Cameroon is set to restore the office of vice-president after lawmakers overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment designed to establish a clear line of succession in the event the president is unable to remain in office.
The proposal received strong backing during a joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate on Saturday, with 200 legislators voting in favour, 18 opposing the measure and four abstaining.
Succession Plan Targets Leadership Stability
Under the approved amendment, the vice-president would immediately take over the presidency if the sitting head of state dies, resigns or is declared incapable of performing official duties.
Government officials have defended the change as a safeguard against uncertainty, arguing that it would provide continuity and ensure the country’s institutions continue functioning smoothly during a leadership transition.
President Paul Biya now has 15 days to sign the legislation into law.
President to Appoint the Vice-President
The amendment grants the president the authority to appoint and dismiss the vice-president.
Once appointed, the officeholder would complete the remainder of the president’s seven-year term should they be required to assume the presidency.
However, the legislation places limits on the interim leader’s powers.
A vice-president who succeeds to the presidency would not be permitted to amend the constitution or contest the next presidential election, preventing the position from becoming a pathway to immediate re-election.
Reform Arrives as Questions Surround Longtime Leader
The constitutional change comes as President Paul Biya, who has governed Cameroon since 1982, remains the world’s oldest serving head of state at 93 years old.
Although public discussion of Biya’s health is prohibited in Cameroon, the succession measure has attracted significant attention because it formally establishes what would happen if the presidency unexpectedly becomes vacant.
Opposition Warns of Greater Executive Control
Opposition parties have sharply criticised the amendment, arguing that it concentrates more authority in the hands of the president instead of strengthening democratic institutions.
Joshua Osih, leader of the opposition Social Democratic Front in parliament, described the legislation as a missed opportunity to introduce broader political reforms that could improve national unity and democratic representation.
He argued that Cameroon would have been better served by allowing citizens to elect both the president and vice-president together, reflecting the country’s historical roots as a union of former British- and French-administered territories.
First Major Constitutional Change in Nearly Two Decades
The restoration of the vice-presidency represents Cameroon’s most significant constitutional reform since 2008, when presidential term limits were abolished.
That earlier amendment triggered widespread protests across the country and was followed by a forceful response from security forces.
The office of vice-president itself is not entirely new.
It existed before being abolished in 1972 after a constitutional referendum reshaped the country’s political structure.
Its return marks a significant shift in Cameroon’s governance as the nation continues to grapple with political tensions and an ongoing conflict that has affected parts of the country since 2017.
