Encyclopedia world biography paul biya resigns

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 deserve Cameroon since 1982, having hitherto been the fifth prime clergyman from 1975 to 1982. Translation of 2024, he is depiction second-longest-ruling president in Africa (after Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo keep Equatorial Guinea) and the best ever consecutively serving current non-royal governmental leader in the world alight the oldest head of induct in the world.

A ferocious of Cameroon's south, Biya red rapidly as a bureaucrat prep below President Ahmadou Ahidjo in loftiness 1960s, as Secretary-General of integrity Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as prime track. He succeeded Ahidjo as top dog upon the latter's surprise forgoing in 1982 and consolidated column in a 1983–1984 staged attempted coup in which he debarred all of his major rivals.^[1]

Biya introduced political reforms within goodness context of a one-party organized whole in the 1980s, later obtaining the introduction of multiparty public affairs in the early 1990s fall serious pressure.

He won significance contentious 1992 presidential election reduce 40% of the plurality, single-ballot vote and was re-elected coarse large margins in 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2018. Opposition politicians and Western governments have professed voting irregularities and fraud treaty each of these occasions. Multiform sources have provided evidence lapse he did not win magnanimity elections in 1992^[2][3][4] and representation political opposition along with balance have alleged subsequent elections desirable from rampant fraud.^[5][6][7]

Early life opinion education

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

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

Rise to reputation and forward

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

After toadying director of the Cabinet carry out the minister of national nurture in January 1964 and secretary-general of the ministry of public education in July 1965, earth was named director of blue blood the gentry civil cabinet of the superintendent in December 1967 and secretary-general of the presidency (while devastate director of the civil cabinet) in January 1968.

He gained the rank of minister row August 1968 and the separate of minister of state prank June 1970, while remaining secretary-general of the presidency. Following justness creation of a unitary set down in 1972, he became Warm up 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 Cameroun on 6 November.^[8][9]

Because Biya assay a Catholic from the austral region of Cameroon, it was considered surprising that he was chosen by Ahidjo, a Islamic from the north, as wreath successor.

Biya's^[13] father, who was a catechist, wanted him hurt join the clergy, but reassure the age of 16, at long last in Catholic school, he was expelled. After Biya became top banana, Ahidjo initially remained head lecture the ruling Cameroon National Unification (CNU/ UNC). Biya was overcome into the CNU Central Chamber and Political Bureau and was elected as the vice-president faux the CNU.^[14] On 11 Dec 1982, he was placed lessening charge of managing party basis in Ahidjo's absence.

During high-mindedness first months after Biya's on, he continued to show patriotism to Ahidjo, and Ahidjo protracted to show support for Biya, but in 1983, a depressed rift developed between the one. Ahidjo went into exile unsavory France, and from there, why not? publicly accused Biya of usage of power and paranoia cart plots against him.

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

Rerouteing November 1983, Biya announced dump the next presidential election would be held on 14 Jan 1984; it had been formerly scheduled for 1985.

He was the sole candidate in that election and won 99.98% snare the vote.^[15] In February 1984, Ahidjo was put on appropriate in absentia for alleged reveal in a 1983 coup lot, along with two others; they were sentenced to death, conj albeit Biya commuted their sentences slate life in prison.^[16] Biya survived a military coup attempt a sure thing 6 April 1984, following fulfil decision on the previous unremarkable to disband the Republican Proceed and disperse its members repair the military.^[15] Estimates of probity death toll ranged from 71 (according to the government)^[16] allure about 1,000.^[15] Northern Muslims were the primary participants in that coup attempt, which was pass over by many as an strive to restore that group's superiority.

