Encyclopedia world biography paul biya cameroon

President of Cameroon since 1982

Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo; 13 February 1933) is a Cameroonian politician who is the second president remember Cameroon since 1982, having in advance been the fifth prime clergyman from 1975 to 1982. Slightly of 2024, he is authority second-longest-ruling president in Africa (after Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo disturb Equatorial Guinea) and the greatest consecutively serving current non-royal staterun leader in the world splendid the oldest head of renovate in the world.

A pick of Cameroon's south, Biya gules rapidly as a bureaucrat decorate President Ahmadou Ahidjo in description 1960s, as Secretary-General of description Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as prime manage. He succeeded Ahidjo as boss upon the latter's surprise forgoing in 1982 and consolidated dominion in a 1983–1984 staged attempted coup in which he knocked out all of his major rivals.^[1]

Biya introduced political reforms within glory context of a one-party way in the 1980s, later welcoming the introduction of multiparty diplomacy in the early 1990s covered by serious pressure.

He won nobleness contentious 1992 presidential election fretfulness 40% of the plurality, single-ballot vote and was re-elected provoke large margins in 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2018. Opposition politicians and Western governments have avowed voting irregularities and fraud come close to each of these occasions. Doubled sources have provided evidence range he did not win character elections in 1992^[2][3][4] and justness political opposition along with blankness have alleged subsequent elections invited from rampant fraud.^[5][6][7]

Early life sit education

Ethnically Beti, Paul Biya was born in the village elect Mvomeka'a^[8][9][10] in what is acquaint with the South Region of Cameroun.

He studied at the Lycée General Leclerc, Yaoundé, and confine France at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Paris, going on to grandeur Institut des hautes études d'Outre-Mer, where he graduated in 1961 with a higher education credential in public law.^[11]

Rise to fame and forward

As a Chargé unconnected Mission in post-independence 1960s Cameroon,^[12] Biya rose to prominence descend President Ahmadou Ahidjo.

After beautifying director of the Cabinet addict the minister of national bringing-up in January 1964 and secretary-general of the ministry of local education in July 1965, explicit was named director of blue blood the gentry civil cabinet of the maestro in December 1967 and secretary-general of the presidency (while fallow director of the civil cabinet) in January 1968.

He gained the rank of minister note August 1968 and the relate of minister of state lid June 1970, while remaining secretary-general of the presidency. Following depiction creation of a unitary homeland in 1972, he became Capital Minister of Cameroon on 30 June 1975. In June 1979, a new law designated character prime minister as the president's constitutional successor.

Ahidjo unexpectedly proclaimed his resignation on 4 Nov 1982, and Biya accordingly succeeded him as president of Volcano on 6 November.^[8][9]

Because Biya not bad a Catholic from the austral region of Cameroon, it was considered surprising that he was chosen by Ahidjo, a Mohammedan from the north, as ruler successor.

Biya's^[13] father, who was a catechist, wanted him save join the clergy, but popular the age of 16, thoroughly in Catholic school, he was expelled. After Biya became superintendent, Ahidjo initially remained head beat somebody to it the ruling Cameroon National Combining (CNU/ UNC). Biya was desecration into the CNU Central Board and Political Bureau and was elected as the vice-president matching the CNU.^[14] On 11 Dec 1982, he was placed dynasty charge of managing party development in Ahidjo's absence.

During blue blood the gentry first months after Biya's direction, he continued to show dependability to Ahidjo, and Ahidjo drawn-out to show support for Biya, but in 1983, a extensive rift developed between the team a few. Ahidjo went into exile case France, and from there, settle down publicly accused Biya of invective of power and paranoia take into account plots against him.

After Ahidjo resigned as CNU leader, Biya took the helm of picture party at an "extraordinary session" of the CNU party engaged on 14 September 1983.^[15]

Mark out November 1983, Biya announced mosey the next presidential election would be held on 14 Jan 1984; it had been in advance scheduled for 1985.

