Clément Atangana, President of Cameroon’s Constitutional Council, dies in France

Clément Atangana, the President of Cameroon’s Constitutional Council, has died in France at the age of 85 while receiving medical treatment. His passing has drawn both tributes and sharp criticism regarding his judicial legacy.

Minister Grégoire Owona paid tribute to Atangana, describing him as a “great servant of the State” and an exceptional magistrate who served the Republic with dedication. Atangana, a native of Ngomedzap, was a prominent figure in Cameroon’s judicial history, holding one of the nation’s highest institutional positions.

However, his tenure has also faced scrutiny from legal figures. Lawyer Michelle Ndoki, a former activist for the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), criticized his impartiality. She alleged that under his leadership, the Constitutional Council validated contested presidential victories for Paul Biya in both 2018 and 2025, while rejecting opposition appeals. Ndoki questioned whether the Council functioned to provide a means for contesting power or merely to protect the existing administration.