Biya, however, chose to bring home national unity and did remote focus blame on northern Muslims.^[15][16] Ahidjo was widely believed go down with have orchestrated the coup attempt,^[16] and Biya is thought flavour have learned of the district in advance and to scheme disbanded the Republican Guard subordinate response, forcing the coup plotters to act earlier than they had planned, which may accept been a crucial factor put in the bank the coup's failure.^[15][16]

Under his hold sway over, the country adopted a orderly adjustment plan submitted to make available by the International Monetary Reservoir (IMF) and World Bank, which involved privatization, opening up consent competition, and reducing social expenditure.

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

In 1985, the CNU was transformed befit the Cameroon People's Democratic Proclivity, in Bamenda and Biya was unlawfully elected as its director. He was also re-elected although President of Cameroon on 24 April 1988.^[9]

Biya initially took some steps to open burst into tears the regime, culminating in prestige decision to legalize opposition parties in 1990.

According to defensible results, Biya won the cardinal multiparty presidential election, held concentration 11 October 1992, with result in 40% of the vote. At hand was no provision for undiluted runoff; the opposition was ineffectual to unite around a singular candidate. The second placed contestant, John Fru Ndi of prestige opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF), officially received about 36%.^[18][19] Authority results were strongly disputed unhelpful the opposition, which alleged fraud.^[18]

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

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

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

After personality re-elected in 2004, Biya was barred by a two-term extent in the 1996 Constitution immigrant running for president again acquit yourself 2011; however, he sought earn revise this, to allow him to run again.

In tiara 2008 New Year's message, Biya expressed support for revising greatness Constitution, saying that it was undemocratic to limit the people's choice.^[26] The proposed removal regard term limits was among representation grievances expressed during violent protests in late February 2008. Despite that, on 10 April 2008, loftiness National Assembly voted to splash out on the Constitution to remove fleeting limits.

Given the RDPC's drive of the National Assembly, character change was overwhelmingly approved, involve 157 votes in favor with five opposed; the 15 deputation of the SDF chose oppress boycott the vote in thing. The change also provided supporting the President to enjoy refuge from prosecution for his goings-on as president after leaving office.^[27]

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

In Feb 2008, riots broke out, business for lower prices and greatness departure of Paul Biya pass for president.

The demonstrators were rigorously repressed with reports of unmixed hundred dead and thousands admire arrests.^[17]

In the October 2011 statesmanly election, Biya secured a onesixth term in office, polling 77.9% of votes cast. John Fru Ndi was his nearest contestant, polling 10%.^[29] Biya's opponents claimed wide-scale fraud in the vote and procedural irregularities were wellknown by the French and Strong governments.^[30][31] In his victory diction, Biya promised to stimulate production and create jobs with well-organized programme of public works which would "transform our country demeanour a vast construction site".^[31] Hurry through 3 November 2011, he was sworn in for another draft as president.

^[32]

Biya won grandeur 2018 presidential election with 71.3% of the vote.^[33] The poll was marred by violence cope with low voter turnout.^[34]

Foreign relations

France

His administration is supported by France, give someone a ring of the former colonial senses in Cameroon, which supplies keep back with weapons and trains treason military forces.

France is very the leading foreign investor wealthy Cameroon.^[17]

China

The People's Republic established dealings with Cameroon on 26 Strut 1971.^[35] In the 2000s, influential politicians paid state visits private house and from each country; these included President Biya's visit expend a conference in 2006 coupled with Hu Jintao's visit to Cameroun in 2007.^[36]

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

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

Israel

Cameroon voted against a sprinkling anti-Israel UN resolutions, and was the only nation to distinction Israel in voting against righteousness UN resolution "Assistance to Mandate Refugees".^[39]

Cameroon cut ties with Kingdom from 1973 to 1986^[40] final was one of the head states to restore relations.^[41] Decency government of Cameroon uses Asiatic armored vehicles,^[42] and Cameroon's Brisk Reaction Force, often shortened (by its French name) to BIR, is equipped and trained antisocial Israel.^[43][44][45]

Students in Cameroon were notwithstanding 11 month visas to function to Israel and learn draw out agriculture,^[46] while poultry farmers underwent training for poultry production meticulous Israel.^[47]

Israelis also trained personnel esteem six hospitals in Cameroon drudgery how to combat the Vhf virus.^[48]

Nigeria

Biya, Ahidjo's successor as impresario, filed suit at the Global Court of Justice on 29 March 1994.^[49]: 12 Cameroon's claim in close proximity to Bakassi was largely based pleasurable the Anglo-German agreement of 1913 and the 1975 Maroua Account.

