A “vacancy” is when the President can no longer exercise their functions at all: death, resignation or permanent incapacity. Each Constitution then designates a replacement. There are three answers.
Answer no. 1: the elected vice-president
They were elected at the same time as the President and replace them until the end of the term. No new election: the people had already chosen them together with the President.
| Country | Replacement |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | Elected vice-president |
| Ghana | Elected vice-president |
| Kenya | Elected vice-president |
Answer no. 2: the appointed vice-president
They were chosen by the President and replace them until the end of the term, without a new election. In Côte d'Ivoire, they are appointed with the agreement of Parliament; in Cameroon, by the President alone, the post having been created in 2026.
| Country | Replacement |
|---|---|
| Côte d'Ivoire | Vice-president appointed with the agreement of Parliament |
| Cameroon | Vice-president appointed by the President |
Answer no. 3: an interim, then an election
The president of one of the two chambers of Parliament serves as interim for a few months, then the people vote again.
| Country | Interim held by |
|---|---|
| Senegal | President of the National Assembly |
| Guinea | President of the National Assembly |
| DRC | President of the Senate |
| Gabon | President of the Senate |
| Chad | President of the Senate |
In summary
| Country | Who replaces? | Do the people vote again? |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Elected vice-president | No |
| Ghana | Elected vice-president | No |
| Kenya | Elected vice-president | No |
| Côte d'Ivoire | Appointed vice-president | No |
| Cameroon | Appointed vice-president | No |
| Senegal | President of the National Assembly | Yes |
| Guinea | President of the National Assembly | Yes |
| DRC | President of the Senate | Yes |
| Gabon | President of the Senate | Yes |
| Chad | President of the Senate | Yes |
Before, the President of the Senate served as interim, then the people voted again. Since April 2026, a vice-president appointed by the President completes the term, with no election.
In total, in five countries the people vote again after a short interim; in the other five, the vice-president, elected or appointed, completes the term.
In your view, who should replace the President: an elected vice-president, an appointed vice-president, or the president of one of the two chambers of Parliament, followed by a new election?
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