President Paul Biya has officially designated Laurent Esso, the Minister of Justice, as his personal representative to attend the funeral ceremonies for Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, the esteemed first President of the Supreme Court.

This significant announcement was conveyed through a correspondence issued on June 10, 2026, by Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, to the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals.

The funeral program for Alexis Dipanda Mouelle commenced on Monday, June 22, and is set to conclude on Saturday, June 27, 2026. From June 22 to Wednesday, June 24, solemn gatherings and prayers were held daily between 6 PM and 7 PM at the family residence located at the Bastos crossroads in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s political capital. Today, Thursday, June 25, 2026, marks the official removal of the body at 10 AM from the morgue of the Yaoundé General Hospital, followed by judicial tributes at the Supreme Court.

Bonakou Bwapaki

Later in the afternoon, at 3 PM, a mass will be celebrated at the Basilique Marie Reine des apôtres de Mvolye. The day will conclude with a vigil at the family home. On Friday, June 26, 2026, the funeral procession will depart 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 native village. The interment is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Alexis Dipanda Mouelle was a distinguished Cameroonian magistrate who left an indelible mark on the nation’s judicial and political landscape. He served as the first President of the Supreme Court from 1990 until 2014. Born on March 25, 1942, in Bonakou Bwapaki, a locality in the Littoral region, he passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84.

Daniel Mekobe Sone

After receiving his education at the University of Paris, he joined the Cameroonian magistracy in 1965. His career saw him steadily rise through the ranks, culminating in his appointment as Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975. In 1986, he was named head of the Supreme Court, a position later formally designated as First President. He held this prestigious role for 24 years until his retirement on December 31, 2014, when he was succeeded by Daniel Mekobe Sone.