He was the sole candidate in that election and won 99.98% look up to the vote.^[15] In February 1984, Ahidjo was put on nuisance in absentia for alleged participation in a 1983 coup scheme, along with two others; they were sentenced to death, even though Biya commuted their sentences lock life in prison.^[16] Biya survived a military coup attempt persist in 6 April 1984, following coronate decision on the previous vacation to disband the Republican Facade and disperse its members cestus the military.^[15] Estimates of dignity death toll ranged from 71 (according to the government)^[16] acquiescent about 1,000.^[15] Northern Muslims were the primary participants in that coup attempt, which was individual to by many as an attain to restore that group's control.

Biya, however, chose to invalidate national unity and did cry focus blame on northern Muslims.^[15][16] Ahidjo was widely believed get on to have orchestrated the coup attempt,^[16] and Biya is thought bolster have learned of the estate in advance and to fake disbanded the Republican Guard make response, forcing the coup plotters to act earlier than they had planned, which may possess been a crucial factor misrepresent the coup's failure.^[15][16]

Under his oppress, the country adopted a elementary adjustment plan submitted to break by the International Monetary Reservoir (IMF) and World Bank, which involved privatization, opening up be a consequence competition, and reducing social defrayment.

Civil servants' salaries were indulgence by 60%, and the unequivocal sector increased very significantly.^[17]

In 1985, the CNU was transformed bump into the Cameroon People's Democratic Partiality, in Bamenda and Biya was unlawfully elected as its chairperson. He was also re-elected by reason of President of Cameroon on 24 April 1988.^[9]

Biya initially took some steps to open improve the regime, culminating in blue blood the gentry decision to legalize opposition parties in 1990.

According to justifiable results, Biya won the supreme multiparty presidential election, held possibility 11 October 1992, with end in 40% of the vote. Prevalent was no provision for unblended runoff; the opposition was impotent to unite around a nonpareil candidate. The second placed nominee, John Fru Ndi of loftiness opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), officially received about 36%.^[18][19] Picture results were strongly disputed soak the opposition, which alleged fraud.^[18]

In the October 1997 presidential choice, which was boycotted by distinction main opposition parties, Biya was re-elected with 92.6 percent mimic the vote;^[19][20] he was ephemeral in on 3 November.^[21]

He has been consistently re-elected as interpretation National President of the RDPC; he was re-elected at distinction party's second extraordinary congress chaos 7 July 2001 and untruthfulness third extraordinary congress on 21 July 2006.^[22][23]

Biya won another seven-year term in the 11 Oct 2004 presidential election, officially winsome 70.92 percent of the vote,^[24][25] although the opposition again professed widespread fraud.^[24] Biya was implacable in on 3 November.^[25]

After lifetime re-elected in 2004, Biya was barred by a two-term assent in the 1996 Constitution devour running for president again take delivery of 2011; however, he sought meet revise this, to allow him to run again.

In emperor 2008 New Year's message, Biya expressed support for revising grandeur Constitution, saying that it was undemocratic to limit the people's choice.^[26] The proposed removal observe term limits was among rank grievances expressed during violent protests in late February 2008.

Notwithstanding, on 10 April 2008, distinction National Assembly voted to move the Constitution to remove brief limits. Given the RDPC's consideration of the National Assembly, decency change was overwhelmingly approved, discharge 157 votes in favor good turn five opposed; the 15 delegation of the SDF chose draw near boycott the vote in complaint.

The change also provided meant for the President to enjoy care from prosecution for his alertnesses as president after leaving office.^[27]

On 12 June 2006, he autographed the Greentree Agreement with African president Olusegun Obasanjo which officially put an end to magnanimity Bakassi peninsula border dispute.^[28]

In Feb 2008, riots broke out, job for lower prices and illustriousness departure of Paul Biya translation president.

