Cameroon's National Assembly has voted to extend its own mandate for a seventh consecutive time, further delaying legislative elections that were last held in 2020. The extension was passed by a majority of lawmakers on March 18, 2026, according to official parliamentary records.
The decision postpones elections that were constitutionally due in 2025. The government, led by President Paul Biya, has cited logistical challenges related to the ongoing Anglophone crisis and the need for electoral reforms as reasons for the repeated delays. The current parliament, elected in February 2020, will now remain in place until a new date is set.
This move has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups, who argue it undermines democratic principles. International observers, including the European Union, have previously expressed concern over the repeated postponements of Cameroon's electoral calendar.
The extension occurs amidst a complex political landscape, including a separatist conflict in the country's English-speaking regions. No new date for the legislative elections has been officially announced following this latest parliamentary vote.
