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TRACING


PARLIAMENT’S ROOTS


CAMEROON’S PARLIAMENT: FROM THE COLONIAL TO THE BICAMERAL ERA


The Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon provides a historical timeline of the Parliament of Cameroon from 1946 to the present day.


Rt Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril Mr Djibril is the Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon. He was re-elected Speaker to set up a new permanent bureau for the 9th Legislature in November 2013. He has been an MP for 43 years and Speaker for an impressive 21 years. Going in for his 9th mandate, Mr Djibril will be serving as Speaker for a 22nd consecutive time.


administered under the mandate system of the League of Nations, now known as the United Nations. The partition of Cameroon into two UN Trust territories under French and British administration engendered the setting-up of different representative bodies over the years in the two territories. In compliance with the French


Rt Hon. Cavayé Yéguié Djibril


In accordance with the constitution of 2 June 1972 as amended on 18 January 1996, Cameroon’s Parliament now has two Chambers – the National Assembly and the Senate. In essence, the colonial legislation, the administration of Cameroon as a UN Trust territory by France and Great Britain respectively and the political organization of the country after independence significantly contributed to the evolution of Cameroon’s Parliament. Indeed, after the defeat of


Germany at the end of the Second World War, Cameroon was


2 | The Parliamentarian | 2014: Issue Three: Cameroon


law of 7 October 1946 instituting Representative Assemblies in French colonies, the first representative body known as the Representative Assembly of Cameroon (ARCAM) came into being on 22 December 1946 comprising 40 members, that is 24 Cameroonians and 16 French nationals. Subsequently, on 30 March 1952, ARCAM was transformed into the Territorial Assembly of Cameroon (ATCAM). The new Assembly which comprised 50 members – 32 Cameroonians and 18 French nationals – existed until 10 May 1952 when ATCAM became the Legislative Assembly of Cameroon (ALCAM) composed of 70 members. As such, a decisive stage was scaled by the parliamentary institution in


favour of more legislative power at the national level. As a result, ALCAM chose the anthem, flag and motto of the country through one of its maiden legislative Acts. Meanwhile, on the other


side of Cameroon under British administration, and in application of the Macpherson Constitution of 1951, some Cameroonians were members of the legislative organ of our Nigerian neighbour, notably in the House of Representatives and Regional Assemblies. Cameroon under French administration gained its independence on 1 January 1960. On 10 April 1960, a new Assembly, the National Assembly of Cameroon comprising 100 members came into being. The reunification of West Cameroon (under British administration) with East Cameroon (under French administration) on 1 October 1961 gave birth to the Federal Republic of Cameroon comprising two federated States. Each State had its legislative assembly: the Legislative Assembly of East Cameroon (ALCAMOR)


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