By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Cameroon is once again facing a defining constitutional moment, as growing discussions around institutional reforms, including the possible creation of a Vice President, have renewed discussion over national unity, representation, and the future of governance.
At the centre of the conversation is a fundamental question: how can the country better reflect its diverse identities at the highest level of executive power? Prominent human rights advocate Nkongho Felix Agbor argues that the current moment presents more than a routine opportunity for reform. Instead, he sees it as a critical juncture to address long-standing structural imbalances and rebuild trust in state institutions.
For decades, Cameroon’s unity has relied on a delicate balancing of its regional, linguistic, and cultural diversity. While often informal, this balance has shaped political appointments and institutional leadership across the country.
Currently, that distribution is reflected in the leadership of key institutions, with the National Assembly headed by a figure from the West Region and the Senate led by a representative from the North.
“In such a configuration, the introduction of a Vice President cannot be politically neutral. It must respond to the longstanding need for Anglophone inclusion at the highest level of executive authority. Anything short of this would not only ignore the current national context but risk deepening existing fractures,” Agbor Balla said.
From Marginalisation to Representation
The Anglophone question remains one of the most pressing issues facing Cameroon. For years, English-speaking communities have raised concerns over political, administrative, legal, and cultural marginalisation. These grievances have since evolved into a protracted crisis that continues to test the state’s cohesion.
According to Agbor Balla, addressing this challenge requires more than policy declarations. It demands concrete institutional guarantees that reflect inclusion in practice.
“Creating a Vice Presidency and entrusting it to an Anglophone Cameroonian would: signal recognition and respect, provide a visible and functional stake in national leadership and contribute to restoring trust in state institutions,” Agbor Balla, who heads the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, said. “This is not about symbolism. It is about power-sharing in practice.”
Balla argues that the creation of a Vice Presidency, occupied by an Anglophone Cameroonian, could serve as a powerful signal of recognition and inclusion. Beyond symbolism, such a role could function as a bridge between the central government and Anglophone communities, helping to rebuild confidence and facilitate dialogue.
“A Vice President who is Anglophone would serve not merely as a figurehead, but as a bridge between the state and Anglophone populations, a guarantor of bilingual and bi-jural sensitivity in governance and a key actor in conflict resolution and national cohesion,” he noted. “In a country where the unity of the state is under strain, such a role is not optional—it is strategic.”
Constitutional Reform Must Go Further.
Agbor Balla cautioned that creating a Vice Presidency alone may not be sufficient. He suggests that, if the position is not established, constitutional reforms should go further by embedding safeguards that guarantee Anglophone representation in the highest offices of the state.
One proposal is the idea that, in the event of a vacancy in the presidency, the constitutional successor should be an Anglophone Cameroonian. Such a provision would help reassure English-speaking populations of their place within the national framework, while reducing tensions surrounding political succession.
“This is not a radical proposition. It is a stabilising one. Such a provision would: reassure millions of Anglophones that they are an integral part of the national project, reduce tensions around succession and strengthen confidence in the future of the Republic,” Balla explained.
Despite differing views, there is broad agreement that Cameroon’s current constitutional moment carries significant weight. With public trust in institutions under pressure and expectations, particularly among young people, continuing to rise, the outcome of these debates could shape the country’s political trajectory for years to come.
“This debate must not be reduced to identity politics. It is fundamentally about justice, fairness, and national survival. True unity is not declared—it is designed,” Agbor Balla argued.
“This is not merely a political choice,” Agbor Balla said but it is a national necessity.”
