The facts
Police occupied the Djibouti Football Federation (FDF) headquarters on Monday, 5 October 2026 after a group of club presidents called an extraordinary general assembly (EGM) to remove president Souleiman Waberi, a FIFA council member. The federation said police first entered its national technical centre at about 5.30 pm on Sunday without presenting a court order or administrative document. On Monday a larger police contingent ordered Waberi, executive‑committee members, staff and other federation officials to leave. Sixteen club presidents then entered the building under police escort and held what the federation called a “purported” EGM, which it rejected as illegitimate because notice periods and procedures were not respected. Sources said the required number of delegates were present and they unanimously voted to remove Waberi and the executive committee, establishing an interim committee. The confrontation follows weeks of opposition to Waberi, who also sits on the CAF executive committee and is a close ally of Gianni Infantino. The government, through secretary of state for sport Fatouma Ali Abdallah, had ordered the FDF to convene an EGM within 72 hours. The FDF has appealed to FIFA and CAF, warning that the use of state security forces could be deemed interference and could lead to sanctions.
Our take
Let’s cut the crap: Souleiman Waberi, a FIFA council member and Infantino’s right‑hand, got his own headquarters seized by police who didn’t bother with a warrant. That’s not a bureaucratic shuffle, that’s a full‑blown eviction. Sunday night the cops stormed the national technical centre, and on Monday a bigger contingent forced Waberi, his executive committee and staff onto the street. Sixteen club presidents, escorted by the same police, walked in and ran an EGM that the federation called “purported” because it claimed procedural shortcuts. Sources on the ground say the delegate quorum was met and the vote was unanimous – Waberi and his cronies were booted, an interim committee installed, and the whole thing was recorded as a legitimate removal. The FDF’s protestations about “illegitimate” procedures now read like a desperate cling‑on to power after the police already did the heavy lifting. They’ve appealed to FIFA and CAF, warning of interference, yet the only interference they’ve felt is the state finally telling a corrupt official to pack his bags. The government’s 72‑hour order was ignored, so the police stepped in, no paperwork needed, and the result was a clean‑out of a federation that had been accused of embezzling almost £500,000 and laundering money since a 2024 investigation. Waberi’s defence that FIFA’s monitoring found no wrongdoing is now drowned out by the sound of his own staff being escorted out. The whole episode shows how fragile a power structure built on bribes and opaque contracts really is – it collapses the moment a few uniformed officers decide enough is enough. So, Waberi, enjoy the view from the gutter; the doors are locked, the cops are on *their* side, and the only thing left for you is to watch your empire crumble. Fuck you, Waberi.
