With less than 72 hours remaining before the end of May, Cameroon has yet to officially announce the opening of Parliament’s June session. The situation applies to both the Senate and the National Assembly.
Traditionally, the session is convened by presidential decree several weeks before its opening, which usually takes place around the second week of June.
The June session is particularly important because it marks the start of the Budget Orientation Debate (DOB), a key stage in preparing the following year's finance law. The process serves as a midyear review of budget execution and provides the basis for a supplementary budget bill through which the government adjusts spending and revenue projections to reflect changing economic conditions.
This year's debate could take place against a more uncertain international backdrop. The conflict between Israel and Iran has already pushed oil prices higher on global markets. Because oil revenue remains an important component of Cameroon’s public finances, lawmakers are expected to assess whether the situation could affect the country's fiscal outlook.
According to information obtained by SBBC, the next parliamentary session could open on June 2. The date, however, remains subject to approval by President Paul Biya. Time is also becoming a factor for the government and lawmakers.
Like the other ordinary sessions of the year, the June session can last no more than 30 days. It will therefore have to conclude before July 7, when Cameroon is scheduled to host the 51st annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF). The gathering, which will bring together lawmakers from French-speaking countries, is set to take place from July 7 to July 12, 2026.
Ludovic Amara