Cameroon: 77 Board Chairs, 35 CEOs Illegally Overstay Mandates in 2026
A new report reveals widespread illegality in the governance of Cameroonian public enterprises, with 77 Board Chairs (PCA) and 36 Directors General (DG) operating beyond their legal mandates in 2026. This situation, detailed in the first volume of a series by public management specialist Pr. Viviane Ondoua Biwole, highlights a systemic disregard for regulations established in 1999 and updated in 2017. The legal terms are three years, renewable once for PCAs and twice for DGs and Deputy Directors General. The report, based on data from 89 public entities, indicates that this illegality has resulted in cumulative net losses of nearly 40 billion FCFA. Some individuals have held positions for decades, such as Luc Ayang, who served as PCA of the National Cocoa and Coffee Office from 1991 until his death in October 2025, a tenure exceeding his legal limit by approximately 29 years. The report also identifies 16 cases of individuals holding multiple PCA positions simultaneously, including Louis Paul Motaze, who is also the Minister of Finance. Furthermore, several key positions remain vacant following the deaths of their incumbents, contributing to governance gaps. In 29 entities, both the PCA and DG are serving beyond their mandates, and in 20 of these, the Deputy DG is also in violation, indicating a total non-compliance. The consequences include the potential nullification of decisions made by these officials, administrative sanctions, and even criminal liability for embezzlement. The author recommends immediate regularization of entities with triple mandate violations, filling vacant posts, and implementing sanctions. Medium-term actions include formal recovery plans for insolvent companies like SONARA and CDC, while long-term measures involve annual public monitoring of mandate compliance and financial performance, alongside clarifying interim appointment procedures.
The persistent overstaying of mandates in Cameroon's public sector, as detailed in Pr. Ondoua Biwole's report, suggests a governance framework where regulatory compliance is secondary to established patronage networks or administrative inertia. The significant financial losses and the risk of invalidating official acts underscore systemic weaknesses in oversight and accountability mechanisms. This pattern raises questions about the effectiveness of current appointment and removal processes, particularly in ensuring that leadership transitions are timely and merit-based. The futurist perspective highlights how such governance deficits can impede digital transformation and innovation, as outdated leadership structures may lack the vision or agility to navigate the complexities of the AI era. Addressing these issues requires not just punitive measures but a fundamental re-evaluation of the incentives and structures that perpetuate these irregularities, fostering a culture where adherence to legal tenure is prioritized for sustainable public sector performance.
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