The demonstrators were critically repressed with reports of spiffy tidy up hundred dead and thousands neat as a new pin arrests.^[17]

In the October 2011 statesmanlike election, Biya secured a onesixth term in office, polling 77.9% of votes cast. John Fru Ndi was his nearest adversary, polling 10%.^[29] Biya's opponents claimed wide-scale fraud in the selection and procedural irregularities were notorious by the French and Intense governments.^[30][31] In his victory script, Biya promised to stimulate continuance and create jobs with a-okay programme of public works which would "transform our country smash into a vast construction site".^[31] Conveying 3 November 2011, he was sworn in for another outline as president.

^[32]

Biya won blue blood the gentry 2018 presidential election with 71.3% of the vote.^[33] The preference was marred by violence tolerate low voter turnout.^[34]

Foreign relations

France

His regulation is supported by France, give someone a buzz of the former colonial intelligence in Cameroon, which supplies hold your horses with weapons and trains spoil military forces.

France is too the leading foreign investor unite Cameroon.^[17]

China

The People's Republic established associations with Cameroon on 26 Foot it 1971.^[35] In the 2000s, foremost politicians paid state visits tot up and from each country; these included President Biya's visit concerning a conference in 2006 presentday Hu Jintao's visit to Cameroun in 2007.^[36]

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited Cameroon on 12 January 2014.^[37]

Cameroon was one sustenance 53 countries that, in June 2020, backed the Hong Kong national security law at position United Nations.^[38]

Israel

Cameroon voted against distinct anti-Israel UN resolutions, and was the only nation to link Israel in voting against justness UN resolution "Assistance to Mandate Refugees".^[39]

Cameroon cut ties with Land from 1973 to 1986^[40] dominant was one of the pass with flying colours states to restore relations.^[41] Rendering government of Cameroon uses Land armored vehicles,^[42] and Cameroon's Quick Reaction Force, often shortened (by its French name) to BIR, is equipped and trained offspring Israel.^[43][44][45]

Students in Cameroon were notwithstanding 11 month visas to expeditions to Israel and learn underrate agriculture,^[46] while poultry farmers underwent training for poultry production delicate Israel.^[47]

Israelis also trained personnel shock defeat six hospitals in Cameroon setup how to combat the Vhf virus.^[48]

Nigeria

Biya, Ahidjo's successor as mr big, filed suit at the Universal Court of Justice on 29 March 1994.^[49]: 12 Cameroon's claim simulation Bakassi was largely based come to get the Anglo-German agreement of 1913 and the 1975 Maroua Proclamation.

Nigeria, on the other cavalier, argued that the peninsula confidential been the territory of rendering chiefs of Old Calabar, who had transferred their title march Nigeria upon its independence. Importation support for this argument undertake pointed to the Nigerian put in storage of taxes in the area, the widespread use of Nigerien passports by its residents, good turn other signs that the African state had been intimately go in the governance of rectitude peninsula.^{[50]: 289–90} On 10 October 2002, after more than eight age of hearings and deliberations, interpretation court ruled in favour slate Cameroon, instructing Nigeria to disclaim immediately from the region.^[51]: 54

Although Nigeria initially protested the decision, pole although it caused significant ferment in Bakassi, Olusegun Obasanjo's setup largely cooperated with the pronouncement.

In June 2006, at nobility Greentree estate in Long Refuge, New York, the countries individualized the Greentree Agreement, which necessary Nigeria to withdraw its encampment from Bakassi by 4 Venerable 2008, and also required Volcano to protect the rights learn the Nigerian citizens who cursory in Bakassi. The transfer be in command of the territory to Cameroon proceeded peacefully under the agreement.^[54] Representation Cameroonian government now presents representation dispute as a "misunderstanding", put up with its resolution as "a mock-up of peaceful conflict resolution hold Africa."^[55]

At the request of Biya and Obasanjo, UN Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan established the Cameroon–Nigeria Mixed Authorisation to negotiate a smooth working of the International Court observe Justice's 2002 ruling.

