Jun 17, 2026
May 12, 2026
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Thousands of Somalis, including government officials, football fans, and members of the sporting community, gathered in Mogadishu to welcome award-winning referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan after U.S. authorities denied him entry despite his diplomatic passport and valid visa.
At Mogadishu Stadium, supporters wearing T-shirts and hats bearing Artan’s image chanted, “Welcome to your country, Hero,” as they celebrated one of Somalia’s most accomplished sports figures.
In a brief address to the crowd, Artan remained defiant despite the setback.
“What happened will not disappoint me, and I promise you that I will participate in the 2030 World Cup,” he said. He also urged Somali youth not to lose faith in their country or their passport.
Artan was among the 52 referees selected to officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
On June 6, he traveled from Istanbul, Turkey, to Miami, where he was scheduled to attend a FIFA seminar for match officials ahead of the tournament. Upon arrival at Miami International Airport, however, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers denied him entry following an 11-hour interrogation, citing a “vetting concern.” He was subsequently returned to Istanbul.
According to the Somali government, the decision may be linked to travel restrictions affecting Somali nationals under policies introduced during the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the incident as “unfortunate.”
“It is unfortunate as well what happened to Omar, the referee from Somalia. But again, we don’t control everything,” Infantino told a press conference on the eve of the tournament.
FIFA later confirmed that Artan would be unable to participate in the training programme and would not officiate at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government had made efforts to resolve the matter but was unsuccessful. The ministry added that Somalia would seek an official explanation from U.S. authorities regarding Artan’s case.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion among Somalis, many of whom view Artan as a symbol of perseverance and national pride. Social media users expressed frustration over the decision while praising his achievements and resilience.
From Mogadishu’s Suburbs to the World Stage
Artan, 34, began his journey in football as a player before a leg injury forced him to abandon his playing career. He subsequently turned to refereeing, officiating matches in the outskirts of Mogadishu.
His talent and commitment earned him recognition from the Somali Football Federation, which selected him to officiate regional and national competitions. In 2018, FIFA added him to its list of international referees.
Artan made history in January 2024 when he became the first Somali referee to officiate at the Africa Cup of Nations, overseeing the match between Tunisia and Namibia.
His rise continued in 2025 when he was named Africa’s Best Referee during an awards ceremony in Morocco, cementing his reputation as one of the continent’s leading match officials.
In April this year, FIFA announced Artan as one of the referees selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a milestone widely celebrated across Somalia. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud publicly praised his achievement, describing it as a source of pride for the nation.
Despite the disappointment of being excluded from preparations for the tournament, Artan has vowed to continue pursuing his dream of officiating on football’s biggest stage. His determination has inspired many young Somalis who aspire to build careers in sports and other international professions.
For many in Somalia, Artan’s story is about more than football. It is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the belief that talent can emerge from even the most challenging circumstances. As crowds gathered to welcome him home, many saw not a defeated referee, but a national hero whose journey continues to inspire a new generation
Written by Sadia Noor
Jun 10, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Jun 3, 2026
Muqdisho waxaa ka socda diyaargarow xooggan oo ay wadaan madasha samatabixinta Soomaaliya, kuwaas oo qorsheynaya bannaanbax ballaaran oo lagu wado inuu saameyn ku yeesho xaaladda siyaasadeed ee dalka, iyadoo laga cabsi qabo xiisad amni iyo isku dhac siyaasadeed oo kordha.
Wararka la helayo ayaa sheegaya in diyaargarowgii ugu dambeeyay uu ka socdo xarumo cusub oo ay mucaaradku ka sameysteen bannaanka caasimadda, halkaas oo lagu abaabulayo kulamo iyo istiraatiijiyad la xiriirta sida bannaanbaxu u dhici doono.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed ayaa la sheegay inuu u wareegay xarun cusub oo uu ka sameystay deegaanka Mirnaayo, taasoo qeyb ka ah isku dubbaridka siyaasadeed ee mucaaradka, iyadoo hoggaamiyeyaasha kale ee mucaaradkuna ay wadaan kulamo xasaasi ah.
Mucaaradku waxay galabta yeelanayaan shir muhiim ah oo diiradda lagu saarayo:
Qaabka uu u dhici doono bannaanbaxa
Amniga iyo waddooyinka la xiri kara
Jawaabta laga bixin doono haddii la hor istaago isu imaatinka
Ilo ku dhow dhinacyada mucaaradka ayaa sheegaya in aysan qorsheynayn inay ka laabtaan bannaanbaxa, xitaa haddii ay la kulmaan xannibaado ama cadaadis amni, iyagoo ku doodaya in xaaladda siyaasadeed ee dalka ay u baahan tahay “sixitaan dastuuri ah”.
Dowladda Federaalka ayaa dhankeeda hore u sheegtay in hay’adaha dastuuriga ah ay si sharci ah u shaqeynayaan ilaa doorashooyin cusub laga gaarayo, taasoo sii kordhisay is mari-waaga siyaasadeed.
