Trending 
Cameroon’s parliament overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on Saturday to re-establish the position of vice president.
In a joint session dominated by the ruling party, lawmakers voted 200 to 18 in favour of the bill, which mandates that the vice president will automatically assume the presidency should the head of state die, resign, or become incapacitated.
President Paul Biya, who at 93 is the world’s oldest serving head of state, now has 15 days to officially promulgate the legislation.
Under the new law, the vice president will be an appointed official, selected and dismissed at the sole discretion of the president.
While the appointee would serve out the remainder of a seven-year presidential term in the event of a vacancy, the interim leader is strictly prohibited from initiating further constitutional changes or running in the subsequent election.
The government maintains that these reforms are essential for ensuring institutional stability and a clear line of succession in the Central African nation.
The amendment has faced sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who argue it further centralises power and undermines democratic legitimacy.
Joshua Osih, chairman of the Social Democratic Front, described the move as a missed opportunity to address long-standing historical grievances and the civil conflict that has persisted since 2017.
Critics had instead advocated for a system of joint election for the presidency and vice presidency to better reflect the country’s diverse heritage.
This marks the first major constitutional shift in Cameroon since the controversial removal of term limits in 2008.
