Senator Françoise Puene finds herself at the heart of a controversy after proposing to help aspiring lawyers obtain the sponsorship letter, an essential document for accessing the profession. This initiative has sparked strong reactions, with some accusing her of wanting to commercialize access to the bar.
Jean Paul Ntsengue, in a column, points out that the President of the Order was right to react to avoid any excesses. According to Ntsengue, the legal profession must remain a noble profession, sheltered from any commercialization, given its crucial role in defending human rights and promoting justice.
Senator Puene, known for her commitment to vulnerable people, naively believed she could solve the problem of sponsorship, a major obstacle for many young lawyers. This sponsorship has become a real obstacle, pushing more than 400 young Cameroonians to enroll in training schools abroad, particularly in Rwanda.
In reaction to Françoise Puene's proposal, the President of the Bar Association, Me Mbah Eric, firmly reiterated that sponsorship is a professional accompaniment and not a political or commercial act. He insisted that sponsorship implies a commitment to guide and support the trainee throughout their training.
At the same time, accusations of monetizing sponsorships resurface. Some lawyers are reportedly asking between 200,000 and 600,000 FCFA to grant their sponsorship, especially those who are well-known. This practice raises questions of fairness, as it disadvantages candidates from modest backgrounds.
Faced with these accusations, Armand Noutack II questions the silence of the President of the Bar regarding these practices. According to him, Senator Puene's initiative could threaten the income that some lawyers derive from these sponsorships. Lawyer Christian Bomo Ntimbane, for his part, believes that Françoise Puene's statement does no harm in wanting to help young people obtain sponsorships.
Access to the legal profession in Cameroon is governed by Law No. 90/059 of December 19, 1990. It stipulates that to become a lawyer, one must hold a law degree or equivalent, be of Cameroonian nationality, enjoy civil rights, and pass an aptitude test for the internship. A two-year internship with a training master is also required, followed by a final exam to obtain the Certificate of Aptitude for the Legal Profession (CAPA).
The current controversy highlights the persistent challenges related to access to the legal profession in Cameroon, particularly the issue of sponsorship and the costs associated with it. Senator Puene's statement has revived the debate on the need to guarantee equitable access to this profession, while preserving its integrity and its essential role in society.
It remains to be seen whether this controversy will lead to stricter regulation of sponsorships and greater transparency in the process of accessing the legal profession in Cameroon.
