No Presidential Resolution for ANOCA in Prague

(ATR) Lassana Palenfo, president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, said that the upcoming general assembly will not discuss the previous presidential election.

ANOCA’s executive council met today in Prague ahead of the Association of National Olympic Committees General Assembly. Palenfo said the council did not discuss the last elections; instead the council discussed topics such as the upcoming Beach Games in Cape Verde and working to secure more marketing for the association.

"There has been not decision, because it is with CAS," Palenfo said. "The case is pending."

Before the 2017 ANOCA General Assembly in Djibouti presidential candidate Hamad Kalkaba Malboum was barred from running by the ANOCA Executive Committee. Months after the election Djibouti NOC President Aicha Garad Ali wrote to all African NOCs saying decisions taken at the May assembly were undermined by a lack of transparency.

Ali alleged that documents used against Malboum were not produced the way delegates claimed. This led to a "case of unprecedented gravity" at the assembly. After being barred from running, Malboum said the document was done by a "Cabal…on the ANOCA Executive Committee to get me out of the race."

The IOC Ethics Commission declined to rule on the presidential election, and now it is before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, until CAS rules all parties will not discuss the election.

After Ali’s objections Palenfo suggested that ANOCA call an informal meeting instead of a full assembly to shed light on the events in Djibouti. Currently the assembly is set for Nov. 3, right after the ANOC General Assembly.

"We just want to discuss and clarify the situation from Djibouti," Palenfo added.

Written and reported by Aaron Bauerin Prague

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