African Chess Confederation Elects New Executive Board in Nail-Biting Vote

The African Chess Confederation (ACC) has elected a new executive board during a pivotal Electoral Congress held at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The election, which took place on July 28, 2026, resulted in a change of leadership and has already sparked controversy, with the defeated incumbent alleging vote-buying.

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A New Era Begins: Wanjala Wins by a Single Vote

In an extremely close contest for the presidency, challenger Benard Wanjala from Kenya defeated the incumbent president Tshepiso Lopang from Botswana by a razor-thin margin of one vote. The final tally was:

• Benard Wanjala (Kenya) – 25 votes
• Tshepiso Lopang (Botswana) – 24 votes

The election was a culmination of weeks of campaigning across the continent, with 49 member countries participating in the process. Wanjala’s victory signals a significant shift in the continental chess leadership, as he steps in to lead the ACC for the next four-year term.

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The New African Chess Confederation Board

The election saw the formation of a new executive board, representing a diverse range of nations from across Africa’s five zones. The board is structured to ensure broad regional representation and administrative expertise.

Position	Name	Country
President	Benard Wanjala	Kenya
Deputy President	Mohamed Abdulla Mohamed	Somalia
Vice President – Administration	Barthelemy Bongo Akanga Ndjila	Gabon
Vice President – Technical	Andre Lewaks	South Africa
Vice President – Region A	Christiana Naa Merley Ashley	Ghana
Vice President – Region B	Chouari Wajdi	Tunisia
Vice President – Region C	Mario Lourenço	Angola
General Secretary	Otto Nakapunda	Namibia
Treasurer	Kouassi Nguessan Justin Brou	Ivory Coast

Spotlight on Key Appointees

André Lewaks (South Africa) – Vice President Technical: The President of Chess South Africa, Lewaks brings extensive leadership and community development experience to his new continental role. His journey from the small rural town of Albertinia to the ACC vice presidency represents a major step for South African chess, creating new opportunities for the country to play a larger role in shaping the game’s future across Africa.

Barthelemy Bongo Akanga Ndjila (Gabon) – Vice President Administration: The President of the Gabonese Chess Federation, Bongo’s election to the board rewards years of effort in promoting chess in his country. He is expected to continue developing projects like “Chess in Schools” and “Chess in Prison” to foster youth development and education through the sport.

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Election Controversy: Allegations of Vote-Buying

Despite the close result, the election has been overshadowed by controversy. Defeated incumbent Tshepiso Lopang has formally accused Benard Wanjala of vote-buying and has lodged a complaint against the election result. The complaint has been filed with the relevant authorities, though no further details about the investigation or potential outcomes have been released as of now.

These allegations threaten to overshadow the new board’s mandate and could lead to further scrutiny of the electoral processes within the continental chess body. The dispute highlights ongoing challenges within the governance of chess in Africa.

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A Brief History of the African Chess Confederation

The ACC has a rich history that dates back to 1976, when eleven African federations came together during a counter-Olympiad in Tripoli, Libya. They founded the African Chess Confederation to jointly develop chess, organize competitions, and give African nations a unified voice within the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

From its initial 11 founding members, the ACC has grown to 48 member federations today. Its growth has been steady, with the confederation now organizing youth and women’s championships, and actively promoting the game across the continent.

Past Presidents of the ACC

President	Country	Term
Belkadi Ridha	Tunisia	1978–1990
Emmanuel Omuku	Nigeria	1990–1994
Lakhdar Mazouz	Algeria	1994–2002; 2010–2014
Nizzar Elhadj	Libya	2002–2006
Buthali Dalibani	Botswana	2006–2010
Lewis Ncube	Zambia	2014–2022
Tshepiso Lopang	Botswana	2022–2026
Benard Wanjala	Kenya	2026–Present

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Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The newly elected board inherits both momentum and challenges. FIDE has dedicated 2026 to promoting chess in education, and African leaders have a key role to play in this initiative. The ACC also has ambitions to expand its reach by establishing a permanent headquarters in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic hub of the African Union.

However, the immediate priority for the Wanjala-led board will likely be to address the election controversy and restore confidence in the ACC’s leadership. With a one-vote majority and pending complaints, the new executive faces an uphill battle to unify the continental body and deliver on its promise to promote chess development across Africa.

As the African chess community celebrates 50 years since its founding, the new leadership has the opportunity to write a new chapter in the continent’s chess story – one defined by growth, inclusion, and competitive excellence.