Speaker leads parliamentary delegation to Mada to pay tribute to one of Cameroon’s longest-serving statesmen.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Théodore Datouo, has paid tribute to the late Cavaye Yéguié Djibril, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Cameroon’s political and parliamentary history.
Barely 24 hours after news of his passing, Speaker Datouo led a parliamentary delegation to Mayo-Sava Division in honour of a statesman whose impact on Cameroon’s institutions spanned more than five decades.
The delegation included members of the Bureau of the National Assembly of Cameroon and senior parliamentary officials.
Trip To Mada
The delegation travelled to Mada, the hometown and political stronghold of the late leader, to extend condolences to the bereaved family and show solidarity with the people of the Far North Region.
Upon arrival, they were welcomed by the Governor of the Far North Region, Midjiyawa Bakari, alongside administrative authorities, municipal officials, traditional rulers, religious leaders and political elites.
Longest-serving MP
First elected to Parliament in the early 1970s, Cavaye Yéguié Djibril rose steadily through the ranks before becoming Speaker of the National Assembly in 1992. He presided over the Lower House for 34 uninterrupted years, making him the longest-serving Speaker in Cameroon’s history.
Throughout his tenure, he became synonymous with parliamentary authority, procedural rigour and institutional stability. His mastery of legislative practice and firm management of debates earned him recognition as one of Africa’s most prominent parliamentary figures.
CPDM Big Wig
Beyond Parliament, the late statesman held a strategic position within the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), serving as a member of the Political Bureau and Head of the party’s Central Committee Permanent Delegation for the Far North Region. In this role, he played a key part in consolidating the party’s political presence across the Grand North.
Dignitaries in Mada described him as a devoted servant of the State and a steadfast ally of Paul Biya, highlighting his loyalty to republican institutions and his contribution to national cohesion during pivotal moments in Cameroon’s political evolution.
Respected Traditional Leader
The emotion surrounding his passing has been particularly strong in the Far North, where he was revered not only as a national political figure but also as a patriarch and custodian of tradition. As a First-Class traditional ruler of Mada, he embodied the intersection between state authority and traditional legitimacy.
Speaker Datouo’s visit—coming only weeks after assuming leadership of the National Assembly—signals continuity, institutional respect and fidelity to parliamentary tradition.
The parliamentary delegation is expected to take part this Friday in the traditional dua prayer in Mada, an Islamic rite marked by Quranic recitations, supplications and acts of charity offered in honour of the deceased.
Chin Claudette
