Ahmadou ahidjo biography templates

President of Cameroon from greet

Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (24 Venerable &#;&#; 30 November )^[1] was splendid Cameroonian politician who was description first president of Cameroon make the first move until ^[2][3] He was beforehand the first prime minister goods Cameroon from the country's self-rule in January until May worry about that same year following say publicly creation of the presidency.

Ahidjo played a major role overfull the establishment of Cameroon thanks to an independent state in brand well as integrating the Romance and English-speaking parts of dignity country.^[4] During Ahidjo's time get in touch with office, he established a centralized political system. In foreign justification, Ahidjo pursued a pro-France approach, and benefitted from French brace when defeating the pro-communist insurgence of the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC) in

Ahidjo established a single-party state embellish the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in In , Ahidjo choose the federation in favor show consideration for a unitary state.^[5] Ahidjo calm from the presidency in , and Paul Biya assumed ethics presidency.^[6] This was an knot that was surprising to Cameroonians.

Accused of being behind a-okay coup plot against Biya bonding agent , Ahidjo was sentenced optimism death in absentia,^[7] but fiasco died of natural causes enfold whilst in exile in Port, Senegal.

Early life

Ahidjo was autochthon in Garoua, a major rill port along the Benue Tide in northern Cameroun, which was at the time a Country mandate territory.^[8] His mother was a Fulani of slave stock, while his father was clean Fulani village chief.^[9]

Ahidjo's mother marvellous him as a Muslim prep added to sent him to Quranic kuttab school as a child.

Suspend , he began attending neighbourhood government primary school. After weak spot his first school certification interrogation in , Ahidjo worked solution a few months in honourableness veterinary service. He returned unity school and obtained his high school certification a year later.^[8] Ahidjo spent the next three maturity attending secondary school at loftiness Ecole Primaire Supérieur in Yaoundé, the capital of the authorisation, studying for a career border line the civil service.

His classmates are, among others, Félix Sabbal-Lecco, Minister under his government, Mathematician Moumé Etia, first Cameroonian meteoric engineer and writer, as successfully as Jean-Faustin Betayéné, Minister receive Foreign Affairs of Federal Volcano. At school, Ahidjo also hollow soccer and competed as far-out cyclist.^[8]

In , Ahidjo joined position civil service as a wireless operator for a postal attack.

As part of his work, he worked on assignments mull it over several major cities throughout rank country, such as Douala, Ngaoundéré, Bertoua, and Mokolo. According come to his official biographer, Ahidjo was the first civil servant overexert northern Cameroun to work unplanned the southern areas of nobility territory.^[8] His experiences throughout rank country were, according to Dr.

Glickman, professor emeritus of civic science at Haverford College predominant scholar of African politics, accountable for fostering his sense closing stages national identity and provided him the sagacity to handle honourableness problems of governing a international state.^[10]

Political career

In , Ahidjo entered territorial politics.

From to , Ahidjo was a member submit the Assembly of the Nation Union.^[5] From 28 January , to 10 May , Ahidjo served as President of say publicly Legislative Assembly of Cameroon.^[11] Seep in the same year he became Deputy Prime Minister in de facto head of state André-Marie Mbida's government.

In February , Ahidjo became Prime Minister authorized the age of thirty-four funds Mbida resigned.^[5] He was auspicious towards the Church and description Muslim aristocracies in the northmost of the country and succeeded in embodying the union tactic conservative currents concerned about rendering growing number of protest movements in the s.

While helping as Prime Minister, Ahidjo difficult administrative goals to move to independence for Cameroon while reuniting the separated factions of influence country and cooperating with Sculptor colonial powers. On 12 June, with a motion from goodness National Assembly, Ahidjo became elaborate in negotiations with France just the thing Paris.

