Minister of State for National Education Aurélien Simplice Zingas signed several decrees in 2026, admitting candidates to the baccalaureate for the 2003 and 2013 sessions. These decrees are being issued 23 years after the 2003 session and 13 years after the 2013 session, in the year 2026. Me MBOE Dédé-Vianney asserted that the Council of Ministers authorized the maneuver, making all government members politically responsible for the controversial decision. MBOE Dédé-Vianney stated that such an action is "trop simple, voire simpliste," adding, "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum." The legal expert's critique notes what he perceives as a fundamental disregard for established legal and academic procedures.
Legal Arguments Against Decrees
Me MBOE Dédé-Vianney asserted that the baccalaureate is an academic title granted solely by a jury, not by a minister or through a decree. He argued that the absence of jury deliberation means no admission can legally occur, and without official minutes documenting such deliberations, there is no legal proof of successful completion. Consequently, without this legal proof, no diploma can be legitimately issued. This fundamental procedural requirement, according to MBOE Dédé-Vianney, is non-negotiable for the validity of such an academic award.
The legal expert further stated that the ministerial decrees signed by Minister of State for National Education Aurélien Simplice Zingas are legally void. MBOE Dédé-Vianney explained that these decrees carry no legal effect due to a total absence of legal basis for their issuance. He previously described the government's action as "trop simple, voire simpliste," indicating a perceived lack of sophistication or legal rigor in the approach. He emphasized that the baccalaureate is an academic title awarded exclusively by a jury, not by a minister or a decree, making the current ministerial intervention illegitimate. Without jury deliberation, there is no admission; without minutes, there is no legal proof; and without legal proof, there is no diploma, he clarified.
MBOE Dédé-Vianney also quoted the Latin adage, "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum," suggesting that while making a mistake is human, persisting in it is reprehensible. His legal critique centers on the fundamental procedural requirements for awarding academic qualifications, which he maintains cannot be circumvented by ministerial order. He stressed that the Council of Ministers' alleged authorization of this maneuver renders all government members politically responsible for what he views as a legally baseless action.
Ignored Alternative Solutions
Me MBOE Dédé-Vianney contended that the government overlooked several legally sound approaches to address the baccalaureate admissions issue. He suggested that alternatives such as organizing an exceptional catch-up session for candidates, designing specific evaluation tests, or reconstituting results before an ad hoc jury were not pursued. MBOE Dédé-Vianney previously characterized the government's chosen method as "trop simple, voire simpliste," implying a lack of thorough consideration for proper legal processes. He further invoked the Latin adage, "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum," to show his view that while an initial mistake might be understandable, the persistence in an legally unsound action is reprehensible. These ignored solutions, according to MBOE Dédé-Vianney, would have provided a legitimate framework for addressing the long-standing admissions discrepancies without resorting to what he deems legally void decrees. He noted that these viable alternatives could have ensured the integrity and legal standing of the baccalaureate awards.
Expert's Call to Action
Me MBOE Dédé-Vianney has called for the immediate withdrawal of the ministerial decrees, urging authorities to constitute a proper jury and initiate a regular procedure for baccalaureate admissions. The legal expert emphasized that the current approach is "trop simple, voire simpliste." MBOE Dédé-Vianney also articulated his detailed legal arguments in the review 'Le Reflet', where he further stated, "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum." He advocates for a legally sound process to rectify the admissions irregularities, rather than what he perceives as an unlawful ministerial intervention. His call to action includes the explicit demand for the decrees to be withdrawn, a jury to be constituted, and a regular procedure to be initiated, ensuring that the baccalaureate's academic integrity is upheld.
Broader Implications and Context
The Minister of State for National Education explained the decrees by stating that deliberation minutes were destroyed during vandalism in the ministry's archives. Me MBOE Dédé-Vianney, a doctor of law and former Coordinator-Chief of the Permanent Council for the Reform of Central African Administration, asserts the government's actions are illegal and "trop simple, voire simpliste." He cautioned that diplomas obtained via these decrees would be difficult to enforce abroad and vulnerable before a judge, adding, "Errare humanum est, sed perseverare diabolicum." He further elaborated on the potential repercussions, stating that without proper legal backing, these diplomas would lack international recognition and could be easily challenged in a court of law. This situation, MBOE Dédé-Vianney warned, poses significant risks for the recipients of these baccalaureate degrees.
