NAIROBI — Kenyan politician Ali Ibrahim Roba has strongly criticised the United States after Somali international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was denied entry, calling the decision “deeply insulting” and inconsistent with America’s stated global values.
In a statement posted on his X account, Roba said the move against Artan — whom he described as “a young professional whose reputation and integrity are beyond reproach” — reflected a broader pattern of “arrogance and double standards.”
He said the decision was “not merely disappointing, but profoundly insulting,” arguing that it exposed what he called a disconnect between Washington’s rhetoric and its conduct in international affairs.
“At a time when the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, such actions expose a troubling disconnect between America’s rhetoric and its conduct,” Roba wrote.
He added that the United States appeared to be acting as though it still enjoyed unchallenged global dominance, despite what he described as shifting global perceptions.
“The United States continues to behave as though the world remains frozen in the era of its unchallenged dominance,” he said, adding that global resentment toward “selective treatment” and “double standards” was growing.
Roba also suggested that the decision reflected “bureaucratic misjudgment,” arguing that authorities had failed to distinguish between security concerns and professional sporting participation.
“By denying entry to a respected young African referee, the United States has not projected strength; it has projected insecurity,” he wrote.
He further warned that global powers historically decline when they confuse “privilege for permanence,” urging Washington to reassess its approach to international partnerships.
“The United States would do well to remember that respect cannot be demanded — it must be earned,” he said.
Roba concluded by condemning the decision “in the strongest possible terms,” adding that in a “multipolar world,” cooperation and mutual respect were becoming more important than dominance or unilateral action.
The U.S. authorities have not publicly provided detailed evidence supporting the allegations that led to Artan’s exclusion, which has sparked criticism from Somali officials, sports figures, and regional politicians.
