Saturday September 6, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland security forces on Saturday arrested
former chairman of the Puntland Football Association, Mohamed Ali Isse (known
as Ciiro), at Garowe airport as he prepared to leave the city.
Authorities have not released an official statement, but
local reports suggest Ciiro’s arrest is linked either to his refusal to hand
over the association’s office to new leadership or to alleged ties with
officials in Mogadishu.
His detention coincided with a Somali Football Federation
(SFF) executive committee meeting in Mogadishu. The federation has rejected the
recent election that replaced Ciiro with Abdihakin Hakiiki, continuing to
recognize Ciiro as chairman.
Ciiro had accused Puntland’s Ministry of Youth and Sports of
interfering in the election and backing Hakiiki. The dispute has since divided
Puntland’s top football clubs, some of which have declared loyalty to rival
factions.
The arrest marks the latest escalation in a leadership
battle that has paralyzed football governance in Puntland.
