Honoring a judicial giant: Cameroon’s tribute to Alexis Dipanda Mouelle

President Paul Biya has designated Laurent Esso, the Minister of Justice, as his personal representative at the funeral proceedings for Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, the former First President of the Supreme Court. This decision was conveyed through an official correspondence from Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, to the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, dated June 10, 2026.

A week of mourning and remembrance

The funeral program for Alexis Dipanda Mouelle commenced on Monday, June 22, with a series of events marking the beginning of a week-long tribute. From June 22 to June 24, evening gatherings and prayers were held daily at the family residence in Yaoundé’s Bastos district, the political heart of Cameroon. On Thursday, June 25, at 10:00 AM, the body will be lifted from the morgue at the Yaoundé General Hospital. This will be followed by judicial tributes at the Supreme Court.

At 3:00 PM, a mass will take place at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Mvolye. The day will conclude with a vigil at the family home. On Friday, June 26, the funeral procession will depart for the village of Bonakou-Bwapaki. Along the way, a stop is scheduled at the family compound in Bonakouamouang, near Akwa in Douala, where another vigil will be held. The burial will take place on Saturday, June 27.

Legacy of a legal luminary

Alexis Dipanda Mouelle was a distinguished Cameroonian magistrate who left an indelible mark on the nation’s judicial and political landscape. As the First President of the Supreme Court from 1990 to 2014, he played a pivotal role in shaping Cameroon’s legal framework. Born on March 25, 1942, in Bonakou-Bwapaki, Littoral Region, he passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84.

A distinguished career

After graduating from the University of Paris, Dipanda Mouelle joined the Cameroonian judiciary in 1965. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975. In 1986, he was appointed to lead the Supreme Court, a position he held for 24 years until his retirement on December 31, 2014, when he was succeeded by Daniel Mekobe Sone.