Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has enacted a new law extending the mandate of Members of Parliament in the National Assembly, pushing the end of their current term to 20 December 2026.
The legislation, signed into law on 25 March 2026 in Yaoundé, comes into effect from 31 March 2026, according to official documents. The move effectively prolongs the tenure of sitting MPs beyond the originally scheduled end of their mandate.
The law, identified as Law No. 2026/001, clearly stipulates in its first section that “the term of office of Members of the National Assembly is, with effect from 31 March 2026, extended to 20 December 2026.” A second provision indicates that the law shall be registered and published according to the procedure of urgency and inserted in the Official Gazette in both English and French.
The decision marks yet another extension of parliamentary mandates in Cameroon, a practice that has occurred several times in the past, often justified by authorities on grounds linked to electoral timing, logistics, or broader national considerations.
While the government has not publicly detailed the specific reasons for this latest extension, such measures are typically associated with adjustments to the electoral calendar or prevailing political conditions.
The National Assembly, Cameroon’s lower legislative house, plays a central role in lawmaking and oversight of government action. Extending its mandate ensures continuity of legislative functions but may also raise political debate, particularly among opposition actors who have previously criticised similar decisions as undermining democratic renewal.
