In his Monday, June 8, 2026 political editorial, aired on Radio Tiémeni Siantou (90.5 FM in Yaoundé and Bafang), journalist Éric Boniface Tchouakeu highlights the urgent need to convene the Supreme Magistrate Council following recent presidential appointments.

Read his full commentary:

The President of the Republic signed a decree on June 2, 2026, appointing new members to the Supreme Magistrate Council. President Paul Biya retained ten members out of fourteen whose terms had expired a year earlier, granting them a new five-year mandate. The Supreme Magistrate Council has not convened since August 2020—nearly six years of inactivity.

According to human rights lawyer Me Felix Nkongo Agbor Balla, this prolonged inaction 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 Magistrate Council is constitutionally mandated to oversee magistrates’ careers, discipline, integration, and ethical regulation. “Its continued dormancy has crippled these vital functions and significantly weakened the judicial sector,” the lawyer wrote in a January 2026 op-ed that provided a comprehensive analysis of the crisis.

“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 their judicial duties. This unprecedented situation has created a dangerous void 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 delivery,” he noted with concern.

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

“This vacuum has resulted in legally questionable appointments, including in some administrative courts, where judges were appointed without the Council’s prior approval—despite its exclusive authority over magistrate nominations and assignments.”

“Beyond integration issues, disciplinary procedures are stalled, promotions are on hold, 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 Magistrate Council is undeniable. Strict adherence to the law is essential, as the legislation mandates that this body meet twice a year.