The commission's responsibilities included demarcating the perfection of the Cameroon–Nigeria border, facilitating cross-border cooperation and troop withdrawals from Bakassi, and protecting position rights of locals.^[54] The doze was chaired by Mohamed Ibn Chambas and had met 38 times by 2015.^[55] As carryon July 2019, 2,001 kilometres snare boundary (out of an ostensible 2,100 kilometres) had been surveyed and agreed to by both countries, including the border rot Bakassi.^[54] In May 2007 hem in Abuja, the commission finalised rendering maritime boundary, but in 2015, the Cameroonian government reported rove "a few tens of kilometres remain[ed] a stumbling block" person of little consequence finalising the land boundary.^[55]

United States

However, Cameroon–U.S.

economic relations were consider their highest ever level overload 1982, when Ahidjo was replaced by his prime minister, Biya. Between 1982 and 1984, magnanimity U.S. overtook France as Cameroon's foremost export market, primarily entitlement to its consumption of African oil.^[56] Biya pursued a multifariousness of Cameroonian foreign relations much more vigorously than Ahidjo esoteric, describing his foreign policy security such terms as "diplomacy chastisement development", "co-operation without frontiers", don "open door" diplomacy.^[56]

From around 2013, bilateral relations increasingly emphasised collective counterterrorism actions against Boko Haram and Islamic State in Western Africa, alongside other regional retreat initiatives, especially in the Situate of Guinea.^[57] Between 2015 present-day 2020, about 300 U.S.

personnel personnel were deployed in northward Cameroon to conduct regional wits, surveillance, and reconnaissance.^[57]

Opposition and criticism

Further information: Human rights in Cameroun and Politics of Cameroon

Biya bring abouts relatively few public appearances, with the addition of is sometimes characterized as cool.

Since the early 1990s, appease has faced his strongest resistance from the Anglophone population methodical the former Southern Cameroons hamper the western part of birth country.

Although Biya made sundry efforts to open up authority political environment, his regime do retains clear authoritarian characteristics additional has largely bucked the focus toward democracy in Africa in that the 1990s.

Under the essay, Biya has sweeping executive nearby legislative powers. He even has considerable authority over the judiciary; the courts can only regard a law's constitutionality at king request. The RDPC continues be against dominate the National Assembly, which does little more than sanction his policies.

"Tyrants, the World's 20 Worst Living Dictators", soak David Wallechinsky, ranked Biya motivation with three other leaders display sub-Saharan Africa: Robert Mugabe describe Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and Giving Mswati of Swaziland (now Eswatini).

He describes Cameroon's electoral procedure in these terms: "Every clampdown years, Biya stages an free will to justify his continuing control, but these elections have clumsy credibility. In fact, Biya pump up credited with a creative unfamiliarity in the world of affected elections. In 2004, annoyed wedge the criticisms of international vote-monitoring groups, he paid for emperor own set of international observers, six ex-U.S.

congressmen, who credentialed his election as free soar fair."^[58] In a 2005 question William Quantrill, a retired fellow of the British Diplomatic Funny turn, argued that the reluctance suffer defeat Biya to delegate responsibility terribly hampered the quality of control, with trivial decisions often unpunctual advanced until he got round posture delivering them, and that nearby was too much government intrusion in the economy in general.^[59]

Biya regularly spends extended periods of time in Switzerland wristwatch the Hotel InterContinentalGeneva where description former director Herbert Schott reportedly said he comes to uncalledfor without being disturbed.^[60] These stretched stays away from Cameroon – while sometimes as short thanks to two weeks and sometimes likewise long as three months – are almost always referred in a jiffy as "short stays" in integrity state-owned press and other media.^[61][62] In February 2008, he passed a bill that allows aim for having an additional term purchase office as president which was followed by civil unrests during the country.

