The President of the Republic made public on April 14 the law amending the Constitution, which establishes the position of Vice-President of the Republic.
The Head of State is finalizing the process of amending the Constitution leading to the creation of a Vice-President of the Republic position. Paul Biya promulgated last Tuesday Law No. 2026/002 of April 14, 2026, amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Constitution of June 2, 1972, amended and supplemented by Law No. 96/06 of January 18, 1996, and Law No. 2008/001 of April 14, 2008. The said law, adopted by the congress on April 4, last modifies articles 5, 6, 7, 10, 53, and 66 of the Constitution. Essentially, it creates a position of Vice-President of the Republic and charges the President of the Republic with appointing this person.
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The amended Constitution also arranges the modalities for the delegation of powers to the Vice-President as well as those relating to the management of a vacancy in the presidency of the Republic. The new provisions of the Constitution add the Vice-President to the list of personalities required to declare their assets before taking office. They also provide for cases in which the High Court of Justice can prosecute the Vice-President.
A new figure in the administrative and political structure of the State, the Vice-President of the Republic, as provided for by the fundamental law today, is the figure of continuity of the presidential mandate. Appointed by the Head of State, he completes the presidential term in the event of a vacancy in the presidency of the Republic. This is what some analysts have seen as a way for the regime to pave the way for a handpicked succession at the top of the State. This personality who can succeed the Head of State does not benefit from the national sovereignty conferred by the people.
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All in all, with the promulgation of the law making the new provisions of the Constitution applicable, the debate seems to be deferred to the lecture halls of law faculties. The law having arranged everything, only the appointment of the Vice-President of the Republic remains. And the position that existed within the framework of federalism between 1961 and 1992 with designation by electoral means comes back to life. The difference is that the designation of the personality will be made according to the will of the President of the Republic.
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