Cameroon to Reintroduce Vice-President as Biya Signs Controversial Constitutional Change

Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, is set to appoint a vice-president for the first time in more than four decades, following a controversial constitutional amendment approved by parliament.

The move, which marks a significant shift in the country’s succession framework, means that if anything happens to Mr Biya, 93, the vice-president will automatically assume office and complete the remainder of the presidential term before fresh elections are held.

The office of vice-president was abolished in 1972 after Cameroon transitioned from a federal to a unitary system. Since then, the president of the Senate has been designated to act as interim leader in the event of a vacancy, pending new elections.

Under the new amendment, however, the vice-president—appointed by the president rather than elected—will take over fully as head of state for the rest of the seven-year term.

The constitutional change was passed on Saturday during a joint sitting of both chambers of parliament, with 200 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against and four abstaining. The bill now awaits the president’s formal assent.

Supporters of the reform say it will improve governance by ensuring continuity at the highest level of leadership and reducing the burden on the Senate, allowing it to focus on its legislative responsibilities.

But the amendment has drawn strong criticism from opposition figures, who argue that it was rushed through without adequate consultation and is designed to consolidate power within the presidency.

The Social Democratic Front (SDF), which holds six seats in parliament, boycotted the vote. The party had advocated for a system in which the vice-president would be jointly elected alongside the president, rather than appointed.

It also called for a constitutional arrangement that reflects Cameroon’s linguistic divide between its English-speaking and French-speaking regions, proposing that the country’s top two offices be shared between the two communities—a structure that existed before 1972.

“This constitutional reform could have been a moment of political courage, but it is nothing less than a missed historic opportunity,” said Joshua Osih, chairman of the SDF.

Another prominent opposition figure, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, described the amendment as a “constitutional and institutional coup” by the ruling party. He warned that the move signals an attempt to entrench what he called a “republican monarchy,” and announced plans to launch an online campaign against it.

Even within the ruling party, dissent has emerged, with one senator reportedly describing the legislative process as “suspicious”.

Mr Biya, who has been in power since November 1982, remains the world’s oldest serving head of state. His long rule has fuelled persistent debate over succession, often accompanied by speculation about his health—though such discussions are largely avoided in public discourse.

Despite repeated rumours, the president has consistently reappeared in public after extended absences, dismissing concerns about his wellbeing.

Cameroon operated a federal system between 1961 and 1972, during which the position of vice-president existed and political power was shared between the country’s anglophone and francophone regions. That arrangement ended following a 1972 referendum that introduced a unitary state and abolished the vice-presidency.

Although the reintroduction of the role is seen by some as a step toward clearer succession planning, uncertainty remains over Cameroon’s political future beyond Mr Biya.

The president secured an eighth term in office last October with 53.7 per cent of the vote in an election the opposition said was marred by irregularities.

With the constitutional amendment now in place, attention is turning to who Mr Biya may appoint as vice-president—a decision likely to shape the country’s political direction in the years ahead.