Cameroon's President Biya appoints son as vice president in controversial succession move

Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, 93, has appointed his son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, as Vice President and Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence, placing him at the centre of the country’s security architecture.

After 43 years in power, this marks the first time Biya has introduced the vice-presidential role, following controversial constitutional changes backed by parliament on Saturday.

The appointment, announced in an official decree, effectively positions Franck Biya as the constitutional successor in the event of the president’s death, resignation, or incapacity.

The move has intensified debate over governance, succession planning and the concentration of power in one of Africa’s longest-serving administrations.

The vice presidency was abolished in 1972 after a constitutional referendum, but has now been reinstated.

?CAMEROUN ?? : Paul BIYA nomme son fils Franck Emmanuel BIYA vice Président de la République et chef des armées, Ministre Délégué à la Défense... pic.twitter.com/uJxnIl3VcR

— Pa Latyr Diouf (@yaxandiou) April 5, 2026

Its return marks Cameroon’s most significant constitutional revision since 2008, when presidential term limits were scrapped, a decision that triggered nationwide protests and a violent crackdown by security forces.

Under the proposed law, the vice president will be appointed and dismissed by the president and will serve for a term not exceeding the president’s seven-year mandate. It also bars an interim president from initiating constitutional amendments or running for office.

The ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement holds an overwhelming majority in both houses of parliament, making passage of the bill in its current form highly likely.

Opposition groups, including the Social Democratic Front, have raised concerns about democratic backsliding, while supporters argue the move could help stabilise leadership amid ongoing security challenges, including separatist insurgencies in Anglophone regions and threats from extremist groups.

As questions persist over President Biya’s health, Franck Biya’s elevation places Cameroon in uncharted succession territory, testing the resilience of its political institutions.