The Senate and National Assembly will convene in Ordinary Session on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, following Bureau orders signed to that effect.
The President of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Cavaye Yeguié Djibril, has issued Bureau Order No. 2026/-/AB/AC convening Members of Parliament for the Ordinary Session in conformity with the Constitution, Law No. 2014/016 of September 9, 2014, and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly, after consultation with the President of the Republic.
The session opens at a moment of national reflection, as lawmakers mourn the passing of Hon. Laurentine Koa Mfegue, Member of Parliament for the Mefou and Afamba constituency in the Centre Region and the oldest serving lawmaker of the 10th Legislature, whose death occurred during the parliamentary recess.
A seasoned parliamentarian and former Mayor of Soa, Hon. Mfegue had served in Parliament since 2013 and was renowned for her frank, outspoken interventions and opening addresses during parliamentary sessions, a role traditionally assigned to the oldest sitting member. Her death brings to 19 the number of lawmakers who have died since the beginning of the current legislature in 2020.
Beyond the solemn tributes expected for the late lawmaker, the March session is set to carry significant legislative and political stakes. As the first Ordinary Session of the year, it traditionally sets the tone for parliamentary activities and national policy directions.
As expected, there will be the examination and adoption of priority government bills, including legal, economic, and social reforms aligned with national development strategies. Parliamentary scrutiny of government policies, including budget execution, governance reforms, and sectoral performance will fall in line with the task of government oversight. With the approach of some political milestones and electoral cycles, debates on governance, decentralization, and democratic consolidation are expected to feature prominently.
The session will also provide an opportunity for lawmakers to honour the legacy of the late Hon. Mfegue, whose decades of public service and advocacy for women’s participation in politics left a lasting imprint on parliamentary history.
Political observers note that the March 2026 session will be closely watched by national and international stakeholders, as it will not only chart the legislative path for the year but also reflect the resilience of parliamentary institutions in the face of recurrent losses within the legislature.
Claudette Chin
