Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Yaoundé, Cameroon — Cameroon’s parliament has approved a landmark constitutional amendment to reintroduce the office of vice president, a position that was abolished more than five decades ago, in a move that could reshape the country’s succession framework amid rising political tension.
In a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the amendment, with around 200 deputies supporting the change, 18 opposed and four abstaining. The revised provision now awaits formal promulgation by President Paul Biya, who has led Cameroon since 1982 and at age 93 remains one of the world’s longest‑serving heads of state.
Under the proposed constitutional framework, the vice president would be appointed and dismissed solely by the president and would assume the presidency if the sitting president were to die, resign or become permanently incapacitated. The interim leader would be barred from altering the constitution or contesting the next presidential election, a measure the government says is designed to ensure continuity and stability.
Until the amendment is formally signed into law, the office of vice president is not legally in force. Under the current constitution, in the event of a presidential vacancy, the president of the Senate assumes interim power, a system that has been in place since the vice presidency was abolished in 1972.
Despite rumours circulating widely on social media and in some local outlets that President Biya’s son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, has already been appointed vice president and military leader, independent verification has found no official decree, government announcement or authenticated document confirming such roles. The viral document circulating on messaging platforms claiming to confer the titles of vice president, head of the armed forces and minister delegate of defence on Franck Biya has been assessed as inauthentic, and because the constitutional amendment has not yet been promulgated, the position does not yet exist in law.
Franck Emmanuel Biya is known primarily as a businessman and investor and has not held an official government post. His increased visibility in discussions about succession stems largely from speculation within political circles and media, rather than from any formal appointment made by the state.
The constitutional move comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions in Cameroon following the October 2025 presidential election. Official results showed President Biya won a narrow majority, extending his decades‑long rule, but opposition leaders rejected the outcome, citing irregularities. Widespread demonstrations and unrest followed the announcement, reflecting deep public dissatisfaction with the political process.
Political analysts say the restoration of the vice president post represents a strategic adjustment in Cameroon’s governance architecture. Supporters of the amendment argue it will provide institutional continuity should the presidency become vacant, especially given Biya’s advanced age and prolonged tenure. They say the reform aims to prevent a sudden power vacuum in a nation grappling with ongoing security issues and political divisions.
Opposition figures have sharply criticised the changes, framing them as a consolidation of executive control that distances Cameroon further from democratic norms. Critics argue that appointing rather than electing a vice president weakens institutional legitimacy and could facilitate dynastic succession, reinforcing long‑standing concerns about power concentration and political exclusion.
Civil society groups have also voiced concern over the speed and scope of the constitutional overhaul, pointing to limited public consultation and broader governance challenges. Youth movements and campaigners for political reform have intensified their calls for greater transparency and democratic accountability, arguing that sustainable governance must be rooted in legitimacy at the ballot box rather than elite decision‑making.
The opposition’s concerns are amplified by ongoing unrest in Cameroon’s anglophone northwest and southwest regions, where separatist armed groups have waged conflict since 2017. The combination of constitutional changes, disputed election results and persistent insecurity has heightened scrutiny of Cameroon’s political trajectory and raised questions about prospects for peaceful, democratic transition.
While the vice presidency as envisioned by the amendment would constitute a significant new institution in Cameroon’s political landscape, its actual implementation remains conditional on presidential promulgation. Only after the text enters into force can appointments be made under its provisions. Until that step occurs, any claim that Franck Emmanuel Biya or any other individual has assumed the role is unverified and not grounded in official state action.
As parliament prepares to transmit the amendment to the presidency, Cameroonians across political divides are closely watching how the process unfolds and what it will mean for the future of executive power and governance in their country. The coming weeks are likely to see intensified debate over the nature of political leadership, succession and the balance between stability and democratic legitimacy.
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