Ntimbane Bomo: Rejects Cabral Libii Cameroon VP Proposal

• Lawyer Christian Ntimbane Bomo opposes non-democratic power transitions, specifically "succession de gré à gré."
• National Assembly Deputy Cabral Libii proposed appointing a Vice-President for Cameroon, citing President Paul Biya's advanced age of 93 and national stagnation.
• Ntimbane Bomo argued that citing the President's age implies an "irreversible alteration" of his capacities, potentially triggering a definitive incapacity vacancy.
• He also questioned the necessity of a Vice-President for power delegation, noting the Prime Minister and other ministers already serve as constitutional assistants under existing provisions like Article 8.
• Ntimbane Bomo views Libii's proposal as a strategic move by "power-hungry clans" to facilitate a non-electoral succession.

From Ntimbane Bomo's perspective, the Cabral Libii Vice-President proposal Cameroon is not a genuine attempt to address governance issues but rather a strategic maneuver.

Christian Ntimbane Bomo, a prominent lawyer and leader of the Héritage political party, consistently challenges political figures whose stances he perceives as undermining a genuine democratic transition in Cameroon. He firmly rejects any notion of power transfer outside of transparent, democratic elections, particularly opposing "succession de gré à gré" – a term referring to a succession by private agreement rather than constitutional process. His critiques frequently target opposition leaders like Cabral Libii and Maurice Kamto, especially when their public statements or actions regarding state institutions or the electoral system appear to hinder unified efforts for a true change at the highest levels of government.

Recently, National Assembly Deputy Cabral Libii, who also presides over the PCRN political party, publicly urged President Paul Biya to appoint a Vice-President for Cameroon. This proposal, made in a public forum, has drawn significant attention and prompted Ntimbane Bomo to offer what he termed "juridico-socio political clarifications," aiming to avert what he considers a "perilous adventure" for the nation's stability. The debate surrounding the **Cabral Libii Vice-President proposal Cameroon** highlights deep divisions within the political landscape regarding presidential succession.

Mr. Libii presented several justifications for his call to appoint a Vice-President. He cited President Biya's advanced age, noting he is 93 years old, and argued that the President therefore requires assistance in fulfilling his duties. Furthermore, Libii contended that the country is currently facing significant challenges and stagnation, exemplified by rising feminicides, the unresolved Martinez Zogo case, and issues concerning the Supreme Council of Magistracy. He implied that a Vice-President could help address these pressing national concerns.

However, Ntimbane Bomo sharply criticized these justifications, particularly the emphasis on President Biya's age. He argued that highlighting the President's need for assistance due to advanced age effectively suggests an "irreversible alteration" of his physical capacities. According to Ntimbane Bomo, such an admission could legally trigger a definitive vacancy in the presidency due to incapacity, rather than merely necessitating an assistant. This perspective introduces a critical dimension to the **Cameroon presidential incapacity debate**.

Ntimbane Bomo further questioned the practical efficacy of appointing a Vice-President to resolve the issues cited by Libii. He posited that the presence of a Vice-President would not inherently put an end to feminicides or expedite the Martinez Zogo investigation. Regarding the Supreme Council of Magistracy, Ntimbane Bomo pointed out that the 1982 law governing its operations already designates the Minister of Justice as its Vice-President. He also highlighted that the Minister of Justice, like other ministers, could receive an express delegation of power under **Article 8 Cameroon Constitution delegation** provisions.

Libii's proposal also included the suggestion that the President could delegate powers to a Vice-President in accordance with Article 10 of the Constitution, positioning the Vice-President as a "constitutional assistant." Ntimbane Bomo countered this by noting that Libii himself acknowledges that the Prime Minister and other ministers already receive similar delegations of power and function as constitutional assistants to the President. This led Ntimbane Bomo to question the ultimate justification for delegating powers specifically to a Vice-President over the existing Prime Minister, concluding there was no compelling reason. This forms a core part of the **Paul Biya succession constitutional implications** discussion.

From Ntimbane Bomo's perspective, the **Cabral Libii Vice-President proposal Cameroon** is not a genuine attempt to address governance issues but rather a strategic maneuver. He explicitly accused Libii of being a "marionnétisée" (puppeted) voice for certain "clans pouvoiristes de Yaoundé" (power-hungry clans in Yaoundé) who are eager for a non-democratic transfer of power. Ntimbane Bomo views this proposal as an instrument designed to promote a "succession de gré à Gré," or a succession by private agreement, bypassing the democratic electoral process.

This stance aligns with Ntimbane Bomo's consistent opposition to any form of power transition that deviates from transparent democratic elections. He maintains that such proposals, even when framed as solutions to national problems, ultimately serve to undermine the principle of radical alternation and perpetuate a system where power is transferred through backroom deals rather than the will of the people. The lawyer's strong condemnation underscores the intensity of the **Ntimbane Bomo succession de gré à gré** debate within Cameroon's political opposition.

This article highlights a critical legal debate in Cameroon concerning presidential succession and the interpretation of constitutional provisions related to presidential incapacity and delegation of powers. Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor these discussions for potential shifts in constitutional understanding or political developments that could impact future governance structures and legal stability.

Source: Original reporting via Actu Cameroun