Quickly discredited rumours circulated across Cameroon on Tuesday that President Paul Biya had appointed his son, Franck Biya, as vice president. Officials confirmed that no one has yet been named to the office.
Local media had reported that the president signed a decree shortly after the vice presidency was reintroduced on Saturday. The position had been scrapped in 1972 following a constitutional referendum.
Although the reports were denied, they fed into concerns among critics that the new law could pave the way for a political dynasty.
The bill, passed by a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate and boycotted by the main opposition party, grants the president absolute authority over the vice presidency, allowing him to appoint and dismiss officeholders at will. The deputy can only exercise powers delegated by the president.
If the president dies, resigns, or becomes incapacitated, the vice president will serve as interim president for the remainder of the seven-year tenure.
Proponents argue the amendment ensures institutional stability should the 93-year-old president be unable to carry out his duties. Critics, including the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), contend that it undermines democratic principles.
The SDF stated that the amendment “fails to guarantee democratic legitimacy, inclusiveness, and proper institutional balance.” Fusi Namukong, an SDF member of parliament, added, “It’s not democratic. In a republic, those who wield power at the highest level should be elected, not appointed.”
The Cameroon Bar Association also warned that the amendment erodes the democratic legitimacy of the presidential office and undermines the country’s constitution.
President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest serving leader, has been in power since 1982. His reelection to an eighth term in 2025 sparked protests that left at least four people dead, highlighting growing tension between the largely young population and the aging president.
