Among the prominent voices at the Bar Council aspirants’ gathering in Bamenda on Wednesday 9 July 2025 was Barrister Sonkwa Victorine, a seasoned legal practitioner and senior partner at Sonkwa Chambers. With over two decades of legal experience, Barrister Victorine is entering the Cameroon Bar Council race with a bold vision for reform, equality, and greater institutional protection for lawyers.
Speaking to Hilltopvoices after presenting her manifesto to her colleagues, she expressed confidence in her candidacy and stressed that gender plays no role in her motivation.
“In our legal profession, there is no lady at the Bar. We are all legal minds. What matters is the law and its application. The law is built on equality and equity. I am very comfortable in my skin and my choice to run for council gender notwithstanding.” she reaffirmed
With her campaign slogan highlighting reforms rooted in values, united in purpose, Barrister Sonkwa is championing the modernisation of the Bar's legal framework, especially its internal bylaws.
“The Bar Council bylaws were enacted in 1990 about 35 years ago when we had fewer than 1,000 lawyers. Today, we are over 4,000, with 2,000 more undergoing training. By the next two years, we may hit 7,000. Yet we still have only 15 council members representing thousands of lawyers. That’s not adequate. It is time to reform the law to reflect the profession’s growth.” she said
A key pillar of Barrister Sonkwa's platform is the physical and professional integrity of lawyers, especially in the face of increasing harassment and brutality from state agents.
“We have seen lawyers beaten, manhandled, even arbitrarily detained. The Bar’s current arrangement which is what I call an ‘entente’ between the Bar and the forces of law and order is not enough. It is not enforceable. If protection is enshrined in the law, it becomes mandatory. We need that legal shield.” she stated
She proposes that new legal instruments be adopted to institutionalise these protections, making it illegal for police or gendarmes to interfere with lawyers in the exercise of their duties without due process.
She also highlighted the persistent issues surrounding the interpretation of Bar texts. Referring to the recent dispute over the scheduling of the elective General Assembly, she said:
“What happened earlier this year where dates kept changing due to disagreements between the Bar Council and the General Assembly president was simply because the laws were vague. We must reform these laws so they are clear and unambiguous. That will save us time, restore order, and define the relationship between lawyers, clients, and the administration.”
Though she humbly declines any direct ambition for Bar Presidentsaying, “You cannot go from one to three; you must go from one to two”, she also acknowledged her readiness if called upon.
“I am fit and proper. I have practised for 22 years, travelled widely, and served on various reform committees. I have coordinated the Watchdog Commission for lawyers in the North West and led human rights work for the Bar Association in the region.”
From her base at Sonkwa Chambers in the La King Building on Commercial Avenue, Barrister Sonkwa Victorine leads a thriving practice with two junior partners and four pupil advocates under her mentorship. Her work in both litigation and legal education has earned her respect among peers and clients alike.
“I believe this is the right time for me to serve. I have the skills, the experience, and the drive to improve the legal profession from within and I am ready to act.” she noted
As the Bar Council race intensifies, Barrister Sonkwa Victorine brings to the table a thoughtful and experienced voice for legal reform, human rights, and a stronger, more accountable Bar. With her feet firmly planted in Bamenda and her eyes on the future of the legal profession, her campaign offers a compelling mix of institutional insight and principled advocacy.