| Paul Biya | |
 President Biya at the inauguration of the new U. S. Embassy, 16 February 2006 | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 06 November 1982 | |
| Prime Minister | Maigari Bello Bouba Luc Ayang Sadou Hayatou Simon Achidi Achu Peter Mafany Musonge Ephraïm Inoni |
| Preceded by | Ahmadou Ahidjo |
| In office 30 June 1975 – 06 November 1982 | |
| President | Ahmadou Ahidjo |
| Succeeded by | Bello Bouba Maigari |
| Born | 13 February 1933 Mvomeka'a, Centre-South Province, French Cameroon |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Political party | RDPC |
| Spouse | Chantal Biya |
| Religion | Roman Catholic [1] |
Paul Biya (born 13 February 1933) has been the President of Cameroon since November 6, 1982. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This is a List of Heads of State of Cameroon. (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office Latest election Affiliations Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Bello Bouba Maigari (born 1947 is a Cameroonian politician He was Prime Minister of Cameroon from 6 November 1982 to 22 August Luc Ayang (born 1947 is a Cameroonian politician who served as Prime Minister from 1983 to 1984 Sadou Hayatou (born 1942 in Garoua) is a former Cameroonian politician "Pa" Simon Achidi Achu (born 5 September 1932) is a Cameroonian Politician who served as the Prime Minister of Cameroon Peter Mafany Musonge (born December 3, 1942) was the Prime Minister of Cameroon from September 1996 until December 8 2004. Ephraïm Inoni (born 16 August, 1947) is the Prime Minister of Cameroon. Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo ( 24 August 1924 - 30 November 1989) was the first President of Cameroon from 1960 until 1982 Under the current constitution of Cameroon the Prime Minister of Cameroon is a relatively powerless executive Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo ( 24 August 1924 - 30 November 1989) was the first President of Cameroon from 1960 until 1982 Bello Bouba Maigari (born 1947 is a Cameroonian politician He was Prime Minister of Cameroon from 6 November 1982 to 22 August Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mvomeka'a is a Village near Sangmélima, in Meyomessala sub-division, Dja-et-Lobo division, South Province, Cameroon. Cameroun was a French mandate territory in central Africa now constituting the majority of the territory of the Republic of Cameroon. The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (Rassemblement démocratique du Peuple Camerounais RDPC) is the ruling Political party in Cameroon. Chantal Biya (b 1971 is the First Lady of Cameroon. She was born in Dimako, East Province, to French expatriate Georges Vigouroux Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This is a List of Heads of State of Cameroon. (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office Latest election Affiliations The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) [1][2]
Contents |
Personal life
Biya was born in the village of Mvomeka'a[1][2] in the Centre-South Province of what was then French Cameroon. Mvomeka'a is a Village near Sangmélima, in Meyomessala sub-division, Dja-et-Lobo division, South Province, Cameroon. Cameroun was a French mandate territory in central Africa now constituting the majority of the territory of the Republic of Cameroon. He is a member of the Beti-Pahuin ethnic group. The Beti-Pahuin are a group of related peoples who inhabit the Rain forest regions of Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea He studied in Paris at Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), where he graduated in 1961 with a diploma in International Relations. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He married Jeanne-Irène Biya with whom he had a son, Franck Biya. Jeanne-Irène Biya (died July 29 1992) was the first wife of Paul Biya, who has served as the President of Cameroon since 1982 After Jeanne-Irène Biya died on July 29, 1992, Paul Biya married Chantal Biya on April 23, 1994,[2] and he has had two more children with her. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Chantal Biya (b 1971 is the First Lady of Cameroon. She was born in Dimako, East Province, to French expatriate Georges Vigouroux Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)
Political career
He served under President Ahmadou Ahidjo; after becoming Director of the Cabinet of the Minister of National Education in January 1964 and Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education in July 1965, he was named Director of the Civil Cabinet of the President in December 1967 and Secretary General of the Presidency (while remaining Director of the Civil Cabinet) in January 1968. Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo ( 24 August 1924 - 30 November 1989) was the first President of Cameroon from 1960 until 1982 He gained the rank of Minister in August 1968 and Minister of State in June 1970, while remaining Secretary General of the Presidency. He became Prime Minister on June 30, 1975. Under the current constitution of Cameroon the Prime Minister of Cameroon is a relatively powerless executive Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In June 1979, a law designated the Prime Minister as the President's constitutional successor. Following Ahidjo's resignation on November 4, 1982, Biya became President on November 6. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with [1][2]
