Cameroon’s National Assembly has entered a new phase of leadership following the election of Hon. Theodore Datouo as Speaker, marking the first change at the helm of the Lower House in over three decades.
The 66-year-old businessman and member of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) replaces veteran lawmaker Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, who had held the position since 1992.
Hon. Datouo, a parliamentarian who hails from the West Region, was elected on Tuesday, March 17, in what observers describe as a significant political shift within the country’s legislative leadership.
Following a private party designation, Hon. Datouo stood as the sole candidate during the plenary session. He received 133 out of 147 valid votes, while 14 MPs cast null ballots. Notably, his predecessor was absent from the proceedings.
Before his elevation, the discreet business mogul who was first elected Member of Parliament in 2007 was one of the five Vice President in the National Assembly.
His predecessor, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, 86, remains one of the most enduring figures in Cameroon’s political landscape. A senior member of the CPDM, he has 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.
At the time of this report, the elected House Speaker was overseeing the election of other members of the Bureau. The Members of the National Assembly were expected to elect a Senior Vice President, five Vice Presidents, four Questors, and twelve Secretaries.
