Cameroon is set for its most significant constitutional shift in half a century after Parliament voted overwhelmingly to reintroduce the post of vice-president, a move critics denounce as a "constitutional coup" designed to bypass democratic succession.
The legislation, passed by a joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate, creates a presidential appointee who would automatically assume power should 93-year-old President Paul Biya die or become incapacitated. Under the previous framework, the President of the Senate would take temporary charge for up to 120 days until fresh elections were organised.
The new amendment allows the appointed vice-president to serve out the remainder of the president's seven-year mandate, effectively removing the requirement for an immediate national vote. While the bill has been cleared by lawmakers, it now awaits the final signature of Mr Biya, the world’s oldest head of state, to be promulgated into law.
Government officials defended the reform as a measure to ensure institutional stability. Speaking during the parliamentary session, Justice Minister Laurent Esso stated that the change provides a "clearer path for representation" and increases administrative efficiency when the head of state is unavailable.
However, the opposition has reacted with fury, claiming the move formalises a "republican monarchy." Joshua Osih, chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), argued that the law centralises power further within the presidency and ignores the country’s deep-seated regional divisions.
"This is nothing short of a constitutional coup," Mr Osih remarked, noting that the bill failed to include a power-sharing mechanism between the Francophone majority and the Anglophone minority. "It is a missed opportunity to address the grievances of English-speaking Cameroonians by ensuring they have a guaranteed role at the highest level of government."
Maurice Kamto, leader of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), echoed these concerns, suggesting the amendment is intended to facilitate a hand-picked succession. Speculation continues to mount in Yaoundé regarding who Mr Biya might appoint once the law is signed, as the nation considers a future beyond his 42-year rule.