Lawyers Demand GA President’s Resignation After Assault at Bar General Assembly

By Lexicon Endeley

Many lawyers in Cameroon are calling for the resignation of the President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Gbaka Ernest Acho, following an alleged physical assault on a colleague during a now-postponed Bar General Assembly, which was held on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Yaoundé.

The incident occurred at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex, where lawyers from across the country gathered for an ordinary General Assembly to examine and vote on the Bar’s functional budget and other matters. The meeting, however, failed to hold due to a lack of quorum, as the Bar law requires the presence of at least half of lawyers on the Bar roll, estimated at 2,000.

What Led to the Incident

According to sources present at the scene, the events that culminated in the assault began with a disagreement over secretarial responsibilities at the General Assembly.
By law, the Secretary General of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Zangue Serge Martin, is responsible for all secretariat duties during General Assemblies. These include preparing the attendance register and managing administrative protocols during such meetings.
Ahead of the January 30 session, Barrister Zangue formally notified the Bar hierarchy and lawyers that he would personally carry out these duties. In his communiqué, issued on the eve of the Assembly, he cited provisions of the Internal Rules of the Cameroon Bar Association that grant him this mandate.
However, the President of the General Assembly, Barrister Gbaka Ernest Acho, had reportedly already constituted a separate secretariat and prepared his own attendance register. This overlap created tension at the venue.

Clash at the Assembly Hall

Eyewitness accounts say a heated exchange of words broke out between Barrister Gbaka Ernest and Barrister Zangue Serge at the Assembly Hall. The disagreement quickly drew the attention of lawyers who had arrived for the meeting.
During the confrontation, Barrister Walters Shashan Birghan Mbinglo, who acts as Chief of Cabinet to the President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Mbah Eric, stepped forward to calm the situation. Sources say his intervention expressed the worry that nothing would be accomplished if the two officials kept up with their heated exchange.
This intervention reportedly angered Barrister Gbaka Ernest. He is said to have rebuked Barrister Shashan, questioning his presence and right to speak while senior Bar officials were addressing the matter. Moments later, and in full view of lawyers and advocates in training, the President of the General Assembly allegedly slapped Barrister Shashan.

Immediate Reactions and Crisis Meeting

The assault triggered outrage among the lawyers present, many of whom expressed disappointment and disapproval with the General Assembly President’s incident demanded immediate action against the General Assembly President. It is said that the incident was unprecedented.
In the meantime, the General Assembly was officially adjourned to a later date. The adjournment took place in the presence of a representative of the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals.

Possible Legal and Disciplinary Actions

Following the incident, lawyers have openly demanded the resignation of Barrister Gbaka Ernest Acho from his position as President of the General Assembly.
Legal sources indicate that several actions are possible, including disciplinary and criminal actions. Under Bar regulations, disciplinary sanctions may range from a warning or reprimand to suspension or outright dismissal, depending on the outcome of investigations.
As of now, the Cameroon Bar Association has not issued any official statement on the incident, but pressure continues to mount within the legal community for accountability and respect for professional ethics.
For a Bar Association that has been vocal and has taken action in numerous cases where lawyers have been assaulted by forces of law and order, for example, the incident now poses a challenge to the Bar and expectations are high as to what action the Bar will take.