YAOUNDÉ—Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has appointed his son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, as Vice President of the Republic and Head of the Armed Forces, according to an official decree dated April 4, 2026. The younger Biya was also designated Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence, placing him at the centre of the nation’s security architecture. The presidency cited “service requirements” and constitutional provisions for the appointments.
The move comes months after the 92-year-old Biya was sworn in for an eighth term following a disputed election. He secured 54 percent of the vote, but opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary rejected the outcome, alleging fraud. The Constitutional Council dismissed challenges to the results. Biya, who has ruled since 1982, now faces renewed criticism from opponents who accuse him of tightening his grip on power through political and military channels, intensifying concerns over democratic governance and succession planning.