Cameroon Has Not Appointed President’s Son as Vice President, Despite Social Media Claims

False reports claiming Cameroon’s President Paul Biya appointed his son Franck as Vice President have been circulating widely across social media platforms and several news outlets following a controversial parliamentary decision.

On April 4, 2026, Cameroon’s Parliament passed a bill reinstating the position of Vice President, a role that had been abolished in the Central African nation since 1972. The joint parliamentary session approved legislation that grants the sitting President authority to appoint a Vice President who would assume leadership in the President’s absence.

Prior to this change, Cameroonian law designated the Senate President as next in line for presidential succession. The new arrangement has sparked significant political debate within Cameroon and across the region, with critics suggesting it provides a mechanism for the 93-year-old Biya, who has ruled since 1982, to orchestrate his succession.

Just one day after the parliamentary vote, rumors began spreading across social media platforms claiming President Biya had already appointed his son, Franck Biya, to the newly created Vice President position. Some posts, including one from the X (formerly Twitter) account @Aesalerte, went further by alleging Franck had simultaneously been appointed to three powerful positions – Vice President, head of the armed forces, and defense minister.

These claims were accompanied by images of what appeared to be an official presidential decree dated April 4, 2026, and bearing President Biya’s signature. Several media organizations, including Arise TV Nigeria, Citizen Tanzania, and GhanaWeb, subsequently reported on the supposed appointment, further fueling discussion and criticism across the region.

However, multiple verification steps reveal these claims to be false.

First, the timing itself raises immediate red flags. Under Cameroonian law, a bill passed by Parliament requires presidential assent before becoming law. The purported appointment was allegedly made on April 4, the same day as the parliamentary vote, which would have been procedurally impossible as the bill had not yet been signed into law.

Second, neither President Biya’s official social media accounts nor the Cameroonian presidency’s official channels – the standard platforms for announcing presidential decrees – have published any announcements regarding a Vice Presidential appointment. An exhaustive review of these channels reveals no mention of Franck Biya or any other candidate being named to the position.

Third, legitimate news organizations within Cameroon and international outlets covering the region have only reported on the creation of the Vice President position itself, not on any subsequent appointment. Several Cameroonian political analysts and journalists have explicitly identified the circulating decree as fraudulent.

Laure Nganlay, a respected Cameroonian fact-checker, confirmed: “The post of Vice President has been created (voted by the National Assembly and Senate during a Congress). Appointment is yet to come.”

The false claim appears designed to inflame political tensions in Cameroon, where President Biya’s four-decade rule has faced increasing scrutiny. Speculation about succession plans has intensified in recent years given the president’s advanced age, with Franck Biya frequently mentioned as a potential successor despite his limited political experience.

The reestablishment of the Vice Presidency represents a significant constitutional change for Cameroon, potentially reshaping the country’s political landscape as it prepares for an eventual transition of power. However, as of now, no appointment to this newly created position has been made.