Biya’s Power Grab: 93-Year-Old Leader Engineers Vice-President Role to Cement Control
By A Correspondent – Cameroon’s 93-year-old president, Paul Biya, long criticized for clinging to power, is moving to secure his succession by creating a vice-president position for the first time in his 43-year rule — a move widely condemned as a blatant power grab.
Parliament recently passed controversial constitutional changes allowing Biya to appoint the vice-president, who would automatically take over and complete his term if he dies or becomes incapacitated. Previously, the Senate president would only serve temporarily until new elections could be held.
Opposition figures have slammed the maneuver. Maurice Kamto called it an “attempt to entrench a dictatorship,” while the Social Democratic Front boycotted the vote, arguing the role should be elected, not handed down.
Supporters defend the change as a measure to ensure continuity, but critics say it further consolidates Biya’s grip on power amid growing uncertainty over the country’s leadership.
This latest move underscores concerns that Biya is more focused on cementing his legacy and controlling succession than addressing Cameroon’s pressing social and political challenges.
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