By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Just two months after being replaced as Cameroon’s National Assembly Speaker, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril has died at 86, leaving a nation to mourn the man who presided over parliament for three decades – even as it adjusts to a new chapter without him.
He died on May 6. He was last seen in public during the opening session of the March 2026 Parliamentary Session for the new Legislative Year.
During the session, Hon. Cavayé was replaced as Speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly on March 17, ending a 34-year tenure. Hon. Théodore Datouo, from the West Region, was elected in his place. Hon. Cavayé’s death comes shortly after that of the First President of the Senate, Senator Marcel Niat Njifenji, who died on April 11—just weeks after he was also replaced.
Speaking to Cameroonians along the streets of Yaoundé, many people expressed their deep condolences to the family of Hon. Cavayé. They described him as a “boaba” who served Cameroon faithfully until his last breath.
“It is sad to hear that Hon. Cavayé is gone, but we must give honour to whom it is deserved. He served Cameroon with his whole heart, and we truly appreciate this,” Marcel said.
To Edwin, a taxi driver, “Death has again taken a man of honour and respect. Hon. Cavayé was a great man, and we are proud that he did his best for Cameroon. I grew up knowing about him, and it was good to see him.”
A teacher who declined to state his name said, “It is a great loss to our nation Cameroon because Hon. Cavayé—whom many of us didn’t know how to pronounce when we were small—was a great statesman. After diligently serving his nation, I believe he deserved a peaceful rest. Adieu.”
Other Yaounde residents also expressed profound grief, noting that within a space of two months, two great men—Senator Niat Njifenji and now Hon. Cavayé—have all gone beyond the land of no return. They said that although these men have left, they served the country with dignity, and what remains to be done is to pray for their families.
Hon. Cavayé’s Biography
Cavaye was born on February 1, 1940, in Mada, located in the Mayo-Sava Division of the Far North Region. He was a member of the Mada ethnic group.
His initial career focused on education and public administration. Between 1960 and 1963, he attended the regional center for physical and sports education, subsequently working as a physical education teacher in Maroua. By 1965, he had transitioned into administration as the divisional inspector for the Far North.
Cavaye’s formal political journey began in April 1970 upon joining the Legislative Assembly of East Cameroon. In 1971, he assumed the role of traditional chief of the Mada, a position that allowed him to act as a vital link between the state and local communities throughout his career.
Following Cameroon’s unification in 1972, Cavaye was elected to the National Assembly in 1973. He moved swiftly through the ranks, serving as a questor in the assembly’s bureau. In 1975, he joined the central committee of the Cameroon National Union (CNU), which later evolved into the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).
In 1983, he was elected as the second vice-president of the National Assembly. After a brief hiatus starting in 1988 to serve as an assistant divisional officer in Diamaré, he returned to the legislature during the March 1992 multiparty elections. It was then that he was first elected president of the National Assembly.
Cavaye occupied the speaker’s chair for over three decades, from March 31, 1992, until March 17, 2026. He was eventually succeeded in the role by Théodore Datouo.
Throughout his leadership, Cavaye was recognized for maintaining rigorous discipline within the chamber. He was a staunch defender of national unity; notably, during the 2001 sessions, he denounced secessionist movements as significant threats to the country’s stability.
In addition to his legislative duties, Cavaye was the honorary president of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Cameroon. He frequently advocated for a collaborative relationship between traditional authorities and the state, arguing that they should support rather than compete with government administration.
A powerful figure from the northern regions, Cavaye exerted influence that resonated on both a local and national scale. As his health began to decline in early 2026, observers reflected on a tenure marked by the passage of significant legislation, though critics often pointed to the assembly’s limited oversight of the executive branch.
Cavaye remains a landmark figure in Cameroon’s institutional evolution. He was a bridge-builder who harmonised his status as a traditional leader with his role as a modern statesman, connecting the Far North with the central government for more than 50 years.