Cameroon’s long-serving president, Paul Biya, is set to appoint a vice-president for the first time in over four decades following controversial constitutional amendments approved by parliament.
Biya, who has been in power since 1982 and is currently 93 years old, will now have a deputy who can automatically take over if he is unable to continue in office. Under the new arrangement, the vice-president will complete the president’s term before any new election is held.
The role of vice-president had been scrapped in 1972, with the Senate President previously expected to act as interim leader only until fresh elections were organised.
The recent changes were passed during a joint sitting of parliament, with a large majority of lawmakers backing the bill. Supporters say the move will improve continuity in governance and reduce uncertainty in times of transition.
However, opposition figures have strongly criticised the amendment, arguing that it was rushed and designed to strengthen the president’s grip on power. Some lawmakers—even within the ruling party—also raised concerns about how the process was handled.
Critics are particularly unhappy that the vice-president will be appointed by the president rather than elected by the public. The Social Democratic Front boycotted the vote, insisting that both positions should be jointly elected to reflect democratic principles.
There were also calls for the reform to address Cameroon’s long-standing linguistic divide between its English-speaking and French-speaking regions, but those proposals were not included.
Another opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, described the move as a “constitutional and institutional coup,” warning that it could concentrate too much power in the presidency.
The reintroduction of the vice-president role has revived discussions about succession in Cameroon, especially given Biya’s age and the long-standing speculation about his health. While the government presents the reform as a step toward stability, critics argue it raises more questions than it answers about the country’s political future.
