New twist in envisaged Constitutional amendment: Francophone tipped to be Vice President with succession power!.

He had said among other things that: “We will also submit to Parliament some reforms to enhance the State’s efficiency by adapting our institutions to the demands of our environment.” 

Biya had through the declaration, only given credence to narratives that have lingered on in the last couple of years.

The need to adjust the country’s Constitution, with room for certain positions such as that of the Vice President of the Republic, has remained recurrent in such debates. 

Beyond the “coming days” he promised Cameroonians to form a new government, which till date has not happened, the President’s inner circle is reportedly still working on all cylinders. 

What is said to be cooking just like other observers have been talking about for years, is said to be the country’s succession plan at the helm of State. 

While Biya himself had said while on a visit to Italy in March 2017, that he is not of the school of thought that believes in anointing successors, his compatriots have not stopped weighing the options.

It is an all-important issue that has a bearing on the geopolitical setup of Cameroon. 

The Guardian Post has gathered on good authority that the new potential new-look of the State architecture could in the coming months be the introduction the Post of Vice President of the Republic, with powers of succession.

Anglophones’ hope of a return to the Vice Presidency post and one of them occupying the said position with succession power, might be far from being realistic. 

Authoritative sources have hinted The Guardian Post that the option being weighed is having a Francophone as Vice President, while the Prime Minister’s Office will remain with Anglophones. 

Additionally, those building the envisaged structure are said be looking forward to also further bolster the powers of the post of Prime Minister, Head of Government. 

This, we are told, is to erode possible fresh feeling of Anglophone marginalization, when the now being considered option of a Francophone Vice President manifests.

Those considering such an option are said to be in the know that sailing through a phase in the country’s executive power structure wherein the President and Vice are all of the French-speaking majority, is a powder keg. 

As sensitive as it is, reworking the powers of the Post of Prime Minister, Head of Government, is said to being considered as the best way to douse tensions that may spark, after the envisaged Constitutional amendment see the light of day.

Anglophones, Vice President post & Biya’s dilemma

Political watchers say it will be misleading for any observer to feel Biya would have it easy to mature what the rumour mill is emitting, with respect to what could end up being the new power structure in the country.

The Anglophone crisis, which turned into an armed conflict since 2017, they say, started along the lines of cries of Anglophone marginalisation.  With Cameroon having had a Francophone as its first President, followed by Biya, another Francophone, many Anglophones think giving them the Vice Presidency will be a good start to addressing the errors of yesteryears.

This, political analysts are arguing, is a thin line President Biya must threat cautiously with, especially given that his leadership is yet to fully address concerns linked to Anglophone marginalisation.

Where Anglophones are placed within the country’s power structure, observers say, must be properly thought out to avoid sending across a message of further marginalisation and subjugation. 

Analysts hold the strong view that reintroducing the post of Vice President and not giving it to Anglophones will be gross injustice and a treat to national unity.

The new twist of a Francophone Vice Presidency is emerging after years of reports that certain Anglophones had been groomed to occupy the position when the time comes.

But analysts say, the succession question is what is giving sleepless nights to power brokers. They say giving Anglophones the position with powers of succession or keeping them at the Star Building while Francophones keep the post of President and Vice President is the complex political equation crowding Biya’s head. 

The one-million-dollar question is; where will Biya cast his lot?

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3689 of Friday January 30, 2026