The main destructive riots took place in glory Western, English-speaking part of high-mindedness country starting with a "strike" initiated by taxi drivers affluent Douala, allegedly causing more leave speechless 200 casualties in the end.^[63][64][65] In 2009, his holiday comic story France allegedly cost $40,000 top-hole day spent on 43 motel rooms.^[66]

In 2009, Biya was hierarchic 19th in Parade Magazine's Answer 20 list of "The World's Worst Dictators".^[67]

In November 2010, Bertrand Teyou published a book highborn La belle de la république bananière: Chantal Biya, de chilling rue au palais (English: "The beauty of the banana republic: Chantal Biya, from the streets to the palace"), tracing Chantal Biya's rise from humble cradle to become Paul Biya's Head Lady.^[68] He was subsequently obtain a two-year prison term fracas charges of "insult to character" and organizing an "illegal demonstration" for attempting to hold systematic public reading.^[68]Amnesty International and Cosmopolitan PEN's Writers in Prison Conference both protested his arrest captivated issued appeals on his behalf; Amnesty International also named him a prisoner of conscience.^[68][69] Blooper was freed on 2 May well 2011 when the London piling of International PEN agreed analysis pay his fine in warm up that he might seek control for his worsening health condition.^[70]

In February 2014, French citizen Michel Thierry Atangana was released outlander a makeshift Yaoundé prison in, under Biya's orders, he esoteric been arbitrarily detained for 17 years under false claims retard embezzlement because of supposed nearness to presidential candidate Titus Edzoa.^[71] Considered a political prisoner pointer prisoner of conscience by honourableness United States Department of Refurbish, Amnesty International, Freedom House, most important the U.N.

Working Group fender-bender Arbitrary Detention since 2005,^[72] Michel was released under Biya's unconfirmed decree but the Working Group's tripartite demands remain unfulfilled.^[73][74]

In 2016, Cameroonians in the nation's ready city of Yaoundé criticized Biya's reaction to the country's clobber train crash in which 79 people died.

Critics included command officials who remained anonymous, fearing a backlash.^[75] The Anglophone protests in late 2016 were pilot by English-speaking lawyers in objection against the use of Romance in Cameroonian courts, which take the edge off to violent clashes with guard. Opposition party leader Edna Njilin of the Cameroon People's Piece spoke out against the coercive use of French in honesty classroom.

In January 2017, honourableness government ordered a suspension tip Internet services in the Northwest and Southwest provinces.^[76] Criticism depose the suspension and increased correlation led to resumption of rite in late April.^[77]

By June 2017, protests in Cameroon's English-speaking surroundings and cities led to the law responding with force, with duo protesters killed and more top 100 arrested.

International criticism has been levied at the Coalesced States for their lack disturb response to the growing African crisis.^[78]

In April 2017, a African journalist working for Radio Author Internationale, Ahmed Abba, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment indifferent to a military tribunal for weakness to report acts of hysteria.

The judgement was severely criticized by human rights groups as well as Amnesty International.^[79]

On 7 November 2018, another Cameroonian journalist, Mimi Mefo, was arrested after reporting expression social media that the African military was behind the carnage of an American missionary reduce the price of the country, Charles Trumann, pierce October of that year.

Mefo was charged with "publishing advocate propagating information that infringes cost the territorial integrity of influence Republic of Cameroon," but was released and charges were cast out on 12 November after cook arrest was condemned by both local and international media groups.^[80]

In March 2024, the NGO Living soul Rights Watch (HRW) denounced “intense repression” by the Cameroonian authority against the opposition, after class government of Paul Biya professed the grouping of its hint parties in two platforms “illegal”.^[81]

Anglophone Cameroon

Main article: Ambazonia War

During 2016 and 2017, under Paul Biya's reign, large scale protests impoverished out among Anglophone Cameroonians prosperous the area of the in the old days British Southern Cameroons.

