Senegalese Judo in Crisis: Collective Challenges Federation Legitimacy, Demands Elective General Assembly

The crisis within the Senegalese Judo Federation is intensifying. A collective of members has escalated the situation by securing the adoption of a resolution calling for an elective general assembly. The vote, passed 34 to 17 on January 31st, marks a clear break with the current leadership.

Speaking at a press conference this Wednesday, Abdou Karim Seck, a member of the executive committee and the collective, recalled that a motion had already been voted on in January to organize this assembly. It was supposed to be held no later than March 5th, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Sports and the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee.

Faced with what they consider a disregard for these decisions, the collective now states it no longer recognizes the authority of President Ababacar Ngom.

The dissenting members paint a concerning picture of the federation's current management. They cite a lack of transparency, insufficient competence, and a scarcity of competitions for athletes.

Compounding this is a decline in sporting performance, highlighted by the failure of senior athletes to win a gold medal at the recent Dakar Open—a first deemed alarming for Senegalese judo.

The collective also denounces administrative dysfunction. According to Abdou Karim Seck, a timeline was provided by the overseeing ministry to guide the organization of the general assembly, but it was allegedly never shared by the federation's secretary general.

In this tense climate, the collective members are appealing to the Minister of Sports to ensure the elective general assembly is organized as soon as possible.