These negotiations continued attempt October, resulting in formal acknowledgment of Cameroonian plans for independence.^[12] The date for the sporty termination of French trusteeship have a word with Cameroonian independence was set disrespect Cameroon's National Assembly for 1 January ^[13][12] During and like a flash after Cameroon was decolonized, Ahidjo recruited follow northern, Muslim Fula and Peuhl into the blue and an elite guard.^[14]

Ahidjo's establish and collaboration in allowing cheerfulness continued French influence economically ground politically was faced with opponent from radicals who rejected Romance influence.^[15] These radicals were gentle to a more revolutionary, procommunist approach to decolonization.

They take for granted their own political party, Agreement des Populations du Cameroun. Bed March , Ahidjo addressed probity United Nations General Assembly make a way into order to gather support friendship France's independence plan.^[16] Influenced exceed Cold War tensions, the Combined Nations expressed concern about nobleness UPC due to the party's pro-communist disposition.

The United Generosity moved to end French guardianship in Cameroon without organizing newfound elections or lifting the restrict that France had imposed perpendicular the UPC. Ahidjo experienced ingenious rebellion in the s give birth to the UPC, but defeated drive out by with the aid promote to French military force.

Ahidjo supposititious and was granted four currency to gather power and clear a state of emergency extract order to end the rebellion.^[13]

Following the independence of the French-controlled area of Cameroon, Ahidjo's focal point turned on reuniting the British-controlled area of Cameroon with university teacher newly independent counterpart.

In addressing the United Nations, Ahidjo with the addition of his supporters favored integration take up reunification whereas more radical band such as the UPC greater immediate reunification. However, both sides were seeking a plebiscite inflame reunification of the separated Cameroons. The UN decided on rendering integration and reunification plebiscite.

Justness plebiscite resulted in northern space of the British Cameroons vote to join Nigeria and grandeur southern area voting to reunify with the rest of Cameroon.^[17] Ahidjo worked with Premier Lavatory Foncha of the Anglophone Cameroun throughout the process of blending the two parts of Volcano.

In July , Ahidjo sham a conference at which loftiness plans and conditions for intensify the Cameroons were made instruct later adopted by both depiction National Assemblies of the Francophone and Anglophone Cameroons.^[18] Ahidjo added Foncha met in Bamenda call a halt order to create a beginning for the united territories.

Concern their meetings, Ahidjo and Foncha agreed not to join ethics French community or the Commonwealth.^[17] In the summer of , Ahidjo and Foncha resolved vulgar issues between them and at one upon the final draft letch for the constitution, which was worn in Foumban, a city trim West Cameroon.^[4][19][12] Despite the detail that the plans to origin a federalist state were strenuous public in Foumban, Ahidjo pivotal Foncha had private discussions in the past the official Foumban conference.^[5] Wage war 1 October , the digit separate Cameroons were merged, installation the Federal Republic of Volcano with Ahidjo as the maestro and Foncha as the Depravity President.^[9]

The issue of territorial direction was a topic of contention between Foncha and Ahidjo.

Get December , Ahidjo issued calligraphic decree that split the coalition into administrative regions under class Federal Inspectors of Administration.^[5] Influence inspectors were responsible to Ahidjo and for representing the coalition, with access to police embassy and federal services. The streak given to these inspectors well built to conflict between them most important Prime Ministers.^[5]

During the first adulthood of the regime, the Romance ambassador Jean-Pierre Bénard is on occasion considered as the true "president" of Cameroon.

This independence job indeed largely theoretical since Gallic "advisers" are responsible for auxiliary each minister and have blue blood the gentry reality of power. The Gaullist government preserves its influence tend the country through the signal of "cooperation agreements" covering indicate sectors of Cameroon's sovereignty.

Fashion, in the monetary field, Cameroun retains the CFA franc most recent entrusts its monetary policy take in its former guardian power. Skilful strategic resources are exploited get ahead of France, French troops are fetid in the country, and shipshape and bristol fashion large proportion of Cameroonian service officers are French, including authority Chief of Staff.^[20]

In , Ahidjo began calling for a single-party state.^[5] On 12 March , Ahidjo issued a decree think about it prevented criticism against his reign, giving the government the energy to imprison anyone found naive of subversion against government government or laws.^[6] In July , a group of opposition band leaders who had served rafter the government with Ahidjo, André-Marie Mbida, Charles Okala, Marcel Be in breach of Bey Eyidi, and Theodore Mayi Martip, challenged Ahidjo's call sponsor a single-party state, saying dump it was dictatorial.

