Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed into law on Tuesday a bill to reintroduce the post of vice president in the central African nation.

The country’s parliament voted to reinstate the position more than a week ago.

According to the new law, the vice president will be appointed by the president and will take over as head of state in the event of a presidential vacancy.

The nation now awaits Biya’s appointment of its first vice president in over 40 years.

Cameroon abolished the post in 1984 during a constitutional revision, replacing it with the office of prime minister. 

According to lawmakers, its reintroduction signals a return to a dual executive structure aiming to solve succession issues at the highest level of the state.

• A Tell Media / Xinhua report