The National Assembly of Cameroon has officially concluded its second ordinary session for the 2026 legislative year at the Paul Biya Glass House in Yaounde.
Presided over by the Speaker, the Right Honourable Theodore Datouo, the session leaned heavily into rigorous legislative oversight and government accountability. Key highlights of the session included intensive oral questionings and comprehensive budget orientation debates, which the Speaker described as a critical cornerstone for preparing the upcoming 2027 Finance Law.
In his closing address, Speaker Datouo underscored the urgent need for greater transparency, improved revenue traceability, and enhanced efficiency in public policy implementation across the country. Addressing domestic stability, he strongly cautioned citizens against the dangers of misinformation, specifically pointing out a recently circulated false decree regarding the alleged appointment of a Vice-President of the Republic. The Speaker called on Cameroonians to exercise strict vigilance and responsibility when sharing information online and offline.
Beyond governance and misinformation, the National Assembly emphasized civic engagement and pressing social crises. Citizens were urged to fully participate in the ongoing national census and the revision of electoral lists, with a direct appeal to young people to embrace their democratic responsibilities.
Turning to a somber domestic issue, the Speaker expressed deep concern over rising societal violence, unequivocally condemning the growing cases of femicide and infanticide while calling on all stakeholders to protect human dignity.
On the international front, the Speaker spotlighted Cameroon’s elevated diplomatic standing as Yaoundé hosts the 51st Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie – APF from July 7 to July 12, 2026. Held under the patronage of President Paul Biya, the prestigious gathering brings together Francophone parliamentarians to discuss global issues such as multilateralism, state sovereignty, and climate change.
The closing ceremony saw high-profile attendance, including Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and top officials from the Senate, Supreme Court, and Economic and Social Council.
On the sidelines of the closing ceremony, the Right Honourable Theodore Datouo granted a high-level audience to the President of the Swiss National Council, Pierre-André Page, who is in Cameroon for the APF assembly. Accompanied by the Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Natalie Kohli, and welcomed alongside the President of the Cameroon-Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group, Honourable Joshua Osih, the Swiss leader congratulated Cameroon on its hospitality, while the Speaker celebrated Switzerland’s current World Cup tournament victories. The leaders paid tribute to Tilo Frey—the historic first female parliamentarian in Switzerland who was of mixed Cameroonian and Swiss descent—exchanging symbolic gifts in her memory for the Cameroon Parliament Museum.
The bilateral discussions focused on strengthening historical ties and expanding economic cooperation, particularly through the ongoing construction of the Swiss Embassy in Yaounde. Both parties identified agriculture, local product transformation, and agro-sector modernization as vital areas for partnership to boost farmers’ incomes and drive economic growth.
To solidify parliamentary cooperation, plans were reviewed for the Cameroon–Switzerland Parliamentary Friendship Group to visit Switzerland, culminating in Mr. Pierre-André Page extending an official invitation to Speaker Datouo to visit Switzerland before the end of the year.
