By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, has appointed his son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, as the country’s new Vice President and Head of the Armed Forces, strengthening his grip on power.
The appointment was officially announced on April 4, 2026, through a decree that also designates Franck Biya as Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence. These three influential positions place him right at the heart of Cameroon’s political and security structure.
Explaining his role, the decree notes: “The Vice President of the Republic, Mr Franck Emmanuel Biya, is also appointed Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cameroon.”
Citing constitutional provisions and defence laws, the presidency said the appointments were made in line with “service requirements,” adding that the decree “shall be registered, published according to the procedure of urgency, and inserted in the Official Gazette.”
This move comes few months, after Biya, 92 was inaugurated for eighth term, the longest in the country’s history.
Despite the controversy in the election that brought him to power, Biya described the poll as “satisfactory” and commended the electoral body for its conduct, while congratulating security forces for containing the demonstrations without addressing allegations of excessive force on protesters.
The Constitutional Council dismissed multiple petitions challenging the results, citing insufficient evidence or lack of jurisdiction.
Biya, who took over as Cameroon’s leader in 1982 is now finding himself under fresh fire from critics. They’re accusing him of trying to tighten his hold on power, using both political maneuvering and military strength.
Making his son the vice president and head of the armed forces is likely to raise further worries about who will take over leadership and how democratic the country really is, especially as demands for change keep growing louder.
A report from the Robert Lansing Institute for 2025 suggested that if Biya’s government aims to keep power within the family by having his son succeed him, Cameroon might end up with a simple handoff from father to son instead of any real political change.
The report added that this scenario would probably require some behind-the-scenes adjustments to the constitution or rulings from the loyal Constitutional Council to clear Franck Biya’s path to power.
