By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Three federal member states of Somalia — South West State, Jubbaland and Galmudug — have formally announced that they will not participate in the upcoming Somali Federal States Football Tournament, which the Somali Football Federation (SFF) has scheduled to begin on 24 January 2026.
The decision represents a significant challenge to the organisation of one of the country’s most important sporting events and underscores growing tensions between regional administrations and national football authorities.
In separate statements, the three regional governments cited poor management, lack of accountability and inadequate institutional support by the Somali Football Federation as the primary reasons for their withdrawal from the competition.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of South West State, officials confirmed that their regional team would not take part unless long-standing grievances were addressed. The ministry said previous complaints and alleged mistreatment of South West State players during earlier tournaments had neither been discussed nor resolved, adding that no compensation or remedial measures had been provided.
“The issues raised by our players and officials remain unresolved, and there has been no serious dialogue to address the harm they suffered,” the statement said.
The South West administration also criticised the timing of the tournament, arguing that the announced date was inappropriate and had been set without broad consultation with federal member states. Officials called for comprehensive dialogue and full negotiations between the Somali Football Federation, the federal Ministry of Youth and Sports and regional sports authorities before any national competition proceeds.
Jubbaland and Galmudug expressed similar concerns, accusing the football federation of operating without transparency and failing to ensure fair treatment for all regional teams.
The Somali Football Federation has yet to issue a detailed public response, although sources close to the organisation say internal discussions may be underway in an effort to prevent further boycotts that could undermine the tournament’s credibility.
The federal states football tournament has traditionally been promoted as a symbol of national unity and reconciliation through sport in Somalia, a country emerging from decades of conflict. However, the current dispute has raised broader questions about sports governance, fairness and inclusivity within the country’s football administration.
Observers warn that unless meaningful dialogue takes place between stakeholders, the boycott by three key regions could significantly weaken the competition and set a troubling precedent for future national sporting events.
