Cameroon Moves to Reinstate Vice-President Role to Ensure Presidential Continuity

Cameroon’s parliament is reviewing a bill to reinstate the vice-president, who would complete a president’s term if needed. President Paul Biya⁠, 93, has ruled since 1982. The vice-president would be appointed by the president, serve only the remainder of the term, and could not run for office. The role, abolished in 1972, is likely to pass as the ruling CPDM dominates both chambers.

A joint session of Cameroon’s National Assembly and Senate began on Thursday to consider a proposed constitutional amendment bill that would reintroduce the position of vice-president in the country’s government structure. The bill is aimed at providing a clear mechanism for succession and continuity in the event that the president is unable to complete a term, whether due to death, resignation, or permanent incapacity. The proposed amendment is seen by government officials as a way to strengthen institutional stability and ensure the smooth functioning of the state during unexpected leadership transitions.
President Paul Biya⁠, who is 93 years old, has been in power since 1982, leading Cameroon, an oil- and cocoa-producing nation in Central Africa. With his extended tenure, Biya has become the oldest serving head of state in the world, a fact that has drawn both national and international attention. The country’s most recent major constitutional revision took place in 2008, which notably removed presidential term limits, allowing for extended periods in office for sitting presidents.
According to official statements, the proposed vice-president position is intended to guarantee continuity of governance in situations where the presidency becomes vacant. The draft bill, reviewed by Reuters, specifies that the vice-president would be appointed and dismissed by the president. The duration of the vice-president’s service would not exceed the remaining length of the president’s seven-year term, ensuring that the office functions solely as a transitional role in times of need.
The draft legislation further clarifies that in the event of the president’s death, resignation, or permanent incapacity, the vice-president would assume the remainder of the term. However, the interim president would not have the authority to initiate constitutional revisions or run for office in subsequent elections, a measure designed to prevent potential conflicts of interest or manipulation of the succession process.
Historically, the vice-presidency existed in Cameroon until 1972, when it was eliminated following a constitutional referendum. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), which currently holds a commanding majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate, increases the likelihood that the proposed amendment will be adopted without major opposition. The government argues that reinstating the vice-president role will provide greater institutional stability and continuity in leadership, while critics have raised concerns about concentrating power within the ruling party.