On February 27, 2025, the High Court of Mfoundi in Yaoundé issued a ruling regarding an extraordinary general assembly of FECAVOLLEY held on January 4, 2023. The court declared Mr. Abouem A Boull’s action admissible and partially valid, nullifying the extraordinary general assembly on the grounds that Mr. Matip Elias lacked the proper mandate to convene the meeting. Nevertheless, this decision has no significant impact on the current running of affairs at the Cameroon Volleyball Federation as its President Bello Bourdane stands firm and remains focused on his plan of action.
Understanding the Court’s Limited Ruling
The High Court’s decision focused solely on an extraordinary general assembly held on January 4, 2023. The court declared this specific meeting invalid because Mr. Matip Elias lacked proper authority to call the meeting. However, contrary to premature celebrations on social media, the court did not annul Bello Bourdanne’s election as FECAVOLLEY president or challenge his leadership position.
“The court’s decision was narrowly focused on a procedural matter regarding a single meeting, not the federation’s leadership structure or previous legitimate elections,” explains a source close to the federation.
Problems with Serge Abouem’s Legal Approach
Several key issues undermine Mr. Abouem’s legal challenge:
First, by taking this matter to a civil court rather than specialized sports bodies, Abouem bypassed the proper channels for sports disputes. Sports-related matters typically fall under “lex sportiva” – the specialized legal framework for sports governance.
Second, and perhaps most critically, Abouem remains under suspension by the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSC) until 2032. This suspension should have made his case inadmissible from the start.
Third, the court judgment referenced an “Appeal Chamber of the Cameroon Volleyball Federation” – a body that has never existed within FECAVOLLEY’s structure, raising questions about the information presented during proceedings.
Finally, Abouem had previously taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the appropriate international body for such disputes, but withdrew when he apparently anticipated an unfavorable outcome. He then sought a more sympathetic hearing in local courts – a practice known as “forum shopping” that undermines proper dispute resolution in sports.
Moving Forward Under Legitimate Leadership
The FECAVOLLEY federation continues its work promoting volleyball throughout Cameroon under Bello Bourdanne’s leadership, unhindered by what many sports governance experts view as an irregular court decision with limited scope.
President Bello Bourdane and team at the 4th National championship grouping in Sangmelima
Federation officials have called on public authorities to address Abouem’s continued efforts to create confusion, citing damage to volleyball’s reputation both nationally and internationally.
As the federation continues its mission, volleyball enthusiasts across Cameroon can be assured that the legitimate leadership structure remains intact, focused on developing the sport rather than being distracted by procedural challenges that legal experts suggest “will likely remain nothing more than a footnote in Cameroon’s judicial archives.”
