Following the passing of the Right Honourable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril on May 6, 2026, the National Assembly and the Cameroonian nation have entered a period of deep mourning for the statesman who led the lower house for a record 34 years.
The political landscape of Cameroon has shifted with the death of the emeritus Speaker of the National Assembly, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, who passed away at the age of 86 in his hometown of Mada. A stalwart of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement – CPDM since 1973, his career spanned over half a century of legislative service.
Following his burial according to Muslim tradition, the current House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Datouo Théodore, led a high-powered delegation of bureau members and senior parliamentary staff to the Far North region. Landing at Maroua Salak Airport, the delegation was received by Governor Midjiyawa Bakari before proceeding to offer condolences and participate in the three-day “dua” prayer rituals in Mada.
Cavaye Yeguie Djibril was more than just a lawmaker; he was a foundational pillar of President Paul Biya’s administration and a key architect of the North-South political alliance. Serving as Speaker from 1992 until March 2026, he was renowned for his strict procedural control and unwavering loyalty to state institutions.
His tenure was marked by his ability to navigate complex legislative reforms, including the landmark 2008 constitutional amendment that abolished presidential term limits. His influence extended beyond the halls of Parliament into traditional and regional leadership, where he served as a first-class traditional ruler of Mada Kolkoch and the head of the CPDM’s permanent delegation for the Far North.
The passing of the emeritus Speaker represents the end of an era for Cameroon’s National Assembly. Throughout his 34-year leadership, he evolved into a “monument” of parliamentary history, acting as a reliable guarantor of political stability. His final major political act included hosting President Paul Biya for a high-profile campaign rally in Maroua just a year prior to his passing.
Colleagues and political analysts alike have described him as a man of unwavering trust and duty, noting that the ruling regime has lost one of its most dedicated and “high-flying” politicians who successfully bridged the gap between traditional authority and modern governance.
As the nation reflects on his legacy, the Rt. Hon. Datouo Théodore expressed the collective grief of all Members of Parliament, extending deepest sympathies to the family and the Mayo-Sava constituency. The late Speaker’s influence is expected to endure in the annals of Cameroonian history, leaving behind a void in both the legislative branch and the traditional hierarchy of the Far North.
His life’s work remains a testament to a career defined by longevity and an uncompromising commitment to the state, ensuring that his name remains synonymous with the evolution of Cameroon’s democratic and institutional framework.
