Somalia's youngest sultan misses playing football

Issa Ahmed

BBC Somali, Nairobi

BBCCopyright: BBC

An 18-year-old boy is the youngest sultan, or traditional ruler, in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland.

Sultan Mohamed Sultan Hure still goes to school, and is preparing to write his exams this week.

But when the BBC visited him at his palace, he said he has not led a normal life since he, as the eldest son, inherited the post of sultan at the age of 15 following the death of his father.

The post comes with its own strict rules and responsibilities. He misses playing football with children of his age, the sultan said.

Sultan Hure is heavily involved in spearheading peace meetings in Puntlland, and trying to improve relations between different communities.

The sultan is still influential in Somalia - and tends to have the final say in his community.