Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Cameroon
Title: Ministre d'Etat, Ministre de la Justice garde des sceaux
Laurent Esso
Career
- Justice Minister of Cameroon (1996 to 2000)
- Minister of Public Health of Cameroon (2000 to 2001)
- Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence (2001 to 2004)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs (2004 to 2006)
- Minister of State of Cameroon (2006 to present)
- Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic (2009 to 2011)
- Justice Minister of Cameroon (2011 to present)
Facts compiled from Wikidata (CC0), a reference source, retrieved 2026-10-23. The office record above comes from the official source cited below.
Predecessor: Amadou Ali (from Wikidata)
What the ministry does
The Ministry of Justice, headed by the Keeper of the Seals, drafts the laws and regulations on nationality, the status of magistrates, the organisation of the courts and civil, commercial and criminal law. It also runs prison policy, handles pardon and parole files and keeps and affixes the seals of the Republic.
Sources: Decree No. 2011/408 of 9 December 2011 on the organisation of the Government, article 8 (FAOLEX)
Appointment and predecessor
Laurent Esso has been Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals since 9 December 2011.
Sources: Camer.be, 2 August 2019, Cameroun: Laurent Esso, le grand muet bavard; Wikipedia (English), Laurent Esso
Latest government reshuffle
The government in office was named on 4 January 2019 by presidential decree No. 2019/002, and no newer government had been announced when we last checked, on 11 October 2026.
Sources: Cameroon Tribune, Réaménagement du gouvernement, 4 January 2019; Africanews, 4 January 2019; Prime Minister’s Office of Cameroon, government list (spm.gov.cm); Bénin Web TV, August 2026
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals of Cameroon?
Laurent Esso, in the post since 9 December 2011.
Since when is Laurent Esso Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals?
Since 9 December 2011.
What does the Ministry of Justice of Cameroon do?
The Ministry of Justice, headed by the Keeper of the Seals, drafts the laws and regulations on nationality, the status of magistrates, the organisation of the courts and civil, commercial and criminal law. It also runs prison policy, handles pardon and parole files and keeps and affixes the seals of the Republic.
What is the website of the Ministry of Justice of Cameroon?
The official site is minjustice.cm.
When was Laurent Esso born?
Laurent Esso was born in 1942-08-10, in Douala, according to Wikidata.
Where did Laurent Esso study?
Laurent Esso studied at University of Yaoundé, National School of Administration and Magistracy, according to Wikidata.
Which party does Laurent Esso belong to?
Laurent Esso is listed as a member of Cameroon People's Democratic Movement on Wikidata.
More on PollsAfrica
Sources: Prime Minister's Office of Cameroon (spm.gov.cm) (retrieved 11 Oct 2026).
Cameroon in numbers
All data on Cameroon · Who Cameroon owes · Natural resources in Cameroon · Central Africa compared · Cameroon against its neighbours
Cite this
PollsAfrica (2026). Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Cameroon. Retrieved 26 Oct 2026 from https://pollsafrica.com/countries/cameroon/minister-of-justice-and-keeper-of-the-seals