Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu Tchabgou, the mayor of Dschang, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Yaoundé, following a stroke. The news has been confirmed by the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (CVUC).
The mayor's death occurred while his appeal was pending after his initial conviction in the Saptrans SARL case. On March 18, 2026, the Dschang Correctional Court sentenced him to six months in prison and ordered him to pay approximately 30 million FCFA. This conviction stemmed from the Saptrans SARL affair, involving a company to which he had granted permission to build a technical inspection center, before unilaterally ordering the cessation of work.
His lawyers immediately appealed this decision, thereby suspending the effects of the initial judgment. Legally, Kemleu Tchabgou was therefore not considered a definitively convicted man at the time of his death. The legal procedure was ongoing, leaving fate, not justice, to have the final word. His death brings an end to all legal proceedings against him, as the public action is extinguished with him.
In recent weeks, the mayor's public absence since the verdict had fueled rumors, with some suggesting he had fled abroad. These accusations die with him. In Dschang, emotions are running high, reminding people that behind legal cases, there are human beings. His two collaborators, Dongmo Louis Sabato and Atonlekeu Rodrigue, sentenced to two months in prison in the same case, are still serving their sentences.
The municipality of Dschang must now face a period of uncertainty. The question of succession at the head of the town hall, the management of weakened municipal finances, and the future of the Saptrans case on the civil side remain unresolved. The supervisory authorities and the Ministry of Decentralization will have to make quick decisions to ensure the continuity of the municipal administration.
