President Paul Biya has designated Minister of Justice Laurent Esso as his personal envoy to the funeral ceremonies of Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, the first Chief Justice of Cameroon’s Supreme Court. The appointment was conveyed through a letter dated June 10, 2026, signed by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency.
Laurent Esso, who also serves as Keeper of the Seals, will represent the head of state at the obsequies of the late magistrate, who passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84. The funeral programme began on Monday, June 22, with evening prayers and vigil at the family residence in the Bastos district of Yaoundé, Cameroon’s political capital, running through Wednesday, June 24. On Thursday, June 25, at 10 a.m., the body will be removed from the morgue at Yaoundé General Hospital, followed by a judicial tribute at the Supreme Court.
Bonakou Bwapaki
A requiem mass is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Basilica of Mary Queen of Apostles in Mvolye. The day will conclude with a wake at the family home. On Friday, June 26, the funeral cortege will depart for the village of Bonakou-Bwapaki, with a planned stop at the family compound in Bonakouamouang, Akwa district, Douala, before arriving in the late magistrate’s native village for an overnight vigil. Burial will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Alexis Dipanda Mouelle was a towering figure in Cameroon’s judicial and political history. He led the Supreme Court as its first President from 1990 until his retirement on December 31, 2014, a tenure spanning 24 years. Born on March 25, 1942, in Bonakou Bwapaki (Littoral Region), he studied at the University of Paris and entered the Cameroonian magistracy in 1965. He steadily climbed the ranks, becoming Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975 before his appointment to head the Supreme Court in 1986. He was succeeded by Daniel Mekobe Sone upon retirement.
Daniel Mekobe Sone
The late jurist’s career left a lasting imprint on Cameroon’s legal system, and the nation now pays its final respects under the watch of President Biya’s chosen representative.