Cameroonian President Paul Biya has decided to extend the mandate of municipal councilors until February 28, 2027. The announcement was made on Monday, May 4, 2026, on CRTV. This measure follows the adoption of a bill amending the Constitution, which gives the Head of State the power to extend the mandate of municipal councilors.
This extension means that current municipal elected officials will remain in office until February 2027, without a new election being organized immediately. This decision is part of an institutional management approach framed by recent legal developments in Cameroon.
According to some sources, this measure would help manage a busy electoral calendar, potentially including presidential, legislative, municipal, and regional elections. The government would justify this decision by the need to lighten the electoral calendar and overcome the financial and logistical difficulties associated with organizing elections.
In March 2026, the government introduced a bill to remove the 18-month cap on extending the terms of municipal councilors, which could allow further postponements of local elections. This reform targets Article 170 of the electoral code, which currently limits how long the president can extend local mandates beyond their original term.
The decision to extend the mandates has sparked mixed reactions, with some political analysts anticipating this measure following a similar extension of the mandates of deputies. The extension of the deputies' mandates, initially scheduled to expire on March 31, 2026, had been extended by nearly nine months, until December 2026.
This situation raises questions about the legitimacy of institutions and Cameroon's ability to organize credible and inclusive elections. The lack of prior consultation with the population is seen by some as a sign of contempt for the popular will.
The extension of the mandate of municipal councilors until February 2027 redefines the timeline for local deadlines and opens a new sequence in the organization of elections in Cameroon. The presidential decree was broadcast by CRTV on May 4, 2026.
