Election of new Douala V mayor delayed

What the texts say: 60 days to elect a new mayor according to Law No. 2004/018 of 22 July 2004 laying down rules applicable to councils.

Françoise Foning died on the morning of Friday, January 23, 2015 at the Yaounde Central Hospital, following a road accident that occurred Saturday, January 17, 2015. She was mayor of the district town of Douala V at death.

More than four months later, exactly 123 days, the municipal executive remains headless.

According to Article 70 paragraph 1 Law No. 2004/018 of 22 July 2004 laying down rules applicable to councils for vacant mayor positions "in case of death, resignation or dismissal of the mayor or a deputy mayor, city council is convened to elect a new mayor or deputy mayor, within sixty days after the death, resignation or dismissal." For now, it is Gustave Ebanda, the first deputy who is temporarily acting.

But paragraph 2 of Article 70 of the Law emphasizes that "the interim is ensured during the period specified in paragraph (1) by a deputy, in the order of precedence or, failure by one of five older councilors appointed by the council."

In other words, for more than two months the mandate of the Interim was to have ended. It remains that the state representative noted the inability of the municipal council to meet and convene as provided in paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 31 of the above-mentioned law.