The appointment of 30 Senators by the President of the Republic on April 12, 2018 made the House complete for the second legislative period.

The 70 Senators elected on March 25, 2018 and the 30 appointed by the President of the Republic on April 12, 2018 are anxiously waiting to take up duties. History will forever note that they are Senators of the second legislative period of the Senate. Their anxiety will be satisfied on Tuesday, April 24, 2018; the third Tuesday after the proclamation of results of the elected Senators.

This is when they would be given their attributes and insignia. Section 215 (1) of the Electoral Code states that, « The term of senators shall commence on the day of the ordinary session following the election, being the expiry date of the term of the incumbent senators. »

Specifically on the commencement of the term of the new Senators, Section 215 (2) of the Electoral Code states that, « The Senate shall meet as of right in ordinary session on the third Tuesday following the proclamation of the results of senatorial elections by the Constitutional Council. » The results of the March 25, 2018 senatorial elections were proclaimed on Thursday, April 5, 2018 and the third Tuesday from the day will be April 24, 2018.

Cameroon’s Senate for the second legislative period has seven political parties represented. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) has the overwhelming majority with 87 of the 100 seats. The leading opposition political party, Social Democratic Front (SDF); has seven elected Senators all from the North West Region.

The National Union for Democracy and Progress ( NUDP) has two appointed Senators, National Alliance for Democracy and Progress (NADP), one Senator, Movement for the Defence of the Republic (MDR) one Senator, Cameroon National Salvation Front (FSNC) one Senator and the Union des populations du Cameroun (UPC) that will be represented in the Senate for the first time has one Senator.

From every indication, only the CPDM is qualified to have a group in the Senate. In the first legislative period of the Senate; the SDF that had 14 Senators had a group. Twenty six women have seats in the Senate for the second legislative period contrary to 21 in the first legislative period. Cameroon Tribune in the present issue publishes the photographs of the 100 Senators, classifying them per region.