Constitutional Amendment : Bar Association Demands Protection For Anglophone Special Status

The Cameroon Bar Association on April 2, 2026 issued a formal and urgent appeal to the nation’s top legislators. It asserted that the constitutional amendment (which was finally voted by absolute majority by the 6th Congress of Parliament – the Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and Senate on April 4, 2026) to create an appointed Vice-Presidency could undermine the democratic foundation of the State. 

Anti-Corruption Measures
In a detailed memorandum addressed to the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, the Bar Association argued that draft Bill No. 2094/PJL/P risked stripping the Cameroonian people of their sovereign right to choose their leader through universal suffrage. The memorandum, signed by Bar President Mbah Eric Mbah, Esquire, arrived as Parliament met in a joint congress to fast-track the most significant institutional overhaul since 2008. 
While the legal body welcomed certain aspects of the reform - notably the strengthening of anti-corruption measures - it expressed "fierce concerns" over the proposed mechanism for presidential succession and the potential for a "peripheral" executive office that lacks clear utility.

Special Status, Common Law Concerns 
The Bar Association further criticized the bill for being a "missed opportunity" to address long-standing national grievances. They argued that any constitutional reform of this magnitude should have integrated the resolutions of the 2019 Grand National Dialogue, particularly the "Special Status" granted to the North West and South West (English-speaking) regions.
According to the memorandum, the recognition of these regions' specificities can only be effectively safeguarded through "constitutional entrenchment" rather than simple legislative acts. Similarly, the lawyers called for the formal creation of a "Common Law Bench" within the Supreme Court. They argued that the current Common Law Division, established in 2017, was always intended as an "interim measure" and should now be permanently enshrined in the Constitution to ensure the integrity of the bi-jural system.

Integrity, Separation Of Powers
Despite the sharp criticism, the Bar did find common ground with the government on Article 66, which concerns the declaration of assets. The Association praised the amendment for rendering the article "directly enforceable," a move seen as a victory for the fight against corruption and illicit enrichment. The memorandum concluded with a plea to the Speakers of both houses to act in the "better interests of the Cameroonian people" and uphold the "sacrosanct principle of Separation of Powers." 

Succession Question 
At the heart of the legal community’s objection is the method of designation for the new Vice-Presidential office. Under the voted law, the Vice-President would be appointed directly by the Head of State. Crucially, the law suggests that in the event of a presidential vacancy, this appoint...