, the Ministry formally notified the Office of the Attorney General and submitted a criminal notification requesting an independent investigation and legal determination.
Legal experts note that the referral may expose SNOC officials to potential prosecution under Somali criminal law and may also trigger international cooperation mechanisms if alleged trafficking routes involve cross-border networks.
A Wider Institutional Crisis
The allegations have unfolded against a wider backdrop of institutional breakdown within the SNOC, including:
conflicts with multiple national federations,
parallel leadership structures,
lawsuits,
and formal administrative complaints.
The cumulative impact, authorities say, has posed serious risks not only to governance, but also to athlete safety, national resources, and Somalia’s international standing in the Olympic and global sports community.
Due Process
All matters described in the Ministry’s summary remain allegations based on preliminary findings. All individuals concerned are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence. Final determinations will be made by competent judicial authorities following independent investigation and legal review.
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Somalia Sports Ministry Refers SNOC Senior Officials to Attorney General Over Governance, Corruption and Human Trafficking Allegations
Mogadishu, Somalia — The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports has submitted a formal criminal notification to the Office of the Attorney General following an administrative investigation into serious allegations involving senior officials of the