Staff members who served under former National Assembly Speaker Cavaye Yéguié Djibril have been ordered to vacate their offices within 48 hours, as a major administrative shake-up continues at Ngoa-Ekelle.
The directive was signed by Isaac Tamba, Chief of Staff to the new Speaker, Théodore Datouo. It instructs all personnel linked to the former leadership to return offices, official vehicles and other equipment assigned to them during Cavaye’s tenure.
The move comes weeks after Datouo was elected President of the National Assembly on 17 March 2026, replacing Cavaye, who had led the institution for 33 years since 1992. At 84, Cavaye was one of the longest-serving Speakers in the world and a senior figure of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement. Concerns about his health grew earlier this year following a reported medical evacuation to South Africa in January and his absence from the opening of Parliament’s session in March.
Since taking office, Datouo has introduced sweeping changes at the Assembly. Offices have been emptied, inventories conducted, and official cars recovered. The former Speaker’s official residence is also undergoing rehabilitation, with a formal notice sent asking Cavaye to vacate. Datouo, who previously served as Vice President of the Assembly and represents Bangou in the West Region, has also appointed new close aides, including Djouhou Nana Eric Christian as Deputy Director of Cabinet.
While a reshuffle is common whenever there is a change in leadership, the 48-hour deadline given to outgoing staff has raised questions about their future. The notice does not indicate whether they will be reassigned within Parliament or leave the institution entirely. Many of the affected officials worked under Cavaye for years.
Political observers say the developments reflect more than a routine change. They describe it as a clear break with the past and an effort to show that the institution is bigger than any individual. The changes are happening at a time of growing public debate in Cameroon about governance and transparency. Some civil society voices have welcomed the transition as an important turning point, while others are waiting to see how Datouo manages the process in the months ahead.
Under Datouo’s leadership, the National Assembly is also preparing to fully occupy its new headquarters, often referred to as the “Paul Biya Glass Palace.” As the lower house enters this new phase, attention will focus on how the new Speaker balances reform with continuity in one of Cameroon’s most important institutions.
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