Cameroon Parliament Approves Return of Vice-Presidency Amid Criticism

Cameroon’s parliament has approved a constitutional amendment restoring the vice-presidency, allowing it to assume power if President Paul Biya cannot serve. While the government says it ensures stability, critics argue it concentrates more power in the presidency.

Cameroon’s parliament on Saturday overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to reintroduce the position of vice-president, a move the government says is aimed at ensuring continuity in leadership but which opposition figures warn could further concentrate executive power. The measure was passed during a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate, both dominated by the ruling party, with 200 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against, and four abstaining.
The amendment provides that the vice-president will automatically assume the presidency in the event that President Paul Biya dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated. This provision is designed to prevent any leadership vacuum and maintain stability at the highest level of government. However, the structure of the role has raised concerns among critics.
Under the new legislation, the vice-president will be directly appointed and can be dismissed by the president, and will serve for the remainder of the president’s seven-year term. While the vice-president would take over leadership if necessary, the law restricts the interim officeholder from initiating constitutional amendments or contesting the next presidential election. Supporters argue that these limitations are intended to prevent abuse of transitional power, but opponents say they reinforce presidential control over succession.
The government maintains that the reform is necessary to safeguard institutional stability, particularly in the event of an unexpected vacancy in the presidency. President Biya now has 15 days to promulgate the bill into law. Officials have framed the move as a practical step to strengthen governance structures and ensure continuity.
Opposition lawmakers and critics, however, argue that the amendment weakens democratic institutions by increasing centralization of authority in the presidency. They contend that allowing the president to appoint and dismiss the vice-president undermines the independence of the office and could limit checks and balances within the system.
The reintroduction of the vice-presidency represents Cameroon’s most significant constitutional change since 2008, when presidential term limits were abolished—a decision that sparked widespread protests across the country. The position of vice-president had previously existed but was removed in 1972 following a constitutional referendum that restructured the country’s governance system.