Cameroon is mourning the loss of one of its longest-serving parliamentary figures following the death of former Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril.
A senior member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), the veteran lawmaker served as a Member of Parliament for 53 years, including 34 years as Speaker—making him one of the longest-serving legislative leaders in Africa.
The 86-year-old politician died on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, just 50 days after he was replaced as Speaker following the National Assembly bureau elections of March 17. He was succeeded by Theodore Datouo.
His death comes amid a broader transition within Cameroon’s Parliament. The passing of Hon. Cavaye follows that of the pioneer President of the Senate, Senator Marcel Niat Njifenji, who was also voted out of office on the same day.
Njifenji, who spent 13 years at the helm of the Upper House, was succeeded by Aboubakary Abdoulaye. He died on April 11, just 25 days after leaving office, and will be buried on Saturday, May 16.
The near-simultaneous loss of the two veteran leaders—both of whom recently exited their positions—marks a significant turning point for Cameroon’s legislative leadership.
A long and influential career
Born in 1940, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril rose through the ranks of Cameroon’s political establishment to become a central figure in the country’s legislative arm for more than five decades.
He was first elected to the National Assembly in the early 1970s, during a period when Cameroon was consolidating its post-independence political institutions. Over the years, he built a reputation as a loyal party stalwart and a key figure within the influential northern political bloc.
He was elected Speaker in 1992, a position he held until March 2026, making him one of the longest-serving parliamentary leaders on the continent.
Controversies and defining moments
During his tenure as Speaker, Hon. Cavaye was widely regarded as a powerful figure within Cameroon’s political system. However, his leadership also drew sustained criticism from opposition parties and civil society.
Critics accused him of presiding over a Parliament perceived as lacking independence, often described as a “rubber stamp” institution that rarely amended government-proposed legislation.
Among the most notable legislative moments under his leadership was the adoption of the 2008 constitutional amendment, which removed presidential term limits, allowing Paul Biya to extend his stay in power eternally.
He also presided over debates leading to the passage of the 2014 anti-terrorism law, a piece of legislation that has been criticised by rights groups for its broad and vague provisions, which they argue could be used to suppress dissent, journalists, and civil society actors.
His removal from office in March 2026 marked a rare shift in Cameroon’s parliamentary leadership after decades of continuity.
