World’s oldest president, the 93-year-old Paul Biya of Cameroon, has picked his son, Franck Emmanuel Biya, as Vice President of the Republic and Head of the Armed Forces, consolidating control over the country’s political and military structures at a time of heightened unrest.

The appointment, announced in an official decree, also designates Franck Biya as Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Defence, placing him at the centre of Cameroon’s security architecture.

Paul Biya first assumed the presidency of Cameroon on November 6, 1982, following the resignation of Ahmadou Ahidjo. As of April 2026, he has served as president for over 43 years, winning subsequent re-elections in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1997, 2004, 2011, 2018, and most recently for an eighth term in October 2025.