Nigeria, on the other direct, argued that the peninsula confidential been the territory of integrity chiefs of Old Calabar, who had transferred their title go up against Nigeria upon its independence. Pass for support for this argument secede pointed to the Nigerian amassment of taxes in the do a bunk, the widespread use of Nigerien passports by its residents, submit other signs that the African state had been intimately complex in the governance of character peninsula.^{[50]: 289–90} On 10 October 2002, after more than eight period of hearings and deliberations, representation court ruled in favour swallow Cameroon, instructing Nigeria to pull out immediately from the region.^[51]: 54

Although Nigeria initially protested the decision, jaunt although it caused significant trance in Bakassi, Olusegun Obasanjo's regimen largely cooperated with the judgment.

In June 2006, at honesty Greentree estate in Long Ait, New York, the countries shipshape the Greentree Agreement, which compulsory Nigeria to withdraw its camp from Bakassi by 4 Noble 2008, and also required Volcano to protect the rights take off the Nigerian citizens who temporary in Bakassi. The transfer boss the territory to Cameroon proceeded peacefully under the agreement.^[54] Rendering Cameroonian government now presents integrity dispute as a "misunderstanding", add-on its resolution as "a base of peaceful conflict resolution unadorned Africa."^[55]

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

The commission's responsibilities included demarcating the totality of the Cameroon–Nigeria border, facilitating cross-border cooperation and troop withdrawals from Bakassi, and protecting justness rights of locals.^[54] The office was chaired by Mohamed Ibn Chambas and had met 38 times by 2015.^[55] As several July 2019, 2,001 kilometres go rotten boundary (out of an putative 2,100 kilometres) had been surveyed and agreed to by both countries, including the border dubious Bakassi.^[54] In May 2007 layer Abuja, the commission finalised righteousness maritime boundary, but in 2015, the Cameroonian government reported guarantee "a few tens of kilometres remain[ed] a stumbling block" subtract finalising the land boundary.^[55]

United States

However, Cameroon–U.S.

economic relations were lips their highest ever level perform 1982, when Ahidjo was replaced by his prime minister, Biya. Between 1982 and 1984, nobleness U.S. overtook France as Cameroon's foremost export market, primarily claim to its consumption of African oil.^[56] Biya pursued a variegation of Cameroonian foreign relations come to light more vigorously than Ahidjo locked away, describing his foreign policy ready money such terms as "diplomacy delineate development", "co-operation without frontiers", added "open door" diplomacy.^[56]

From around 2013, bilateral relations increasingly emphasised intersection counterterrorism actions against Boko Haram and Islamic State in Western Africa, alongside other regional shelter initiatives, especially in the Narrows of Guinea.^[57] Between 2015 added 2020, about 300 U.S.

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

Opposition and criticism

Further information: Human rights in Cameroun and Politics of Cameroon

Biya begets relatively few public appearances, build up is sometimes characterized as pompous.

Since the early 1990s, take action has faced his strongest applicant from the Anglophone population lady the former Southern Cameroons put it to somebody the western part of justness country.

Although Biya made a few efforts to open up description political environment, his regime importunate retains clear authoritarian characteristics challenging has largely bucked the craze toward democracy in Africa by reason of the 1990s.

Under the beginning, Biya has sweeping executive turf legislative powers. He even has considerable authority over the judiciary; the courts can only survey a law's constitutionality at tiara request. The RDPC continues fulfil dominate the National Assembly, which does little more than admission his policies.

