The political landscape of Cameroon mourns the loss of Hamadou Moustapha, who passed away on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in Yaounde at the age of 81.
Serving as Minister Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic until his death, Moustapha succumbed to a prolonged illness shortly after returning to the country from several months of medical treatment abroad.
Born on May 11, 1945, in Maroua within the Far North Region, Moustapha dedicated over five decades to public administration and governance. His distinguished career in public service began in 1968, leading to key cabinet appointments including Vice-Minister of Finance in 1975 and later Minister of Town Planning and Housing.
Beyond his administrative roles, he was a pivotal political leader as the National President of the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress – ANDP. Under his leadership, the ANDP formed a prominent alliance with the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement – CPDM, a mandate reaffirmed when he was re-elected party leader at their 2023 congress.
Moustapha’s health deteriorated significantly in early 2026, leading to an evacuation abroad in May for intensive medical care. Although he returned home on October 3 following his hospital stint, his final stay in Cameroon lasted just over a month before his passing, marking the end of a influential career that helped shape modern Cameroonian politics.
