The 2026 Legislative Year in Cameroon officially commenced on March 10 at the Paul Biya Glass House in a somber yet historic atmosphere.

Presiding over the opening of the March session, which is the first Ordinary Session, was thenewly designated Eldest Member of Parliament, Honourable Marlse Toute Soppo of the Provisional Bureau. She began the proceedings by leading a moment of silence for her predecessor, the late Honourable Laurentine Koa Mfegue Mbede.

Against this backdrop of loss, the session marks a pivotal moment for the nation as it navigates the political aftermath of the October 2025 Presidential Election and prepares for a significant restructuring of its governing bodies.

​A primary focus of the current session is the procedural groundwork required for the anticipated twin parliamentary and municipal elections. Honourable Soppo clarified the legal necessity for the National Assembly’s intervention, noting that while a presidential decree can defer elections under the Electoral Code, Article 15 (4) of the Constitution mandates that the National Assembly must exclusively pass any bill to extend the term of office for its members.

This legislative “minor adjustment,” previously signaled by President Paul Biya during his Youth Day address, will be a central pillar of the 30-day session alongside the statutory election of the National Assembly’s permanent Bureau.

​Addressing the political climate, the Eldest Member issued a fervent appeal for peace and civic responsibility. Reflecting on the “standoff” following the 2025 Presidential Election, she urged political parties to prioritize the education and guidance of their militants to ensure a tranquil electoral process.

The speech underscored the vital role of local councils as stakeholders in socio-economic development through decentralization, emphasizing that the National Assembly must remain a “citadel of democracy” and a locus for peaceful political pluralism and government oversight.

​Looking beyond domestic borders, the National Assembly is set to bolster its international standing by hosting the 51st Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) in July 2026. An organizing committee has already been put in place, with a call for synergy between Senators, members of the National Assembly, and staff to ensure that the upcoming events will be a success.

Additionally, the speech highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts, including a recent parliamentary delegation to Belgium led by Honourable Emah Etoundi Vincent de Paul, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

It is worth noting that, the opening session was conducted in the presence of Honorable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, President of the National Assembly.