The President of the South West Regional Assembly, Bakoma Zacchaeus Elango, has distanced the institution from a controversial letter addressed to the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Fako Division, describing the communication as a misrepresentation of the Assembly’s stance.
A leadership split has surfaced within the South West Regional Assembly following a controversial letter from the Vice President of the Executive Council and President of the South West House of Chiefs, His Majesty Nfon Ekoko Mukete, challenging the authority of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Fako Division, Viang Mekala. The letter in question was authored by His Majesty Nfon Ekoko Mukete, Vice President of the South West Regional Executive Council and President of the South West House of Chiefs.
In it, the traditional leader questioned the authority of the SDO to compel chiefs within Fako Division to participate in National Day celebrations on May 20, citing what he described as overreach by the administrative officer. The SDO had earlier sent a circular to traditional rulers, urging them to fulfill their republican duties by being physically present at official National Day events across the division. However, Nfon Mukete’s response, perceived as defiant, sparked widespread public and political debate over the limits of administrative authority and the autonomy of traditional institutions.
In a formal letter dated May 19, 2025, President Bakoma Elango clarified that the views expressed by the Vice President do not reflect the position of the South West Regional Assembly. He cited Section 31(2) of the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities, which he said had been violated by the correspondence. “The letter is a personal opinion and does not represent the collective voice or policy of the Assembly,” Bakoma stated. “Our institution is committed to fostering peace, dialogue, and the return to normalcy in the South West Region.”
The development has exposed internal tensions within the Regional Assembly, with analysts suggesting that the incident highlights the delicate and often strained relationship between traditional leadership and administrative authorities in Cameroon. While some have defended Nfon Mukete’s stance as a legitimate defense of traditional autonomy, others have criticized the timing and tone of the letter, especially in the context of national unity events. As Cameroonians across the country marked National Day, the controversy in the South West has raised broader questions about governance, protocol, and the evolving role of traditional rulers in a modern administrative framework.
Whether the fallout will have lasting political implications remains to be seen, but observers say it serves as a potent reminder of the complex interplay between tradition and state in Cameroon’s decentralized governance model.
