Former military base stadium in Somalia capital Mogadishu now open for sports enthusiasts

Record ID: 1941326

  • Title: Former military base stadium in Somalia capital Mogadishu now open for sports enthusiasts
  • Date: 31st January 2024
  • Summary: Former military base stadium in Somalia capital Mogadishu now open for sports enthusiasts SHOTLIST MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (JANUARY 29, 2024) (AAVN – ACCESS ALL) 1. SPORTS FANS SOME CARRYING FLAGS, IN MOGADISHU STADIUM (2 SHOTS) 2. DANCE SHOW BEING SEEN IN STADIUM 3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING, CELEBRATING AND SPEAKING TO MICROPHONE AAVN SCRIPT: The stadium in Mogadishu, which was used as a military base for many years, is now serving sports enthusiasts. Used as a military base by various powers for approximately 30 years, the Mogadishu Stadium was renovated and reopened in 2020. After an approximately 30-year hiatus, the inter-state football tournament held at the stadium at the beginning of the month brought together thousands of people from all over the country in the capital. In the final of the tournament held on Monday, Hirshabelle and Galmudug states competed, with Galmudug emerging as the winner. The enthusiastic presence of both teams' supporters filling the stadium is considered a sign of normalization in the country. Despite authorities taking extensive measures for the security of all Somalis participating in the tournament, a suicide attack on January 25th could not be prevented. During the match, a suicide attack staged 1 kilometer away from the stadium resulted in the loss of 2 lives. During the Siad Barre regime, the stadium, built by Chinese engineers in 1977, was known as Africa's largest stadium in 1980 and could accommodate over 40,000 people at the same time. After the dissolution of the central government, the stadium, which was used as a base by various powers coming to the country through different means for 30 years, was used in the 1990s, especially by United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces from Pakistan. The stadium, used as a base by Ethiopian soldiers entering Mogadishu from 2007 to 2009, became a military training center for the Al-Shabaab terrorist organization from 2009 to 2011. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) used the stadium as a base from 2011 to 2018. The government led by former President Mohammed Abdullah Fermacu took over control of the stadium from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in August 2018 and then started reconstruction work. The reopened Mogadishu Stadium in 2020, after being rebuilt, has made a significant contribution to the revival of sports in the country. - Reporting by Hodan Mohamed Abdullahi // Writing by Berkay Gur -
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords:
  • Location: No-Data-Available
  • Topics: Current or spot news
  • Reuters ID: OWANACAAVIDEO2024013133579640
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:
  • Copyright Holder: Anadolu Agency
  • Copyright Notice: This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by a third party. Screenocean has not verified or endorsed the material, which is being made available to professional media customers to facilitate the free flow of global news and information.
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE . For Reuters customers only.
Register