Windhoek: The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) has temporarily suspended the membership rights of the Namibia National Paralympic Committee (NNPC), citing the committee's failure to fulfil obligations under the federation's constitution.According to Namibia Press Agency, IBSA communicated to the NNPC that its executive board decided on the suspension during a meeting held on 17 July 2026. The decision follows an ongoing leadership dispute within the NNPC, which has significantly impacted Namibia's para-athletes. The leadership conflict emerged after the election of a new NNPC board on 14 February 2026. However, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) continued to recognize Michael Hamukwaya as the NNPC's official contact, citing concerns about the election's legitimacy.The elections reportedly did not align with the NNPC constitution currently filed with the international body. This leadership dispute has created uncertainty in the NNPC's governance and representation, causing athletes to face challenges in registering for competitions and accessing international events and qualification opportunities.IBSA stated that the suspension decision was based on Articles 9.2 and 9.3.1 of the IBSA constitution, which allow the executive board to suspend membership rights when a member fails to meet membership conditions or comply with constitutional obligations. The statement from IBSA indicated that the NNPC had not participated in federation activities for an extended period and had not fulfilled its obligations under the IBSA constitution.IBSA noted that it had contacted the NNPC multiple times before making the decision, reminding the organization of its obligations and inviting it to regularize its status. The suspension is effective immediately, and the executive board will report the decision to the next general assembly as per Article 9.2.2.While the NNPC remains a member of IBSA, it will not be able to exercise membership rights and privileges during the suspension. Article 9.2.3 outline s that the suspended organization cannot vote, be heard on matters unrelated to the suspension, enter athletes in IBSA-sanctioned competitions, or participate in IBSA activities.IBSA emphasized that the suspension is not a termination of NNPC's membership but a measure to ensure compliance with IBSA's constitutional obligations. The federation aims to encourage active engagement in its activities and strengthen its governance system's effectiveness. IBSA remains committed to maintaining constructive relations with member organizations and will consider restoring NNPC's membership rights once the underlying issues are satisfactorily addressed.The federation also invited the NNPC to contact its administration for clarification or to discuss the necessary measures for restoring membership rights.