In a Monday editorial aired on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), Cameroonian journalist Éric Boniface Tchouakeu examines the urgent need to convene the Supreme Council of the Judiciary following recent presidential appointments.

Here is the key excerpt:

On June 2, 2026, the President of the Republic signed a decree appointing members of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary. Paul Biya renewed ten of the fourteen members whose terms had expired a year earlier for a new five-year mandate. The Supreme Council of the Judiciary has not convened since August 2020—nearly six years.

According to human rights lawyer and advocate Me Félix Nkongo Agbor Balla, this prolonged inactivity represents a severe institutional failure with far-reaching consequences for the rule of law, judicial independence, and public trust in the justice system.

The Supreme Council of the Judiciary is constitutionally responsible for managing judicial careers, discipline, integration, and ethical oversight of magistrates. “Its continued dormancy has crippled these essential functions and significantly weakened the judicial sector,” the lawyer noted in a January 2026 op-ed that provided a comprehensive assessment of the situation.

“One of the most alarming consequences of the Council’s inaction is that magistrates graduating from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) over the past six years have not been formally integrated into the judiciary. As a result, they cannot take the oath or exercise judicial functions. This unprecedented situation has created a dangerous vacuum in courts nationwide.”

“Cameroon is currently facing a critical shortage of magistrates, leading to court backlogs, excessive case delays, prolonged detentions, and widespread delays in justice administration,” he continued.

“The prolonged absence of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary also denies citizens timely access to justice, especially as many positions remain vacant due to deaths, retirements, or resignations.”

“This void has resulted in legally questionable appointments, including in certain administrative jurisdictions where judges have been appointed without the Council’s prior approval—despite its exclusive authority over magistrate appointments and assignments.”

“Beyond integration issues, disciplinary procedures are stalled, promotions are suspended, and professional misconduct cannot be addressed. Honest magistrates are discouraged while corruption thrives in the absence of oversight,” Me Agbor Balla concluded.

Given this stark and troubling assessment, the urgency of convening the Supreme Council of the Judiciary is undeniable. The legal framework mandates that this body meet twice a year, but adherence has been lacking.