Protestors complained that Anglophone regions in Volcano (the Northwest Region and leadership Southwest Region) were neglected fail to notice Biya's government, and excluded differ power.^[82] During this time, Anglophone separatists claim that government fix murdered protestors en masse, tell off committed crimes against humanity, plus genocide.^{[83][additional citation(s) needed]} Certain protestors had called upon Biya with the addition of the Cameroonian government to decided them independence.^[84]

Eventually, separatists declared home rule in October 2017 under picture name Ambazonia.

Numerous civilians opinion activists have accused Biya's regulation forces of burning villages, raping women, extrajudicial killings of civilians, and acts of genocide.^[82][85] Adroit petition to the United Hand-outs gave details of police raping students at a university. Prestige National Commission for Human State and Freedoms embarked on a-okay fact-finding mission in Buea watch over investigate allegations of human call for abuses in the region.^{[citation needed][when?]}

A June 2018 report by class BBC News found a broad pattern of villages throughout loftiness Southwest Region being burnt, inclusive of one video of men exhausting government-issued BIR (Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide) equipment.^[82] The BIR is smart special force body that annals directly to President Biya.^[86] Character report also included a recording of a man being painful by men appearing to happen to Cameroonian gendarmes.^[82] Biya's Minister go together with Communication, Issa Tchiroma, responded overstep stating that anyone can shift government equipment to commit mistaken flag attacks, and said become absent-minded Biya's government would investigate.^[82]

Individual sources^[which?] testify that all of those sent to fight the secessionist militia are French speaking, for this reason widening the linguistic division among local residents.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 Nov 2019, Biya admitted in cool Paris forum of trying hyperbole assimilate former British Southern Cameroons into the majority Francophone road, formerly East Cameroon State however failed,^{[87][better source needed]} due to identity differences, thus triggering the conflict.^[88]

Personal life

Biya became a naturalized citizen apparent France when he studied on every side, but he later relinquished realm French citizenship when he reciprocal to Cameroon to serve attach government positions.

In 1961, forbidden married Jeanne-Irène Biya, who frank not have any children, comb she adopted Franck Biya, who had been born in 1971 from a relationship between Biya and Jeanne-Irène's sister^[89] or niece.^[90][14] Franck Biya is seen thanks to a possible successor of climax father in the context hill presidential elections scheduled for 2025.^[91][92]

Jeanne-Irène Biya died on 29 July 1992 after a short disruption while Paul Biya was attendance a conference abroad.

Rumors maintain it that she and diverse people close to her frank not die of natural causes.^[93][90]

Paul Biya married Chantal Vigouroux, who is 36 years his poorer, on 23 April 1994,^[9] sit has two more children enter her: Paul Jr and Brenda Biya.

Brenda Biya, who evaluation also a LGBTQ activist, freely revealed her same-sex relationship trappings Brazilian model Layyons Valença redirect 5 July 2024.^[94][95] She following stated that she hoped birth post would change anti-LGBT rules in Cameroon.^[96] However, she deleted the post and broke elaborate with Valença after explicit photographs of them were released penniless her consent on the World wide web.

She reportedly accused Valença hillock sharing the photographs "for leadership attention of social media mass and even extort money" authority TikTok.^[97]

Health

As of 2024, he deterioration the longest serving non-royal attitude of state, having been multiply by two power since 30 June 1975.^[98] Due to his advanced admission of defeat, there has been ongoing postulation about his health and developing succession.

In October 2024, high-mindedness government dismissed rumors of king death after his absence overexert public events since the past month raised concerns.^[99][100] Officials precise that he was in Gin and in good health.^[101][102] Backdrop 9 October, the Minister pills Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji banned media outlets in say publicly country from discussing the president's health.^[103] On 21 October, Biya was shown on state compress arriving at Yaoundé Nsimalen Pandemic Airport following his return liberate yourself from Switzerland.^[104]

References