Anglophone Conflict in Cameroon: Southwest Lawyers Petition against the Presidential Decree authorizing the appointment of Notary Public in the Northwest and Southwest Regions
On August 19, 2025, over fifty lawyers from the Southwest Region of Cameroon convened to submit a formal petition to the President of the Republic through the Governor of the Southwest Region. The petition challenges key provisions of the presidential decree issued on July 16, 2025, which restructures the profession of notary public, most notably, the provision that mandates presidential appointment of notaries.
Representing the Cameroon Bar Association for Fako Division, Barrister Nkea Emmanuel delivered the petition and voiced strong opposition to the decree. He described it as a “process of assimilation,” arguing that it undermines the constitutional guarantees afforded to Common Law practitioners under the special status granted to the Northwest and Southwest Regions. “You cannot harmonize things that are unharmonizable,” he stated, emphasizing that the decree disregards the dual legal tradition enshrined in Cameroon’s legal framework.
Cameroon’s legal system is a hybrid of Common Law and Civil Law traditions, a legacy of its colonial history under British and French rule. The Northwest and Southwest Regions, formerly British Southern Cameroons, have long practiced Common Law, which includes the dual function of lawyers as both barristers and notaries public. This practice is not merely customary; it is constitutionally protected under the 2019 legislation that followed the Major National Dialogue.
The 2019 National Dialogue was convened to address the Anglophone Conflict, which erupted in 2016 following peaceful protests by Common Law lawyers and Anglophone educators. These protests decried the marginalization of English-speaking Cameroonians and the erosion of their legal and educational systems. One of the key outcomes of the dialogue was the granting of “special status” to the Northwest and Southwest Regions, with explicit recognition of their legal traditions and autonomy in judicial matters.
The decree of July 16, 2025, is perceived by many legal professionals as a direct threat to the integrity of the Common Law system. By centralizing the appointment of notaries under presidential authority, the decree effectively removes a core function from English-speaking lawyers, thereby diluting their professional autonomy and undermining the principle of legal pluralism.
Barrister Nkea Emmanuel warned that the decree could reignite tensions in a region still grappling with the aftermath of armed conflict and displacement. “Those advising the President are giving him ill advice,” he said, urging the government to reconsider the decree in light of constitutional provisions and the spirit of the 2019 Dialogue.
The Anglophone Conflict has claimed over 6,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. While the intensity of conflict has waned, the underlying grievances remain unresolved. Legal reforms that disregard the unique identity of Anglophone regions risk deepening mistrust and alienation.
Civil society leaders, legal scholars, and international observers have consistently called for inclusive governance, genuine decentralization, and respect for regional autonomy. The current petition by Southwest lawyers is not merely a legal protest, it is a reaffirmation of Cameroon’s commitment to coexistence, constitutionalism, and the rule of law.
As Cameroon approaches its presidential elections in October 2025, the government has an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to unity through diversity. Addressing the concerns raised in this petition would not only uphold constitutional integrity but also foster trust and reconciliation in a region that has long felt marginalized.
Author: Berinyuy Cajetan Tardzenyuy, Human Rights Activist and communications expert.
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.
