“What Happens When Africa’s Longest-Serving President Without a Deputy President Dies?”
With rumours circulating that Africa’s oldest and longest-serving president, Paul Biya, has passed away, questions are emerging about who would take over power in Cameroon, as he hasn’t appointed a vice-president.
Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon for nearly 44 years. He officially took power on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of Cameroon’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo.
From that date, Cameroon operated without a vice-president for decades. However, in April 2026, the country amended its Constitution to introduce the office of vice-president.
Under the revised Constitution, the appointed vice-president would automatically take over the presidency and complete the remainder of the seven-year presidential term if the sitting president dies, resigns or becomes permanently incapacitated.
However, the exact individual who will take over remains unconfirmed, as President Biya has not yet publicly appointed anyone to the vice-president position.
As it stands now, if President Paul Biya dies while the vice-president position remains vacant, the President of the Senate will automatically take power as the acting president of Cameroon.