At opening of March session: Eldest MP drum peace ahead of crucial twin elections.

She made the call in her capacity as Head of the Provisional Bureau. She was speaking while opening the First Ordinary Session for the year 2026.

Several members of government, led by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, attended the session. 

The Eldest MP said the March session is beginning at a time there is high stakes and expectations from the Cameroonian public. 

“I would like to fervently appeal to all political parties that would take part in the twin elections to use the period before the twin elections to assume their responsibilities by effectively providing better guidance and education to their supporters,” she entreated political stakeholders. 

She warned that the demerits of the standoff that ensued after the October 12 Presidential Election now warrants to ensure the awaited twin elections are organised by the country in a peaceful atmosphere.

She disclosed that the date of the twin elections will witness a minor adjustment as hinted by the Head of State, in his address to youth on February 10, 2026. 

She affirmed that with a presidential decree fixing the date for these crucial elections being awaited in accordance with Section 170 (2) of the Electoral Code, a bill extending the term of office of MPs, has to be exclusively passed by the National Assembly as required by Article 15 (4) of the country’s Constitution.

In addition, she said the March session will be marked by the election of the permanent Bureau of the National Assembly as it is the statutory agenda of the First Ordinary Session of the National Assembly, during a new legislative year. 

Indispensable roles of councils

The eldest MP then hammered that councils have become indispensable stakeholders in the socio-economic development of the country; thanks to important strides made in decentralisation.

“As such, care should be taken to ensure peace is maintained before, during and after during the term of office of the imminent crop of councillors of Cameroon,” she sounded. 

In a similar vein, she said the National Assembly would need a peaceful atmosphere to carry out its primary responsibilities of passing laws and checking government oversight. 

Parliamentary activities

Hon Soppo Toute disclosed that the National Assembly will host the 51^st Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, APF, in July 2026. 

She called on members of the Organising Committee already established, to work in synergy to ensure a successful APF session.   

Meanwhile, a delegation of Cameroon’s parliamentarians, led by Hon Emah Etoundi Vincent De Paul, paid a visit to Belguim to strengthen bilateral relations between the country’s Parliament and the Belguim-Inter-Parliamentary Union.

A moment of silence was also observed during the plenary in honour of the deceased MP, Hon Laurentine Koa Mfegue Mbede, who served as the eldest member, at the start of the current 10^th legislative period.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3728 of Wednesday March 11, 2026