"Theodore Datouo won election as the new Cameroon parliamentary president in Yaounde on Tuesday, ending more than three decades under Cavaye Yeguie Djibril. Footage shows lawmakers gathering and casting ballots, with votes then counted. Datouo, who previously served as Deputy Speaker and represents the West Region, was announced as the new Speaker and applauded by members, addressing the chamber before leaving in a motorcade. "I would like to express my gratitude to you as well. Ultimately, through your vote, democracy has spoken," Datouo said. "In return, I would like to reassure you that, as Speaker of the National Assembly, I will listen to all Members of Parliament and address all issues," he added. Datouo, 66, secured 133 out of 147 votes. The election was supported by MPs across the chamber, with 14 ballots declared invalid, representing 90.47 percent of votes cast in his favour. The opposition described the move as a controlled political shift within the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, rather than a break from the establishment, and part of President Paul Biya's push for generational renewal ahead of national elections. "What is truly beneficial for the people, beyond a change of personnel, is a change of system, a change in the way things are done," explained Kouptit Adamou, Union for Democracy and Change (UDC) member of parliament. "When the head of a chamber representing a branch of government that is supposed to be independent pledges his loyalty, fidelity and service to the head of another branch, it simply means that we may well see a change of personnel but never a change of system," he continued. Djibril, now 86, had served as Speaker since March 31, 1992, after being first elected as an MP in 1970. He spent 56 years in parliament and presided over the lower house for 33 years, making him one of the longest-serving legislative leaders in modern history. He faced criticism in later years, including in 2016 when he called social media 'a new form of terrorism' following public outrage over a deadly train disaster."