Laurentine Mbede

In 2002, she was elected as the mayor of Soa community, situated in the Mefou-et-Afamba department of the Central region of Cameroon, following the municipal elections of that year. She joined the National Assembly of Cameroon during its 9th legislature in June 2012. Within the National Assembly, she was a dedicated member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and has continued her service in this capacity until 2024.^[2]

On 10 March 2020, Laurentine Mbede was honored with the title of the oldest member during the inaugural session of the assembly.^[3][4]

Apart from her political engagements, she advocated for increased female participation in city management affairs, notably through the Democracy for Women initiative, which gathers women from various backgrounds across the country.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2024, during her opening address at the first parliamentary session of the year, she made a significant statement openly criticizing deputies and reprimanding them for their lack of action and absenteeism, among other issues.^[5][6]

On 12 April 1971, she married Joseph Mbede, a professor and former health minister. Together, they had six children including Jacques Mbede (executive director in IT and Telecommunications).^[7][8] Her husband died on 19 March 2019.^[3]

Laurentine Mbede died on 22 January 2026.^[9]