Interior Security Ministry has warned that legal action will be taken on any owner of private mini stadiums in Mogadishu adhering to Alshabaab ban on the use of the pitches.
“We as the federal government of Somalia confirm to the public that we are not aware of football pitches in Mogadishu that are controlled by Alshabaab” Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim spokesman of the ministry said.
“We are warning people not to comply with the story that is going round that Alshabaab has issued orders” said Mr. Ibrahim.
“The Somali citizens are free to meet wherever they used to meet and where their youth used to play. We will not allow that and I expect the minds of the Somali people are now free from complying with orders from certain groups†he added.
AlShabaab last week issued a ban on the use of privately owned mini-stadiums.
Owners of the stadium in four districts of Banaadir reportedly met with Alshabaab leadership to resolve the matter.
The ban was later lifted on the four districts but on Sunday a second ban was announced by the group to include the stadiums around Makkah Mukaramah Road.
