Cameroon approves vice president role for 93-year-old Biya

Saturday 04 April 2026 - 15:30

Cameroon’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment reintroducing the position of vice president, a move that the government says will ensure continuity, while opposition parties warn it may strengthen executive power.

In a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate, dominated by the ruling party, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, with 200 supporting, 18 opposing, and four abstentions.

The legislation stipulates that the vice president would automatically assume the presidency if President Paul Biya were to die, resign, or become incapacitated. At 93, Biya has led the Central African country, a major oil and cocoa producer, since 1982, making him the world’s oldest serving head of state. Public discussion about his health remains restricted.

Under the new law, the vice president is appointed and dismissed by the president and serves the remainder of the president’s seven-year term. However, the interim leader would be barred from making constitutional changes or running in the subsequent election.

The amendment highlights ongoing debates in Cameroon about presidential succession, political continuity, and the balance of power between the executive branch and other institutions.