Dylan Bettencourt
The general secretary from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) tried to intervene in a state investigation regarding the cover-up of alleged sexual abuse by the president of the Gabon Football Federation.
The president of the Gabon FA, Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, was accused of covering up widespread sexual abuse claims within the organisation as revealed by the Guardian.
Last week Mounguengui was indicted for “failure to report crimes of paedophilia” after being arrested earlier this month.
He is facing up to three years in prison if found guilty of not reporting sexual abuse claims by a number of coaches within the Gabon FA.
The president himself has been accused of sexual abuse.
A letter sent to the Gabon sports minister, Frank Nguema, by the general secretary of CAF, Veron Mosengo-Omba, said Mounguengui’s re-election as president of the FA is a disturbing coincidence.
“CAF wonders about the real reasons that have justified the arrest of President Mounguengui and on those who would still justify his continued detention after questioning,” the letter read.
The Gabon sports minister responded by claiming they had begun the re-election process months before Mounguengui’s arrest.
“In Gabon the independence of justice is affirmed because of the principle of the separation of powers,” the minister responded.
CAF however still feels that Mounguengui was not fairly elected to office.
“In the case of President Pierre-Alain Mounguengui, CAF have maintained a clear position: that if there is a case for him to answer, that should be dealt with,” a spokesperson told the Guardian.
Government interference in football activities is frowned upon by Fifa, which in February banned both Kenya and Zimbabwe for the same offence.
Image source: @CecafaFootball
