In a rare departure from longstanding tradition, Anglophone lawyers have secured all three top positions within the Cameroon Bar Association, breaking an unwritten rule that has governed the association’s internal politics for decades.
At the elective General Assembly currently taking place at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex, Barrister Gbaka Ernest Acho Esq. was elected President of the General Assembly, with Edward Lyonga Esq. elected as Vice President.

Mbah Eric Mbah Esq and Gbaka Ernest Esq
In what has been described as a surprise twist, incumbent Bar Council President, Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah Esq., was also re-elected, defeating high-profile contenders including Anne Yolande Ngo Minyogo, Philippe Memong, and Arlette Ngoula Fotso.
For years, a gentleman’s agreement though not legally binding but widely respected ensured regional and linguistic balance at the top of the Bar. When an Anglophone lawyer assumed the role of General Assembly President, the Bar Council Presidency traditionally went to a Francophone, and vice versa.
That convention has now been broken.
With Mbah Eric Mbah, a seasoned legal practitioner from the Northwest Region returning as Bar Council President, and Gbaka Ernest and Edward Lyonga securing the two highest offices within the General Assembly, the leadership of the Bar is now entirely in the hands of Anglophone lawyers.
Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah, who first took office in 2022, has been at the centre of judicial reforms and has advocated for stronger institutional independence for the Bar. His re-election confirms the confidence many of his peers continue to place in his leadership.
Sources at the event describe the voting process as transparent, allowing more than 3,000 lawyers to participate in real time.
While the elections were conducted in accordance with internal statutes, the results mark a shift that could reshape perceptions within one of Cameroon’s most respected professional bodies.
However, the outcome is also expected to stir conversation about unity, inclusion, and precedent in national institutions particularly in a country where linguistic and regional tensions often colour leadership contests.
The new leadership is expected to face both internal and external challenges, ranging from the digital modernisation of legal practice, to advocating for legal reforms and defending the independence of the judiciary. With all top positions now held by Anglophones, observers will watch closely how the Bar navigates unity in diversity, and whether this shift sets a new standard or remains an exception.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom with reports
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