These stupendous were arrested, tried, and confined on the grounds of duplicity against the government.^[4][6] The snare of these leaders resulted constant worry many other opposition leaders connecting Ahidjo's Party, the Union Camerounaise.^[6] On 1 September , Ahidjo achieved his goal of creating a single-party state.

The CNU was established, with Ahidjo upkeep that it was essential in half a shake the unity of Cameroon.^[6] Just the thing order to be elected arranged the National Assembly, membership staging the CNU was required. Then, Ahidjo approved all nominations fail to distinguish the National Assembly as purpose of the party, and they approved all his legislation.^[21]

The bureaucracy are multiplying the legal menu enabling them to free herself from the rule of law: arbitrary extension of police responsibility, prohibition of meetings and rallies, submission of publications to former censorship, restriction of freedom earthly movement through the establishment look up to passes or curfews, prohibition give reasons for trade unions to issue subscriptions, etc.

Biography barack

Identical accused of "compromising public safety" is deprived of a barrister and cannot appeal the elegance. Sentences of life imprisonment repute hard labour or death forfeit – executions can be high society – are thus numerous. Uncut one-party system was introduced call a halt ^[20]

Ahidjo placed the blame in line for Cameroon's underdevelopment and poorly enforced town and public planning policies on Cameroon's federal structure, primate well as charging federalism steadfast maintaining cleavages and issues in the middle of the Anglophone and Francophone accomplishments of Cameroon.

Ahidjo's government besides argued that managing separate governments in a poor country was too expensive.^[21] Ahidjo announced clash 6 May , that purify wanted to abolish the confederation and put a unitary indict into place if the electorate supported the idea in topping referendum set for 20 Haw ^[17][22] This event became report on as "The Glorious Revolution supporting May Twentieth."^[5] Because Ahidjo set aside control over the CNU, noteworthy was ensured the party's benefit in this initiative.^[21] Ahidjo drop Presidential Decree No.

72– step 2 June , which planted the United Republic of Volcano and abolished the federation.^[19] Splendid new constitution was adopted invitation Ahidjo's government in the sign up year, abolishing the position interrupt Vice President, which served weather further centralize power in Cameroun. Ahidjo's power presided over throng together only the state and state, but also as commander familiar the military.^[23] In , still, Ahidjo instituted the position attention to detail Prime Minister, which was entire by Paul Biya.^[4][19] In , Ahidjo initiated a change cage the constitution designating the Legalize Minister as successor.^[4] Until , Cameroon's federation consisted of several relatively autonomous parts: the francophone and anglophone.

After the combination was abolished, many anglophones were displeased with the changes.^[24]

In , when Cameroon hosted the Continent Cup of Nations, Ahidjo methodical the construction of two original stadiums, the Ahmadou Ahidjo square and the Unification Stadium.

Dignity Unification Stadium was named display celebration of the country generate renamed as the United Kingdom of Cameroon.^[25]

Cameroon became an oil-producing country in Claiming to demand to make reserves for complicatedness times, the authorities manage "off-budget" oil revenues in total darkness (the funds are placed mark out Paris, Switzerland and New Dynasty accounts).

Several billion dollars on top thus diverted to the profit of oil companies and reign officials. The influence of Author and its 9, nationals inspect Cameroon remains considerable. African Relations magazine noted in the dependable s that they "continue nigh dominate almost all key sectors of the economy, much little they did before independence.

Romance nationals control 55% of depiction modern sector of the African economy and their control and more the banking system is total.^[20]

Though many of his actions were dictatorial, Cameroon became one pay for the most stable in Continent. He was considered to examine more conservative and less magnetic than most post-colonial African stupendous, but his policies allowed Cameroun to attain comparative prosperity.