Because Biya is a Christian from southern Cameroon, it was considered surprising that he was chosen by Ahidjo, a Muslim from the north, as his successor. After Biya became President, Ahidjo initially remained head of the ruling Cameroon National Union (CNU). The Cameroon National Union ( CNU) ( French Union Nationale Camerounaise) was Cameroon's sole legal Political party until 1990 Biya was brought into the CNU Central Committee and Political Bureau and was elected as the party's vice-president. On December 11, 1982, he was placed in charge of managing party affairs in Ahidjo's absence. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) During the first months after Biya's succession, he continued to show loyalty to Ahidjo, and Ahidjo continued to show support for Biya, but in 1983 a deep rift developed between the two. Ahidjo went into exile in France, and from there he publicly accused Biya of abuse of power and paranoia about plots against him. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The two could not be reconciled despite the efforts of several foreign leaders. After Ahidjo resigned as CNU leader, Biya took the helm of the party at an extraordinary session held on September 14, 1983. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) [3]
In November 1983, Biya announced that the next presidential election would be held on January 14, 1984; it had been previously scheduled for 1985. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) He was the sole candidate in this election and won 99. 98% of the vote. [3] In February 1984, Ahidjo was put on trial in absentia for alleged involvement in a 1983 coup plot, along with two others; they were sentenced to death, although Biya commuted their sentences to life in prison, a gesture seen by many as a sign of weakness. [4] Biya survived a military coup attempt on April 6, 1984, following his decision on the previous day to disband the Republican Guard and disperse its members across the military. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) [3] Estimates of the death toll ranged from 71 (according to the government)[4] to about 1,000. [3] Northern Muslims were the primary participants in this coup attempt, which was seen by many as an attempt to restore that group's supremacy; Biya, however, chose to emphasize national unity and did not focus blame on northern Muslims. [3][4] Ahidjo was widely believed to have orchestrated the coup attempt,[4] and Biya is thought to have learned of the plot in advance and to have disbanded the Republican Guard as a reaction, forcing the coup plotters to act earlier than they had planned, which may have been a crucial factor in the coup's failure. [3][4]
In 1985, the CNU was transformed into the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, and Biya was elected as its President. The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (Rassemblement démocratique du Peuple Camerounais RDPC) is the ruling Political party in Cameroon. He was also re-elected as President of Cameroon on April 24, 1988. Events 1479 BC - Thutmose III ascends to the throne of Egypt, although power effectively shifts to Hatshepsut (according to Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) [2]
According to official results, Biya won the first multiparty presidential election, held on October 11, 1992, with about 40% of the vote; the second placed candidate, John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), officially received about 36%. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Ni John Fru Ndi (born 7 July 1941) is the founder and leader of Cameroon 's Social Democratic Front (SDF The Social Democratic Front (Front Social-Démocratique is the main opposition party of Cameroon. [5][6] The results were strongly disputed by the opposition, which alleged fraud. [5] In the October 1997 presidential election, which was boycotted by the main opposition parties, Biya was re-elected with 92. 6 percent of the vote;[6][7] he was sworn in on November 3. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. [8]
Biya won another seven-year term in the presidential election of October 11, 2004, officially taking 70. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " 92 percent of the vote,[9][10] although the opposition alleged widespread fraud. [9] Biya was sworn in on November 3. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. [10]
After being re-elected in 2004, Biya was barred by a two-term limit in the 1996 Constitution from running for President again in 2011, but his supporters sought to revise this to allow him to run again. The Constitution of Cameroon is the supreme Law of the Republic of Cameroon. In his 2008 New Year's message, Biya expressed support for revising the Constitution, saying that it was undemocratic to limit the people's choice. [11] The proposed removal of term limits was among the grievances expressed during violent protests in late February 2008. The 2008 Cameroon protests were a series of violent demonstrations in Cameroon 's biggest cities that took place from 25 February to 29 February 2008 Nevertheless, on April 10, 2008, the National Assembly voted to change the Constitution to remove term limits. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Given the RDPC's control of the National Assembly, the change was overwhelmingly approved, with 157 votes in favor and five opposed; the 15 deputies of the SDF chose to boycott the vote in protest. The change also provided for the President to enjoy immunity from prosecution for his actions as President after leaving office. [12]
He has been consistently re-elected as the National President of the RDPC; he was re-elected at the party's second extraordinary congress on July 7, 2001 and its third extraordinary congress on July 21, 2006. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. [13][14]
Biya regularly spends extended periods of time in Switzerland at the Hotel InterContinental Geneva where the former director Herbert Schott reportedly said he comes to work without being disturbed[15]. InterConinental is a brand of upscale luxury Hotels originally founded by Pan Am, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking These extended stays away from Cameroon, while sometimes as short as 2 weeks are sometimes as long as three months and are almost always referred to as short stays in the state owned press and other media[16][17].
