Reforming or Replacing? Common Law Lawyers Protest against the Presidential Decree to appoint Notaries Public in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon.
A storm is brewing in the legal corridors of Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions, following a controversial decree signed by President Paul Biya on July 16, 2025. Decree No. 20254316 authorizes the appointment of Notaries Public in the country’s English-speaking Regions, shaking the very foundations of a system that has been deeply rooted in the Common Law tradition.
For decades, lawyers trained under the Common Law system have faithfully performed notarial duties, including drafting and signing deeds of conveyance, authenticating documents, and providing essential legal counsel in property transactions and civil matters. In the absence of dedicated Notaries Public, these lawyers filled the gap, often undergoing specialized training to meet the demands of this unique dual-function role.
Now, with the decree’s implementation, lawyers fear their relevance in this domain is under threat. The reaction has been swift and impassioned: bar associations, legal scholars, and practitioners have voiced deep concerns over what many see as an erosion of the Common Law identity and practice. Some lawyers have gone as far as threatening “fire and brimstone”, a vivid metaphor for the stormy legal and cultural backlash that looms.
At the heart of the protest lies a fundamental question: Is this decree a modernization of legal structure, or a disruption of a long-standing, functional legal practice tailored to the unique needs of the Anglophone community? Critics argue that the introduction of appointed Notaries undermines a system that has worked efficiently, and fear that the move may pave the way for further marginalization.
As the dust settles, legal minds await clarity on how this shift will be operationalized. Will existing lawyers be allowed to transition into the new roles, or will they be sidelined in favor of new appointments? Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear, the legal profession in Cameroon’s English-speaking Regions is undergoing a seismic shift, and the voices of Common Law lawyers are rising to defend not just their roles, but the principles on which their legal heritage stands.
? Stay tuned as we continue to follow the debate, the decisions, and the implications.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
