The International Judo Federation (IJF) bangs its fist on the table. On August 18, she sent a letter to the Congolese Minister of Sports, Hugues Ngouelondélé in response to a missive from the latter, dated July 25. In the document, the sports department planned to hold the elective general assembly of the Congolese Federation of Judo and Associated Disciplines (FECOJUDA) after the 2024 Olympics.
This proposal does not go down well within the IJF. It thus asks Brazzaville to hold its elections within “the deadlines”, that is to say, by September 30 at the latest. Otherwise, “the Congolese judo federation and its officials will be suspended from all activities”, wrote Jean-Luc Rougé, IJF General Secretary.
In Congo-Brazzaville, an unprecedented crisis is shaking the judo federation. The dispute pits Marien Ngouabi Ikama against Neyl Francis Ata Asiokara, a member of the federation. If Mr. Asiokara derives his legitimacy from the ministry, Mr. Ngouabi is described by the authorities of his country as a “usurper”, because his election would not have been in conformity. However, abroad, he is considered the sole legitimate president of FECOJUDA and therefore the sole interlocutor of international institutions including the IJF and the African Judo Union (UAJ).
JNN
