Final respects: the timeline of Alexis Dipanda Mouelle’s funeral rites

The late former president of Cameroon’s Supreme Court will receive a week-long farewell beginning June 22, 2026. The schedule, released by his family, outlines a series of solemn ceremonies blending tradition, faith, and judicial homage.

Week-long vigils in Yaoundé

From June 22 to June 24, 2026, the Dipanda Mouelle family residence in Yaoundé’s Bastos district will host evening gatherings between 6 PM and 7 PM, dedicated to prayer and reflection. On June 25, the body will be transferred from Yaoundé General Hospital at 10 AM, followed by tributes at the Supreme Court.

Religious and ancestral farewell

The same day at 3 PM, a memorial mass will be held at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Mvolyé. The evening concludes with a final vigil at the family home. The next day, June 26, the funeral procession departs for Bonakou-Bwapaki, with a scheduled stop at the family compound in Bonakouamouang by Akwa in Douala, where another vigil will take place.

The final chapter unfolds on June 27, 2026, with the burial in his native village, Bonakou-Bwapaki.

A distinguished judicial career

Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, born March 25, 1942, in Bonakou-Bwapaki, Littoral Region, passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84. His career spanned five decades, marked by pivotal moments in Cameroon’s legal and political history.

After graduating from the University of Paris, he joined Cameroon’s judiciary in 1965. Rising through the ranks, he became Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975. In 1986, he was appointed head of the Supreme Court, a position he held until his retirement on December 31, 2014.

Legacy of a historic verdict

His tenure is forever tied to the 1992 presidential election validation. As Supreme Court president, he declared Paul Biya the winner with 39.98% of the vote, a razor-thin margin over opposition leader Ni John Fru Ndi’s 35.9%. The decision sparked intense debate amid the country’s return to multiparty politics.

International recognition

Beyond Cameroon, Dipanda Mouelle contributed to global justice. He served as president of the 17th session of the UN Committee Against Torture, was a member of the Arbitration Chamber of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and held a position at the International Institute of French-Speaking Law.