Cameroonian President Paul Biya has signed a decree restoring the vice presidency, a position that was abolished in 1984 when a constitutional overhaul replaced it with the role of prime minister. The move follows a parliamentary vote the previous week and grants the president authority to appoint a vice president, who would assume the role of head of state if the presidency becomes vacant. Lawmakers say the restoration signals a return to a dual-executive system aimed at improving governmental stability and resolving longstanding concerns over succession in Cameroon (a Central African nation that has been led by Biya since 1982).