November session: Gov’t tables six bills to National Assembly.

The six bills were later on Monday, November 10, communicated during a Plenary Sitting chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Mary Muyali Boya épse Meboka.

Two of the bills are to authorise the President of the Republic to ratify the bilateral air services agreement between Cameroon and the State of Qatar, as well as the accord with the Republic of Algeria on mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports.

While the accord with Algeria was signed in Algiers on December 21, 2024, the pact with Qatar was sealed in Doha on last January 16, for the operation of air services between their respective territories and beyond.

Bill N°2087/PJL/AN to ratify the ordinance to lay down investment incentives in the Republic of Cameroon was tabled alongside a bill to ratify the ordinance to amend and supplement some provisions of Law No.2024/013 of 23 December 2024 of the Finance Law of the Republic of Cameroon for the 2025 financial year. 

The Settlement Bill of the Republic of Cameroon for the 2024 Financial Year has also been deposited at the house of the people’s representative. 

Government equally seized the Parliament, via Bill N°2090/PJL/AN, to lay down the rules and regulations governing organic farming in the country.

The bill aims to improve regulations governing the production of organic food for both human or animal consumption, while enhancing the professionalism of stakeholders in this sector, most of whom still operate informally. 

Comprising 62 sections and divided into 5 chapters, the bill on organic farming essentially sets rules for each farming method and provides penalties for offenders in view of enhancing the visibility and boosting the profitability of Cameroonian products on the global market.

There is also the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Cameroon and Qatar. It comprises 24 sections and an annex, and complies with the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed on 4 December 1944. 

The bill regulates passenger and cargo services between the two countries, ensuring compliance with international safety, regulatory and technical cooperation standards.

Government hopes the ratification of the bill will help to expand the country's air transport network by enhancing connectivity to the Middle East and Asia, lower travel costs through stronger competition, and increase the number of foreign airlines operating flights to Cameroon, particularly with Qatar Airways' entry. 

The Cameroon Algeria accord exempts holders of diplomatic and service passports from visa requirements for entry, stay, exit, and transit through the territory of the other country for a period not exceeding 90 days. 

The ratification of the legal instrument is set to mark a new era of bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and Algeria, offering both States the opportunity to strengthen their friendship ties, based on the principles of reciprocity, equality, and mutual respect for national sovereignty.

Upon ratification, Algeria will become the third North African country, after Tunisia and Egypt, with which Cameroon has already established similar agreements.

During the plenary sitting, Bill No.2085/PJL/AN, Bill No.2086/PJL/AN, and Bill No.2087/PJL/AN were referred to the Committee on Finance and the Budget for scrutiny and is expected to be presented and defended before the committee by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze. 

Minister Mbella Mbella of External Relations will be presenting and defending, in the days ahead, Bill No.2088/PJL/AN and Bill No.2089/PJL/AN which were referred to the Foreign Affairs Committee for scrutiny.

Similarly, Bill No.2090/PJL/AN which was referred to the Committee on Production and Trade, will also be presented and defended by the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3622 of Wednesday November 12, 2025