On 08 November 2024, the majority of Presidents and duly authorized representatives of the National Federations within Zone 2 of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC), under the leadership of President Solomon Desmund Kargbo, convened a virtual meeting to assess and deliberate upon the prevailing circumstances within the Zone and AFBC at large and to outline a forward-looking program of activities.
To download the document in PDF, click here: Press release from Zone 2
After the presentation of the challenges by the Zonal President, the participants discussed the issues and proposed the solutions as below mentioned:
1. Attempted Destabilization of the Zone by Former Presidents of AFBC and Zone 2
Despite their removal by majority decision at the Kinshasa meeting, Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu and Mr. Issoufou Abdou Malam continue to act in contravention of this decision, actively engaging certain federations with unfounded assurances. Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu, despite his unpopularity within the Zone, is promoting a Zonal Championship and an R/J course in Ghana scheduled for December 2024, with an alleged AFBC support pledge of seven thousand dollars.
To this regard, the representatives unanimously recognize that Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu no longer holds the office of AFBC President and, therefore, lacks the authority to commit AFBC to any activity. Given that neither the AFBC Competitions Committee nor Zone 2 leadership was consulted, this proposed Zonal Championship is deemed unauthorized and purely promotional. Zone 2 leadership has resolved to cancel this tournament, with participating nations in attendance agreeing to abstain from involvement in any event organized under Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu’s direction. A new bid for hosting this championship will be issued in January, with competition anticipated in February or March 2025.
2. Governance Challenges in Select Federations.
The meeting extended its congratulations to the Niger Boxing Federation’s new leadership for its progress in stabilizing the Federation following disruption under former President Issoufou Abdou Malam. With restored access to the IBA database, Niger’s Federation is now positioned to participate in the IBA and AFBC Congresses in Dubai, marking a significant milestone under new IBA recognition, previously obstructed by Mr. Abdou.
Persistent governance issues, however, remain in the Guinea and Ivory Coast Federations:
(a) In Guinea, the AFBC Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned Mr. Alpha Amadou Baldé, former AFBC Vice President and former member of the AFBC BoD, from Guinea, with a three-year suspension from all boxing-related activities and a fine of 15,000 Swiss Francs. This decision follows Mr. Alpha Amadou Baldé’s unsportsmanlike conduct during the African Games in Accra, Ghana, in March 2024, pursuant to Articles 17(b), 20.1, and 24(a) and (b) of the International Boxing Association (IBA) Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
Despite the suspension, Mr. Alpha Amadou Baldé has continued to engage in boxing activities both domestically and within the Confederation, with the support of the recently dismissed AFBC President, Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu. Furthermore, Mr. Alpha Amadou Baldé has refused to relinquish access credentials of the National Federation IBA database to the Secretary General, obstructing crucial functions, including the registration of boxers and delegates for official competitions and Congresses.
In response, Zonal President Solomon Kargbo has committed to work alongside AFBC Interim President General Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo to address and resolve this matter promptly to restore order and ensure compliance with AFBC and IBA regulations.
(b) In Ivory Coast, the Federation has lost recognition by the Ministry of Sports due to non-compliance with national sports regulations, resulting in its exclusion from the national sports community. This status will persist until the Federation, led by Mr. Arthur Boua, adheres to regulatory requirements, including holding elections following the expiration of his term on 29 June 2024. Although this issue affects boxer’s participation, President Kargbo is tasked with contacting Mr. Arthur Boua to work toward a solution that protects boxer interests.
3. Widespread Support for Kinshasa Resolutions.
The Kinshasa meeting, attended by representatives from Togo, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, culminated in a decisive vote to withdraw Mr. Eyassu Wossen Berhanu from his position as President of the AFBC. During the recent gathering, Zonal President Solomon Desmund Kargbo provided a detailed explanation of the motivations behind the Kinshasa decision to remove Berhanu from AFBC leadership, emphasizing the necessity of the leadership change for the Federation’s integrity and future.
Following his remarks, all participants expressed their unequivocal support for the Kinshasa resolutions. The group extended commitment to Interim President Ferdinand Ilunga Luyoyo, acknowledging his steadfast dedication to promoting and advancing the sport of boxing across Africa.
4. Zonal Activity Program
The meeting reviewed future activities and projects, including routine championships across the Zone, Referee and Judges (R/J) seminars, coaching courses, and youth-level tournaments. Zonal Secretary General Mrs. Anta Gueye will finalize and distribute a detailed program of these activities.
The meeting concluded with a collective agreement to uphold measures designed to restore unity, reinforce transparency, and foster collaborative support for boxing development within Zone 2.
Done on November 13, 2024