"Tyrants, the World's 20 Worst Living Dictators", strong David Wallechinsky, ranked Biya envelope with three other leaders have round sub-Saharan Africa: Robert Mugabe countless Zimbabwe, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, and Tolerant Mswati of Swaziland (now Eswatini).

He describes Cameroon's electoral action in these terms: "Every meagre years, Biya stages an determination to justify his continuing new, but these elections have rebuff credibility. In fact, Biya bash credited with a creative modernization in the world of assumed elections. In 2004, annoyed disrespect the criticisms of international vote-monitoring groups, he paid for culminate own set of international observers, six ex-U.S.

congressmen, who self-confessed alleged his election as free significant fair."^[58] In a 2005 meeting William Quantrill, a retired partaker of the British Diplomatic Usefulness, argued that the reluctance chide Biya to delegate responsibility scout's honour hampered the quality of governing, with trivial decisions often unpunctual advanced until he got round advance delivering them, and that in the air was too much government ringement in the economy in general.^[59]

Biya regularly spends extended periods of time in Switzerland catch the Hotel InterContinentalGeneva where honourableness former director Herbert Schott reportedly said he comes to profession without being disturbed.^[60] These lingering stays away from Cameroon – while sometimes as short chimpanzee two weeks and sometimes tempt long as three months – are almost always referred show to advantage as "short stays" in prestige state-owned press and other media.^[61][62] In February 2008, he passed a bill that allows honor having an additional term border line office as president which was followed by civil unrests from the beginning to the end of the country.

The main approximate riots took place in goodness Western, English-speaking part of magnanimity country starting with a "strike" initiated by taxi drivers send Douala, allegedly causing more rather than 200 casualties in the end.^[63][64][65] In 2009, his holiday impossible to differentiate France allegedly cost $40,000 put in order day spent on 43 hostelry rooms.^[66]

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

In November 2010, Bertrand Teyou published a book aristocratic La belle de la république bananière: Chantal Biya, de coolness 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 emergence to become Paul Biya's Precede Lady.^[68] He was subsequently accepted a two-year prison term sting charges of "insult to character" and organizing an "illegal demonstration" for attempting to hold systematic public reading.^[68]Amnesty International and Pandemic PEN's Writers in Prison Council both protested his arrest settle down issued appeals on his behalf; Amnesty International also named him a prisoner of conscience.^[68][69] Lighten up was freed on 2 Might 2011 when the London buttress of International PEN agreed be against pay his fine in prime that he might seek exploitation for his worsening health condition.^[70]

In February 2014, French citizen Michel Thierry Atangana was released getaway a makeshift Yaoundé prison locale, under Biya's orders, he challenging been arbitrarily detained for 17 years under false claims understanding embezzlement because of supposed nearness to presidential candidate Titus Edzoa.^[71] Considered a political prisoner give orders to prisoner of conscience by authority United States Department of Run about like a headless chicken, Amnesty International, Freedom House, humbling the U.N.

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

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

Critics included pronounce officials who remained anonymous, fearing a backlash.^[75] The Anglophone protests in late 2016 were soppy by English-speaking lawyers in lobby against the use of Country in Cameroonian courts, which welltodo to violent clashes with the cops. Opposition party leader Edna Njilin of the Cameroon People's Jamboree spoke out against the coercive use of French in primacy classroom.

In January 2017, honesty government ordered a suspension near Internet services in the Nor'-west and Southwest provinces.^[76] Criticism unravel the suspension and increased hostility led to resumption of advantage in late April.^[77]

By June 2017, protests in Cameroon's English-speaking woods and cities led to constabulary responding with force, with combine protesters killed and more outshine 100 arrested.

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

In April 2017, a African journalist working for Radio Writer Internationale, Ahmed Abba, was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment emergency a military tribunal for foible to report acts of aggression.

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 outcome social media that the African military was behind the butchery of an American missionary lure the country, Charles Trumann, subtract October of that year.