Opposition and criticism
Biya has been criticized by some as being a strongman, and is sometimes considered to be aloof from the people. A strongman is a political leader who rules by force and runs an Authoritarian regime He has also been strongly criticized by the Anglophones, the English-speaking people of Cameroon who live in the region formerly under British colonial rule, for their marginalization and oppression. An Anglophone (or anglophone) is someone who speaks the English language. His strongest opposition is from this region of Cameroon.
The historian David Wallechinsky, in his book Tyrants, the World's 20 Worst Living Dictators, ranked Biya with three others in sub-Saharan Africa: Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and King Mswati of Swaziland. David Wallechinsky (born 5 February 1948) has worked as a commentator for NBC Olympic coverage and is the author of many Olympic reference books See also Great Zimbabwe National Monument. For information about the March and June 2008 presidential elections see Zimbabwean presidential election Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (born June 5, 1942) has been the President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979 The Republic of Equatorial Guinea ( República de Guinea Ecuatorial,) is a country in Central Africa. Mswati III (born Makhosetive on April 19, 1968) of Swaziland is the king of Swaziland and head of the Swazi Royal Family The Kingdom of Swaziland is a country located in Southern Africa centred at approximately 26o49'S 31o38'E He describes Cameroon's electoral process in these terms: “Every few years, Biya stages an election to justify his continuing reign, but these elections have no credibility. In fact, Biya is credited with a creative innovation in the world of phony elections. In 2004, annoyed by the criticisms of international vote-monitoring groups, he paid for his own set of international observers, six ex-U. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " S. congressmen, who certified his election as free and fair. ”[18] In 2007, Parade magazine ranked Biya the 19th worst dictator in the world. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [19]
Notes
- ^ a b c Profile of Biya at Cameroonian presidency web site (French).
- ^ a b c d e Biography at 2004 presidential election web site.
- ^ a b c d e f Milton H. Krieger and Joseph Takougang, African State and Society in the 1990s: Cameroon's Political Crossroads (2000), Westview Press, pages 65–74.
- ^ a b c d e Jonathan C. Randal, "Tales of Ex-Leader's Role In Revolt Stun Cameroon", The Washington Post, April 15, 1984, page A01.
- ^ a b John Mukum Mbaku, "Decolonization, Reunification and Federation in Cameroon", in The Leadership Challenge in Africa: Cameroon Under Paul Biya (2004), ed. John Mukum Mbaku and Joseph Takougang, page 34.
- ^ a b Elections in Cameroon, African Elections Database.
- ^ "UK Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate Country Assessment - Cameroon", UNHCR. org.
- ^ "Cameroun. Biya reinstalle", ANB-BIA, November 3, 1997.
- ^ a b "Cameroon's Supreme Court confirms Biya's re-election" Agence France Presse, October 25, 2004.
- ^ a b "President Biya is sworn in for another seven-year mandate.", Cameroonian government website].
- ^ "Cameroun: Paul Biya va modifier la Constitution", Panapress (afriquenligne. fr), January 2, 2008 (French).
- ^ "Cameroun: adoption d'une révision constitutionnelle controversée", AFP (Jeuneafrique. com), April 10, 2008 (French).
- ^ "21 ANS DE TÂTONNEMENT", Camerounlink. net, July 21, 2007 (French).
- ^ "Paul Biya réélu sans surprise à la tête du RDPC", rfi. fr, July 22, 2006 (French).
- ^ Cameroun: Herbert Schott - Paul Biya est un sacré personnage
- ^ Le Chef de l’Etat en séjour privé en Europe
- ^ http://www.prc.cm/index_en.php?link=magazine/retour_sejour_prive_europe_190607
- ^ David Wallechinsky, Tyrants: the World's 20 Worst Living Dictators, Regan Press, 2006, pp. 286-290
- ^ The World's Worst Dictators - 2007
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Office created | Prime Minister of Cameroon 1975 – 1982 | Succeeded by Bello Bouba Maigari |
| Preceded by Ahmadou Ahidjo | President of Cameroon 1982 – present | Incumbent |
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