Cameroon President Paul Biya Picks son as Vice President
Cameroon’s long-serving leader Paul Biya has appointed his son Franck Emmanuel Biya as Vice President, in a dramatic political shift that is already fuelling debate over succession and democratic governance.
The appointment, announced in a presidential decree dated April 4, elevates Franck Biya to one of the most powerful positions in the country.
He will also serve as head of the armed forces and hold a senior role in the defence ministry, placing him at the centre of both political and military authority.
The move comes just days after Cameroon approved the return of the vice presidency, a position designed to ensure continuity in leadership, especially given Biya’s advanced age. At 93, Biya is the world’s oldest serving head of state and has ruled the Central African nation since 1982.
Government officials say the restructuring is aimed at stabilising governance and providing a clear line of succession in the event of the president’s death or incapacity.
A joint sitting of both houses of parliament on Saturday passed the bill changing the constitution, which now requires the president's signature, with 200 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against and four abstaining.
Supporters said the bill would enhance government efficiency as it would elevate the level of representation whenever an official is required to stand in for the president. It would also lift the burden of succession from the Senate to enable it to focus on its legislative functions.
Prior to the amendment, the constitution designated the leader of the Senate to briefly take over in case the sitting president dies or is incapacitated. An election would then be held.
The approved bill now stipulates that the vice-president - appointed by the president rather than elected - will become the head of state to serve out the rest of the seven-year term.
The opposition said it was submitted without broad consultation.
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The Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, which has six representatives in parliament, boycotted the vote. It had pushed for a revision in favour of the vice-president being jointly elected with the president, rather than appointed.
However, critics argue the appointment signals a consolidation of power within the Biya family, raising fears of a dynastic transition. Opposition figures and analysts warn that concentrating both political and military authority in the hands of the president’s son could undermine democratic institutions.
The decision follows a disputed 2025 election that sparked protests and heightened political tensions across the country.
With Franck Biya now positioned at the heart of government, attention is increasingly turning to what this means for Cameroon’s political future—and whether the country is edging closer to a hereditary-style transfer of power.
Meanwhile, another leading opposition voice, Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement said the amendment amounted to a "constitutional and institutional coup" by the ruling party.
In a statement, he argued that the incumbent was seeking a "republican monarchy," and announced his intention to launch an online campaign to denounce the move.
From 1961 to 1972, Cameroon operated under a federal system which respected the autonomy of the francophone and anglophone parts of the country.
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During this period, the role of vice-president was in place. However, following a 1972 referendum which moved the country to a unitary state, the office was scrapped.
Biya's long time in power, which began in November 1982, has sparked a debate about his succession. Despite the move to reinstate the vice-president position, the future of Cameroon beyond Biya remains uncertain.