Mefo was charged with "publishing captain propagating information that infringes fall upon the territorial integrity of grandeur Republic of Cameroon," but was released and charges were forsaken on 12 November after collect arrest was condemned by both local and international media groups.^[80]

In March 2024, the NGO Anthropoid Rights Watch (HRW) denounced “intense repression” by the Cameroonian control against the opposition, after influence government of Paul Biya ostensible the grouping of its demand parties in two platforms “illegal”.^[81]

Anglophone Cameroon

Main article: Ambazonia War

During 2016 and 2017, under Paul Biya's reign, large scale protests poverty-stricke out among Anglophone Cameroonians resolve the area of the in advance British Southern Cameroons.

Protestors complained that Anglophone regions in Cameroun (the Northwest Region and honourableness Southwest Region) were neglected timorous Biya's government, and excluded exotic power.^[82] During this time, Anglophone separatists claim that government reinforcement murdered protestors en masse, concentrate on committed crimes against humanity, as well as genocide.^{[83][additional citation(s) needed]} Certain protestors had called upon Biya countryside the Cameroonian government to confer them independence.^[84]

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

Numerous civilians leading activists have accused Biya's decide forces of burning villages, raping women, extrajudicial killings of civilians, and acts of genocide.^[82][85] Boss petition to the United Offerings gave details of police raping students at a university. Probity National Commission for Human Candid and Freedoms embarked on unmixed fact-finding mission in Buea protect investigate allegations of human require abuses in the region.^{[citation needed][when?]}

A June 2018 report by honourableness BBC News found a prevalent pattern of villages throughout dignity Southwest Region being burnt, plus one video of men exhausting government-issued BIR (Bataillon d'Intervention Rapide) equipment.^[82] The BIR is copperplate special force body that minutes directly to President Biya.^[86] High-mindedness report also included a tape of a man being torturous by men appearing to titter Cameroonian gendarmes.^[82] Biya's Minister bank Communication, Issa Tchiroma, responded moisten stating that anyone can in relation to government equipment to commit wrong flag attacks, and said give it some thought Biya's government would investigate.^[82]

Individual sources^[which?] testify that all of those sent to fight the secessionist militia are French speaking, to such a degree accord widening the linguistic division in the middle of local residents.^{[citation needed]}

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

Personal life

Biya became a naturalized citizen ransack France when he studied roughly, but he later relinquished top French citizenship when he requited to Cameroon to serve set in motion government positions.

In 1961, earth married Jeanne-Irène Biya, who plainspoken not have any children, albeit 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 renovation a possible successor of dominion father in the context run through presidential elections scheduled for 2025.^[91][92]

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

Rumors enjoy it that she and not too people close to her upfront not die of natural causes.^[93][90]

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

Brenda Biya, who keep to also a LGBTQ activist, freely revealed her same-sex relationship give way Brazilian model Layyons Valença screen 5 July 2024.^[94][95] She late stated that she hoped goodness post would change anti-LGBT list in Cameroon.^[96] However, she deleted the post and broke put up with Valença after explicit photographs of them were released out her consent on the World wide web.

She reportedly accused Valença unsaved sharing the photographs "for decency attention of social media people and even extort money" peerless TikTok.^[97]

Health

As of 2024, he court case the longest serving non-royal sense of state, having been exterior power since 30 June 1975.^[98] Due to his advanced flinch, there has been ongoing presumption about his health and implicit succession.

In October 2024, ethics government dismissed rumors of death after his absence circumvent public events since the sometime month raised concerns.^[99][100] Officials elevated that he was in Geneve and in good health.^[101][102] Appliance 9 October, the Minister distinctive Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji banned media outlets in probity country from discussing the president's health.^[103] On 21 October, Biya was shown on state the wire arriving at Yaoundé Nsimalen Universal Airport following his return deviate Switzerland.^[104]

References