Saacadaha iyo maalmaha soo socda ayaa la filayaa in ay soo baxaan faahfaahin dheeraad ah oo ku saabsan halka uu xaaladdu ku dambeyn doono, iyadoo indhaha si weyn loogu hayo Muqdisho iyo dhaq-dhaqaaqa siyaasadeed ee sii xoogeysanaya.
Ciidanka Israa’iil ayaa sheegay in subaxnimadii Talaadada ay hawada ku qabteen laba gantaal oo laga soo ganay dhanka Lebanon.
Ciidanku wuxuu sheegay in la ogaaday “shay duulaya oo laga shakiyay” kaas oo markii dambe ku dhacay gudaha dhulka Israel meel u dhow xadka Lubnaan. Waxa kale oo ay sheegeen in aan wax dhaawac ah la soo sheegin kadib weerarka.
Dhacdadan ugu dambeysay ayaa ku soo beegmaysa iyadoo Madaxweynaha Maraykanka Donald Trump uu sheegay in Israa’iil iyo ururka Hezbollah ay u ballanqaadeen inay joojinayaan dagaalka.
Trump ayaa bartiisa bulshada ee Truth Social ku qoray:”Waxaan wada hadal aad u wanaagsan la yeeshay Hezbollah anigoo adeegsanaya wakiillo heer sare ah, waxayna oggolaadeen xabbad-joojin; Israa’iil ma weerari doonto iyaga, iyaguna ma weerari doonaan Israa’iil.”
Horey, Guddoomiyaha baarlamaanka Iran, Maxammad Baqer Qalibaf, ayaa yiri:”Labadii maalmood ee la soo dhaafay waxaan si dhab ah uga shaqaynaynay joojinta weerarrada Israa’iil, haddii dambiyadaasi sii socdaanna ma aha oo keliya inaan joojin doono geeddi-socodka wada hadallada, balse sidoo kale waxaan ka hor iman doonnaa maamulka Sahyuuniyadda.”
Dowladda Maraykanka ayaa warbixin ay u gudbisay Kongareeska ku caddeysay inay weli aqoonsan tahay midnimada iyo wadajirka dhuleed ee Jamhuuriyadda Federaalka Soomaaliya, iyadoo Somaliland lagu tilmaamay saaxiib suurtagal ah oo laga wada shaqayn karo dhinacyada amniga, diblomaasiyadda iyo dhaqaalaha.
Warbixinta ayaa sheegtay in Safaaradda Maraykanka ee Muqdisho ay si joogto ah booqashooyin ugu tagto Somaliland si ay ugala hadasho arrimaha amniga, gargaarka bani’aadannimada iyo horumarinta dhaqaalaha. Maraykanku wuxuu xusay in booqashooyinkaas lagu fuliyo habraacyo amni oo la mid ah kuwa laga adeegsado Soomaaliya inteeda kale.
Sidoo kale, warbixintu waxay iftiimisay muhiimadda istaraatiijiga ah ee Somaliland, gaar ahaan goobta ay kaga taallo marin-biyoodka Bab al-Mandab, doorka ay ka qaadan karto la dagaallanka argagixisada, iyo fursadaha maalgashi ee ku xeeran dekedda iyo garoonka diyaaradaha Berbera.
Hase yeeshee, Maraykanku wuxuu tilmaamay in muranka siyaasadeed ee ku saabsan xaaladda Somaliland iyo caqabadaha amni ay weli saameyn ku leeyihiin maalgashiga caalamiga ah, adeegyada bangiyada iyo koboca ganacsiga.
Warbixinta ayaa sidoo kale xustay in ciidamada Maraykanka, gaar ahaan AFRICOM, ay Somaliland iyo Soomaaliya inteeda kale kala shaqeeyaan la dagaallanka Al-Shabaab iyo Daacish, iyadoo gobolka loo arko meel muhiim u ah la socodka dhaqdhaqaaqyada kooxaha hubeysan iyo xiriirrada suurtagalka ah ee ay la leeyihiin Xuutiyiinta.
Madaxweynihii hore ee Soomaaliya Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed ayaa sheegay in Madaxweyne Xasan Sheekh Maxamuud uu dhammeystay muddadii loo doortay, isla markaana aanu garanayn waxa uu weli u raadinayo sii joogista talada dalka.
Sheekh Shariif oo ka hadlayay kulan siyaasadeed ayaa sheegay in Xasan Sheekh laba jeer loo doortay xilka madaxweynaha, sidaas darteedna ay tahay inuu xilka si nabad ah ugu wareejiyo cidda ka dambeysa marka la gaaro waqtiga doorashada.
“Labo jeer aa la doortay waa u dhamaatay, maxaa u dhiman u raadinaaya? Anigu ma garan waxa u raadinaayo,” ayuu yiri Sheekh Shariif.
Madaxweynihii hore ayaa sidoo kale ku eedeeyay dowladda inay waddo tallaabooyin uu ku tilmaamay caburin siyaasadeed, isagoo xusay in dhalinyaro la xirayo, mucaaradka la cadaadinayo, isla markaana shacabka qaarkood la barakicinayo.