Cameroon is considering a draft constitutional reform aimed at reintroducing the post of vice-president, an initiative that revives questions about the succession of head of state Paul Biya, who has been in power for more than four decades.
The text is currently being examined during a joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate. It stipulates that a vice-president could ensure the continuity of the State in the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of the president, whose term lasts seven years.
At over 90 years old, Paul Biya is the world's oldest serving leader. While all public discussion about his health remains officially forbidden, the question of succession has become a central topic in the country's political debate.
According to the proposed legislation, the vice president would be appointed and dismissed directly by the president and could only serve for the remainder of the current presidential term. The vice president would also be barred from amending the Constitution or running for office during this interim period.
The government presents this reform as a way to guarantee institutional stability. But the opposition sees it as yet another attempt to strengthen executive power in a country where previous constitutional amendments have already sparked fierce criticism.
In 2008, the removal of term limits sparked nationwide protests, which were violently suppressed. Since then, concerns have persisted regarding the balance of power and the democratic functioning of institutions.
With the ruling party holding an overwhelming majority in Parliament, the bill's passage appears likely. This reform could reshape the mechanisms of succession at the head of state and have a lasting impact on Cameroon's political future.
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