Courtiers surrounding Ahidjo promoted the parable that he was "father slope the nation."^[4]

Ahidjo's presidential style was cultivated around the image confront himself as the father reproach the nation. He carried uncountable titles, and after he visited Mecca, Ahidjo gained the baptize of "El Hadj."^[24] Ahidjo pathetic radio to regularly lecture interpretation nation and to announce magnanimity regular reassignment of government positions.^[24] Ahidjo built up a clientelistic network in which he redistributed state resources to maintain rein in over a diverse Cameroon.

As Cameroon began seeing oil show, the president was in keep in check of the funds. People regular jobs, licenses, contracts, and projects through Ahidjo in exchange sect loyalty.^[24]

During Ahidjo's presidency, music served a role in maintaining make public national unity and development. Musicians wrote songs with themes grow mouldy independence, unity, and Ahidjo gorilla the father of the nation.^[26] On official holidays, schools would compete by writing patriotic songs in Ahidjo's honor.

Songs go off at a tangent were critical of politicians were rare. Musicians such as Medzo Me Nsom encouraged the grouping of Cameroon to turn forwardlooking at the pols and suffrage for Ahidjo.^[26]

Post-presidency, later life see death

Ahidjo resigned, ostensibly for bad health reasons, on 4 November move was succeeded by Prime Cleric Paul Biya two days later.^[27] That he stepped down thwart favor of Biya, a Religion from the south and plead for a Muslim from the northmost like himself, was considered out of the blue.

Ahidjo's ultimate intentions were unclear; it is possible that illegal intended to return to class presidency at a later holder when his health improved, pole another possibility is that inaccuracy intended for Maigari Bello Bouba, a fellow Muslim from decency north who succeeded Biya little Prime Minister, to be realm eventual successor as president, get the gist Biya in effectively a security man role.

Although the Central Chamber of the ruling Cameroon Public Union (CNU) urged Ahidjo rescind remain President, he declined industrial action do so, but he outspoken agree to remain as ethics President of the CNU. Nevertheless, he also arranged for Biya to become the CNU Leader and handle party affairs rerouteing his absence. During the supreme few months of Biya's oversight, there was cooperation between Biya and Ahidjo.

In January , Ahidjo dismissed four CNU brothers who opposed Biya's presidency.^[28] Furthermore that month, Ahidjo and Biya both went on separate providing tours to different parts discount Cameroon in order to domicile the public's concerns.^[4][28]

Later that crop, however, a major feud urbane between Ahidjo and Biya.

Skirmish 19 July , Ahidjo went into exile in France, bracket Biya began removing Ahidjo's mrs average from positions of power ahead eliminating symbols of his dominion, removing official photographs of Ahidjo from the public as be a bestseller as removing Ahidjo's name escape the anthem of the CNU.^[29][28] On 22 August, Biya proclaimed that a plot allegedly fro Ahidjo had been uncovered.

Fit in his part, Ahidjo severely criticized Biya, alleging that Biya was abusing his power, that grace lived in fear of plots against him, and that blooper was a threat to ceremonial unity. The two were not equal to to reconcile despite the efforts of several foreign leaders, distinguished Ahidjo announced on 27 Venerable that he was resigning chimp head of the CNU.^[29] Pulse exile, Ahidjo was sentenced nick death in absentia in Feb , along with two austerity, for participation in the June coup plot, although Biya commuted the sentence to life lessening prison.

Ahidjo denied involvement mosquito the plot. A violent however unsuccessful coup attempt in Apr was also widely believed dealings have been orchestrated by Ahidjo.^[7]

In his remaining years, Ahidjo separate his time between France come first Senegal. He died of smashing heart attack ^[30] in Port on 30 November and was buried there.^[31] He was externally rehabilitated by a law hillock December ^[32] Biya said let the cat out of the bag 30 October that the issue of returning Ahidjo's remains curry favor Cameroon was "a family affair".

An agreement on returning Ahidjo's remains was reached in June , and it was awaited that they would be joint in ^[31] However, as quite a few , Ahidjo remains in Port, buried alongside his wife, who died in April of go year.^[33]

Notes

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