President Paul Biya has officially designated Laurent Esso, the Minister of State and Minister of Justice, as his personal representative for the funeral ceremonies of Alexis Dipanda Mouelle. Dipanda Mouelle, a towering figure in Cameroonian jurisprudence, served as the inaugural President of the Supreme Court.
This significant appointment was conveyed through an official communication dated June 10, 2026, issued by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, the Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, to the Minister of Justice.
The funeral program for Alexis Dipanda Mouelle commenced on Monday, June 22, and is set to conclude on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The initial days, from June 22 to Wednesday, June 24, involved solemn periods of reflection and prayers held between 6 PM and 7 PM at the family residence located at Bastos crossroads in Yaoundé, the nation’s political capital.
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the official proceedings began at 10 AM with the removal of the body from the Yaoundé General Hospital morgue. This was followed by a series of judicial tributes at the Supreme Court, honoring the late legal luminary.
A final journey to Bonakou Bwapaki
Later that day, at 3 PM, a mass was celebrated at the Basilique Marie Reine des Apôtres in Mvolye. The day concluded with a poignant vigil held at the family home. The itinerary for Friday, June 26, 2026, includes the departure of the funeral cortege for Bonakou-Bwapaki village. Along the route, a stop is planned at the family concession in Bonakouamouang, near Akwa in Douala, before proceeding to a vigil in his ancestral village. The interment is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Alexis Dipanda Mouelle was a distinguished Cameroonian magistrate whose career profoundly impacted the country’s judicial and political landscape. He notably led the Supreme Court as its First President from 1990 until 2014. Born on March 25, 1942, in Bonakou Bwapaki, within the Littoral region, he passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84.
A legacy of judicial leadership
Having received his education at the University of Paris, Dipanda Mouelle entered the Cameroonian magistracy in 1965. He steadily ascended through the ranks, becoming the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975. His appointment to the helm of the Supreme Court came in 1986, a position later formally recognized as Premier President. He dedicated 24 years to this esteemed role until his retirement on December 31, 2014, when he was succeeded by Daniel Mekobe Sone.
