Paul Biya

Cameroonian politician

Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo; 13 February 1933) is a Cameroonian politician. He is the President of Cameroon. He has been the country's president since 6 November 1982.

Paul Biya
Biya in 2022
2nd President of Cameroon
Assumed office
6 November 1982
Prime MinisterBello Bouba Maigari
Luc Ayang
Sadou Hayatou
Simon Achidi Achu
Peter Mafany Musonge
Ephraïm Inoni
Philémon Yang
Joseph Ngute
Preceded byAhmadou Ahidjo
1st Prime Minister of Cameroon
In office
30 June 1975 – 6 November 1982
PresidentAhmadou Ahidjo
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byBello Bouba Maigari
Personal details
Born
Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo

(1933-02-13) 13 February 1933 (age 91)
Mvomeka'a, Ntem, French Cameroon
(now Cameroon)
Political partyRDPC
Spouse(s)
  • Jeanne-Irène Biya
    (m. 1961; died 1992)
  • (m. 1994)
Children3 including Emmanuel Franck Biya
Alma materNational School of Administration, Paris
Institute of Political Studies, Paris
Signature

Biya was born in the village of Mvomeka'a in Cameroon. At that time, the country was called French Cameroon. He studied in France, at the Sorbonne and the Institut d'études politiques de Paris, both in Paris. He graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in public law and a diploma in international relations.

After graduating, Biya returned to Cameroon and worked in the government. In 1975, the President Ahmadou Ahidjo gave the job of Prime Minister to Biya. When President Ahidjo resigned on November 6, 1982, Biya became president of the country. Shortly afterwards, Ahidjo and Biya began feuding, and Ahidjo was forced to leave Cameroon.

Biya was elected as the President of Cameroon in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1997 and 2004, but other parties only have been allowed to enter the elections since 1992. The results many of these election results have been called fraudulent (achieved through unfair or illegal ways). [1]

Many international organizations, including Amnesty International, have criticized Biya's government for restricting the freedom of the people of Cameroon. These issues include control of the media (newspapers and radio and television stations) [2] and violations of human rights. [3] Biya's supporters point to the country's stability and high literacy rate.

Biya is currently the longest-ruling non-royal leader in the world and the oldest ruler in Sub-Saharan Africa after Robert Mugabe stepped down during the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'état.[4]

References

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  1. "Elections. La fraude «made in Cameroon» fait fureur". www.cameroonvoice.com. 29 October 2012.
  2. "Cameroon country profile". BBC News. 22 October 2018.
  3. [1][permanent dead link]
  4. The fall of Robert Mugabe sends an ominous signal to Africa’s dictators, Washington Post, 2017-11-22

Other websites

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