Mbah Eric reaffirms candidature ahead of July 14 Bar election.

The elections to renew the bureau of the Cameroon Bar Association have been fixed for July 14, in Yaounde.

After two years of meritorious service, Barrister Mbah Eric told reporters in Kumba that he had finalised strategies to enable him run for a second two-year term.

Reporters who interviewed him during a campaign visit to Kumba say the Bamenda-based lawyer has been quietly preparing his re-election campaign to boost his chances. 

During the meeting in Kumba, he unveiled members of his anticipated new executive, which he has baptised, "Team Ubuntu".

The team is made up predominantly of a group of lawyers who supported his victory in the 2022 Bar Council elections.

The meeting, described as a "fraternal" discussion about the Bar's future in the press statement, is believed to have largely focused on Mbah’s upcoming campaign. 

Although details of the discussions have not been made public, attendees say signs suggest that Barrister Mbah plans to use the same strategy that secured his first mandate.

Those in attendance say Barrister Mbah’s campaign is already displaying familiar slogans inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy: "I am because you are". 

Early campaign materials also suggest he will stick to the priorities he set in 2022, notably his pledge to restore unity among lawyers, a profession, many Cameroonians say, is marked by internal conflicts.

However, some lawyers believe that many of the campaign promises he made before he won the first mandate remain unfulfilled. 

"There are still tensions within the Bar Council, as shown by the resignation of Treasurer Claude Assira," said a lawyer registered with the Cameroon Bar.

The same lawyer also criticised the Bar President for not addressing what many see as a key challenge in the legal profession: unfair competition. 

"There are business agents and even fraudsters posing as lawyers," the lawyer added. Despite the criticisms, some of his achievements are recognised. 

"He had the courage to launch the construction of the Bar’s headquarters. Even if he does not complete it, everyone will remember that it was his initiative," the lawyer said.

The project features prominently in Mbah’s campaign videos, with models of the future building displayed as part of his efforts to restore dignity to the profession.

Mbah also gained respect when, in December 2023, Minister Laurent Esso signed long-awaited decrees organising the final exams for trainee lawyers after nearly a decade of delays—a breakthrough largely credited to the current Bar President.

Still, with a divided legal community, it remains to be seen whether Mbah’s campaign for continuity can win over both loyal supporters and disillusioned colleagues. 

On July 14, lawyers will be called to judge not only his record but also his ability to unite the profession, many observers say.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3492 of Thursday July 03, 2025