At oath taking ceremony: Constitutional Council members urged to uphold impartiality.

This was during a session of the Congress of Parliament, during which the 11 members swore to perform their duties in line with the dictates of the law. 

Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djribril chaired the Congress of Parliament, which grouped Senators and Members of the National Assembly.

Also in attendance were Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, and other members of government.

Hon Cavaye reminded them of the need to work “to earn the fullest mark of confidence”, adding that “the law also requires” them to have a high level of moral probity”. 

Cavaye said given the “complex nature of constitutional matters”, members of the Constitutional Council “will be required to pass rulings on the constitutionality of laws, international agreements and treaties”.

Further indicating that the law provides the chamber with the powers to settle issues such as “conflicts of jurisdiction over civil and administrative matters”, Cavaye sounded confident that they have what it takes to deliver.

With elections expected in 2025, the President of the Congress of Parliament said the Council has the quality of human resources to do its job.

“What is more, presidential and legislative elections are without disregarding the possibility of holding a referendum, already on the horizon. These are electoral operations that you will be handling in the near future, since it is the Constitutional Council that decides whether elections are free and fair,” Hon Cavaye remarked.

Contributing to peace, development

Given what he said is the institution having been discharging its duty properly, Hon Cavaye said it has invariably been contributing to peace and development. Such peace, he said, is a basic requirement for Cameroon to hit the mark of an emerging economy, which “we all yearn for”.

He was emphatic that: “Even though electoral disputes have become a common place in Africa, you have been able to discharge your functions properly”. 

He said in the process, the Constitutional Council has contributed in “maintaining peace in Cameroon”.

Nine old, two new members

Among those who took the oath of office were nine members whose mandates were renewed and two others recently appointed. 

The Head of State, President Paul Biya, renewed the mandates of the members of the Constitutional Council on January 18 this year.

Two others viz; Prof Adolphe Minkoa She and Prof Logmo Mbelek Aaron, were on the same day appointed in replacement of Prof Joseph Owona and Joseph Marie Bipoum, both of blessed memory. The members have a six-year mandate renewable once.

But for Prof Minkoa She and Prof Logmo Mbelek, who are new in the institution, the nine other members had been serving since February 7, 2018.

Prof Minkoa She, 69, is Rector of the University of Yaounde II. Prof Mbelek, 59, was Director of Cooperation in the Ministry of Higher Education and lecturer in the Universities of Yaounde II and Douala before his appointment. 

The old members of the institution who took the oath for a second time were; Clement Atangana, who is the president of the institution; Array Florence Rita, Bonde Emmanuel, Essombe Emile, Prof Paul Nchoji Nkwi, Baskouda Jean Baptiste, Bah Oumarou Sanda, Lekene Donfack Charles Etienne and Ahmadou Tidjani. Their mandates will end in the first quarter of 2030.