CamaskO Leadership Crisis: New President Alleges Consul’s Undue Influence in South Korea

Seoul: The newly elected leadership of the Cameroonian Association in South Korea (CAMASKO) has officially raised concerns, accusing the Cameroonian Honorary Consul, Dong Soon Cho, of undermining democratic transitions to protect a 'defunct' association regime. President Botambu Collins, who assumed leadership in 2025 through an election, has sounded the alarm over what he terms the 'illegitimate' continued influence of his predecessor, Mr. Anoh Tembe Jeff. According to Cameroon News Agency, the controversy revolves around Mr. Anoh, who led the community for over a decade since 2013, allegedly without a legal mandate. Despite his recent electoral defeat, community sources indicate that he refuses to relinquish his position. This situation has been aggravated by the unexpected interference of the Korean Honorary Consul representing Cameroon, as reported by CNA. The Consul is said to have compromised diplomatic neutrality to support the ousted leader, allegedly stating: 'I am not ready to lose. I have put Mr. Anoh Jeff in places where I cannot remove him.' However, CNA could not independently verify this claim. The new administration has expressed shock that a diplomatic representative in South Korea-a country globally respected for its adherence to the rule of law-would actively endorse an illegal mandate. 'This is a crisis of legitimacy fueled by the very office meant to protect us,' a community representative told CNA. 'The new executive is legally registered, yet we are being held hostage by a patronage system that refuses to die.' While the leadership struggle persists, over 1,000 Cameroonians in South Korea are experiencing a lack of essential consular services. Without a functional embassy in Seoul, students and workers must undertake costly and arduous journeys to Japan or China to renew passports or register births. President Collins has emphasized that this crisis is now a dual battle for the community, exacerbated by the Honorary Consul's partisanship. The CAMASKO executive is calling on the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) in Yaoundé to intervene decisively. They demand a formal clarification of the Honorary Consul's limits and an immediate affirmation of the democratically elected and legally registered board. Until Yaoundé acts, the Cameroonian diaspora in South Korea remains in a state of diplomatic uncertainty, caught between a new era of governance and a past that refuses to let go. 'The issue is, the association was created in 2001, since then no leader has exceeded a four-year mandate, which is two years renewable once, but since taking office in 2013, Mr. Anoh Tembe remained in power till 2025 when the election was conducted,' said President Collins to CNA. 'After the election, I won and have continued to work and establish contact with the Korean government; however, many diplomatic channels are difficult to access since the Honorary Consul still recognizes him (referring to Anoh) as the president despite many diplomatic efforts in which the Honorary Consul said he has put Mr. Anoh Temb e's name in a place where he can't remove,' he added. He further stated that 'this action has slowed down community progress since accessing some offices requires backing from your embassy or consulate, something the current consulate would not do.' When CNA contacted Mr. Anoh in December 2025 to respond to the accusations of him refusing to hand over power, he declined to comment unless he was informed about the source of the information. CNA maintains its ethical commitment to protect its sources. 'Greetings Sir, thank you for contacting me. Before responding to your accusations, I would like to verify who is indeed the sender of this message and what is happening,' he replied on December 22, 2025.