A joint session of Cameroon National Assembly and Senate has begun examining a constitutional amendment that would reintroduce the post of Vice President.
The proposed role would allow the Vice President to complete the mandate of 93-year-old Paul Biya in the event of his death or incapacity. Biya has ruled the oil- and cocoa-producing Central African nation since 1982.
The move follows the 2008 constitutional revision that removed presidential term limits, a change that sparked nationwide protests met with a violent crackdown by security forces. The government says the vice president’s role is intended to preserve state stability during potential leadership transitions.
Patricia Tomaïno Hermine, an opposition lawmaker, warned that the process excludes ordinary Cameroonians, who remain absent from the discussions. She expressed concern that the amendment, if passed without broad public input, may not achieve the goal of a united Cameroon.
–ChannelAfrica–
