A bill to extend the mandate of Cameroonian Members of Parliament was submitted to the National Assembly on March 19, 2026. This text, Bill No. 2092, proposes to extend the term of office of the parliamentarians from March 31, 2026, to December 20, 2026.
According to the explanatory memorandum accompanying the bill, this extension serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it aims to alleviate the financial pressure of elections on the state budget, particularly after the recent presidential election on October 12, 2025, and the regional elections on November 30, 2025. These elections required significant financial, material, and security resources.
Secondly, the extension would provide Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), the body in charge of the material organization of elections, with additional time to reorganize and ensure a smoother process for the upcoming legislative elections. Paul Biya had already mentioned a possible postponement of the legislative and municipal elections during his speech to the youth on February 10, 2026.
The bill is based on Article 15, paragraph 4, of the constitutional law of January 18, 1996. This article stipulates that the election of a new Assembly must take place in accordance with its provisions.
If this law is passed, it will be the second extension of the term of office of parliamentarians during the 10th legislature, which began in 2020. A previous extension had already been promulgated on July 24, 2024, postponing the initial deadline of February 2025 to March 30, 2026. The mandate of municipal councilors had also been extended until May 31, 2026.
On March 10, 2026, the parliamentary session marked the opening of a potentially decisive session for the future of the electoral calendar. Marlyse Soppo Toute, the oldest member of the National Assembly, emphasized that the postponement of the double electoral deadline was almost certain.
The Cameroonian legislative elections of 2026 are to elect the 180 members of the National Assembly. These deputies are elected for a five-year term, according to a mixed system combining single-member majority voting in one round and majority list voting with a dose of proportional representation.
On March 17, 2026, the National Assembly experienced a change in leadership with the election of Théodore Datouo as president, succeeding Cavaye Yéguié Djibril, who had held the position for 34 years. This renewal, occurring in a context of political transition, could influence the debates surrounding this new extension.
If the extension is adopted, the term of office of parliamentarians could be extended until December 20, 2026, thus providing financial and organizational respite in view of the next electoral deadlines. Cameroon will have to adapt its constitutional deadlines to the reality of its electoral administration.
