Cameroon delays parliamentary elections, lawmakers to stay until end 2026

Cameroon's National Assembly has voted to postpone parliamentary elections originally scheduled for 2025, extending the current lawmakers' tenure until the end of 2026. This latest constitutional maneuver represents the third extension of parliamentary mandates in recent years, signaling deepening institutional instability in Central Africa's second-largest economy and raising fresh concerns about governance predictability for European investors operating in the region. The decision, formally ratified through official channels this week, reflects President Paul Biya's consolidation of executive control over legislative processes. Rather than holding fresh elections as originally scheduled, the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has chosen to prolong the existing assembly's mandate—a move that concentrates political power while effectively postponing democratic renewal. This pattern of electoral postponement has become characteristic of Cameroon's governance model, undermining institutional credibility and democratic legitimacy. For European investors, this development carries substantial implications. Political stability and predictable electoral cycles are cornerstone requirements for long-term investment decisions. When governments repeatedly defer democratic processes, it signals weakness in institutional frameworks and raises questions about the reliability of contractual enforcement, property rights protection, and regulatory consistency. Cameroon's forestry, mining, and agricultural sectors—which have traditionally attracted European capital—depend on stable legal environments. Protracted political uncertainty can trigger capital