The family of the late Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, former President of Cameroon’s Supreme Court, has released the detailed schedule for his funeral rites. The program spans six days, from Monday, June 22 to Saturday, June 27, 2026.
Memorial events in Yaoundé
The first three days—June 22 to 24—will feature evening vigils and prayers from 6 PM to 7 PM at the family home in the Bastos district of Yaoundé, the nation’s political capital. On June 25 at 10 AM, the body will be transported from the Yaoundé General Hospital morgue to the Supreme Court for official tributes.
Final rites in Bonakou-Bwapaki
On June 26 at 3 PM, a memorial mass will be held at the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Apostles in Mvolyé, followed by a night vigil at the family residence. The following day, June 27, the funeral procession will depart for Bonakou-Bwapaki village, with a scheduled stop in Douala at the family concession in Akwa. After a final vigil in his hometown, the burial will take place.
Legacy of a judicial giant
Alexis Dipanda Mouelle, who passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 84, served as President of the Supreme Court from 1990 to 2014. Born on March 25, 1942, in Bonakou-Bwapaki (Littoral Region), he began his judicial career in 1965 after training at the University of Paris.
His professional journey included roles as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice in 1975. In 1986, he was appointed head of the Supreme Court, a position he held for 24 years until his retirement on December 31, 2014. His tenure was notably marked by overseeing the validation of the 1992 presidential election results, when he declared Paul Biya‘s victory with 39.98% of the vote—an outcome that sparked significant debate in Cameroon’s return to multiparty democracy.
International recognition
Beyond Cameroon’s borders, Dipanda Mouelle contributed to global justice as President of the 17th session of the UN Committee Against Torture and as a member of the Arbitration Chamber of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He was also affiliated with the International Institute of French-Speaking Law (IDEF).
