Dipanda Mouelle and the Judicial Independence Conundrum

By: Julius Nyamkimah Fondong*

During the recent solemn opening of the judicial year in Cameroon, Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Alexis Dipanda Mouelle took advantage of the occasion to again raise the issue of the independence of judges in Cameroon. The Honorable president of the court pontificated that the independence of judges was an essential prerequisite for the dispensation of “quality justice”. And for this to be attained judges must be free of all pressure, especially financial, political and social pressures.  The Chief Justice further lamented the numerous ills that plaque Cameroon’s judiciary, to wit, long delays, its irrational organization, its inaccessibility, the frequent use of “esoteric language”, prohibitive costs, lack of transparency, multiple adjournments, protracted litigations etc. 

 
This comprehensive laundry list compels one to concede that the Honorable President of the Supreme Court exudes total mastery of his subject matter. He himself wears the shoes and so stands a better chance of knowing where it pinches. But the fact is that there is really nothing new in what Chief Justice Dipanda is saying.  It is a situation well known to the nation.

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During the recent solemn opening of the judicial year in Cameroon, Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Alexis Dipanda Mouelle took advantage of the occasion to again raise the issue of the independence of judges in Cameroon. The Honorable president of the court pontificated that the independence of judges was an essential prerequisite for the dispensation of “quality justice”. And for this to be attained judges must be free of all pressure, especially financial, political and social pressures.  The Chief Justice further lamented the numerous ills that plaque Cameroon’s judiciary, to wit, long delays, its irrational organization, its inaccessibility, the frequent use of “esoteric language”, prohibitive costs, lack of transparency, multiple adjournments, protracted litigations etc. 

 
This comprehensive laundry list compels one to concede that the Honorable President of the Supreme Court exudes total mastery of his subject matter. He himself wears the shoes and so stands a better chance of knowing where it pinches. But the fact is that there is really nothing new in what Chief Justice Dipanda is saying.  It is a situation well known to the nation.

Comments

[Matanyi Tah]

this article has made my day,it is amazing that this bunch of corrupt rogues still think that Cameroon has a judiciary system.they have no shame to congregate and listen to their commander in chief who takes the highest portion of the pie in their disgraceful,dysfunctional elders meeting they call ministry of justice,i believe if we pull out his speeches for the past 10yrs it`s the same thing how appropriate.
it is very embarrassing to hear the word justice used in the same sentence as Cameroon there is no such thing in Cameroon,dipanda mouelle why he is not retired baffles me as chop-chop the comedian will say(c`est toi qui a fait mon acte de neisssance)thats the same question he would probably ask me.forgive me to say am tired of seeing all these old elders in the biya congregation define their job positions as profession,why would i even blame them if bi-vodo`s profession on his id for the past 28yrs is president they might as well all be professional ministers and directors.
the administrative structure of Cameroon is the best ridicule and insult that could be added to the little pride we had as Cameroonians we just broke the record of the Chinese parliament for disorganization,i don`t think even the regular traffic police knows who hierarchy is anymore amazing how creative we a can be lol