Common Law Lawyers Protest Presidential Decree on Notaries

On March 10, 2026, the Human Rights and Legal Research Centre reported on escalating tensions in Cameroon's North West and South West Regions following President Paul Biya's July 16, 2025, decree authorizing the appointment of Notaries Public in these English-speaking areas. Traditionally, under the Common Law system practiced in these regions, lawyers have performed notarial duties, including drafting and authenticating legal documents. The new decree challenges this practice by introducing state-appointed Notaries Public, a move perceived by many Common Law lawyers as an erosion of their professional roles and the region's legal heritage. In response, bar associations and legal practitioners have voiced strong opposition, with some threatening significant protests. The situation recalls the 2016 legal protests that contributed to ongoing regional unrest. The government's decision has sparked a broader debate on whether this represents a necessary modernization of the legal system or a disruption of established practices tailored to the Anglophone community's needs. As the legal community awaits further clarification on the implementation of this decree, concerns about potential marginalization and the future of the Common Law tradition in Cameroon persist.