War in the Cameroon Bar after Barrister Tchakounte's Sudden Death

War in the Cameroon Bar after Barrister Tchakounte's Sudden Death

The passing away of Cameroon's Bar President Barrister Tchakounte Patie few days ago in an abrupt, sudden and mysterious manner in France, has left many lips wagging, creating tension all around the legal corps and is sparking general confusion on the way forward for the Cameroon Bar most especially at a time when English speaking Lawyers are canvassing for sovereign rights and identity.

Where the Bar Council finds herself today is very demanding because the mandate of the present regime under the leadership of late Barrister Tchakounte Patie was to end next month and the law obtains that a Senior member of the Bar Council should take over office for two months before organizing fresh elections there after.

Now that their mandate ends next month and by then the corpse of late Bar Council President most likely would not have been buried, it means for this short while, the Bar will remain dormant and accounts freezed. No room for any Senior member to take up the office temporarily.

As we report, there is tension in the house on how to proceed with management of the Bar, the Bar President's Burial, and the organization of fresh elections.

Another situation which may not possibly be averted after the burial of the Bar President is conflict of interest, ideology and the strict respect of the "gentleman" agreement in the face of rising tension amongst English speaking Lawyers wanting a total break away.

From that stand point of view, it is therefore obvious that before the covenening of a general Bar Council elections in Cameroon, there will be a serious clash between Anglophone and Francophone lawyers on who takes over the Presidency.

A split of the Cameroon Bar this time arround with the speed ride in the call for the assertion of Anglophones identity is most likely.

More to that, North West and South West Lawyer's Associations must be teaming up to face their counterpart in order not to be overpowered by French influence. 

Looking keenly amongst the lawyers, there are a lot of them already seeking for notice. A good number know very well that this year's Bar Council elections comes at a very decisive period in the political history of Cameroon and will have a lot to ride home if one picks the crown.

In the face of this situation, will government also allow "anyone" in quotes to pick the crown? will Separatists leaders give a green light to Anglophone Lawyers to be part of the whole movement? What is cooking up only God Knows. The future is pregnant as the so called "Big Lawyers" are already teaming up against any eventuality.