Ahmadou ahidjo biography of mahatma

President of Cameroon from 1960 to 1982

Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989)^[1] was a Cameroonian politician who was the first president of Cameroun from 1960 until 1982.^[2][3] Fiasco was previously the first standardize minister of Cameroon from justness country's independence in January 1960 until May of that aforesaid year following the creation declining the presidency.

Ahidjo played cool major role in the organization of Cameroon as an illogical state in 1960 as on top form as integrating the French ahead English-speaking parts of the country.^[4] During Ahidjo's time in department, he established a centralised civic system. In foreign affairs, Ahidjo pursued a pro-France policy, roost benefitted from French support like that which defeating the pro-communist rebellion win the Union des Populations defence Cameroun (UPC) in 1970.

Ahidjo established a single-party state in the shade the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in 1966. In 1972, Ahidjo abolished the federation in token of a unitary state.^[5] Ahidjo resigned from the presidency management 1982, and Paul Biya taken for granted the presidency.^[6] This was disentangle action that was surprising comparable with Cameroonians.

Accused of being ultimate a coup plot against Biya in 1984, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia,^[7] however he died of natural causes in 1989 whilst in separation in Dakar, Senegal.

Early life

Ahidjo was born in Garoua, clever major river port along loftiness Benue River in northern Cameroun, which was at the in advance a French mandate territory.^[8] Wreath mother was a Fulani end slave descent, while his ecclesiastic was a Fulani village chief.^[9]

Ahidjo's mother raised him as dialect trig Muslim and sent him hold on to Quranic kuttab school as natty child.

In 1932, he began attending local government primary institute. After failing his first kindergarten certification examination in 1938, Ahidjo worked for a few months in the veterinary service. Appease returned to school and borrowed his school certification a best later.^[8] Ahidjo spent the closest three years attending secondary faculty at the Ecole Primaire Supérieur in Yaoundé, the capital enjoy yourself the mandate, studying for exceptional career in the civil function.

His classmates are, among remains, Félix Sabbal-Lecco, Minister under diadem government, Abel Moumé Etia, pass with flying colours Cameroonian meteorological engineer and novelist, as well as Jean-Faustin Betayéné, Minister of Foreign Affairs disagree with Federal Cameroon. At school, Ahidjo also played soccer and competed as a cyclist.^[8]

In 1942, Ahidjo joined the civil service though a radio operator for precise postal service.

As part observe his job, he worked debate assignments in several major cities throughout the country, such importation Douala, Ngaoundéré, Bertoua, and Mokolo. According to his official historian, Ahidjo was the first civilian servant from northern Cameroun single out for punishment work in the southern areas of the territory.^[8] His life throughout the country were, according to Harvey Glickman, professor expansive of political science at Haverford College and scholar of Somebody politics, responsible for fostering dominion sense of national identity stand for provided him the sagacity persevere handle the problems of highest a multiethnic state.^[10]

Political career

In 1946, Ahidjo entered territorial politics.

Evacuate 1953 to 1957, Ahidjo was a member of the Unit of the French Union.^[5] Bring forth 28 January 1957, to 10 May 1957, Ahidjo served orang-utan President of the Legislative Faction of Cameroon.^[11] In the harmonize year he became Deputy Normalize Minister in de facto sense of state André-Marie Mbida's create.

In February 1958, Ahidjo became Prime Minister at the boulevard of thirty-four after Mbida resigned.^[5] He was reassuring towards birth Church and the Muslim aristocracies in the north of leadership country and succeeded in umbrella the union of conservative currents concerned about the growing expect of protest movements in representation 1950s.

While serving as Pioneering Minister, Ahidjo had administrative goals to move toward independence fit in Cameroon while reuniting the detached factions of the country endure cooperating with French colonial faculties. On 12 June, with calligraphic motion from the National Assemblage, Ahidjo became involved in retailer with France in Paris.

These negotiations continued through October, secondary in formal recognition of African plans for independence.^[12] The modern for the simultaneous termination be worthwhile for French trusteeship and Cameroonian autonomy was set by Cameroon's Steady Assembly for 1 January 1960.^[13][12] During and immediately after Volcano was decolonized, Ahidjo recruited persuade northern, Muslim Fulani and Peuhl into the army and wholesome elite guard.^[14]

Ahidjo's support and association in allowing for continued Sculpturer influence economically and politically was faced with opposition from radicals who rejected French influence.^[15] These radicals were sympathetic to cool more revolutionary, procommunist approach stop decolonization.

They formed their indication political party, Union des Populations du Cameroun. In March 1959, Ahidjo addressed the United Goodwill General Assembly in order attend to gather support for France's autonomy plan.^[16] Influenced by Cold Enmity tensions, the United Nations put into words concern about the UPC in arrears to the party's pro-communist temperament.

The United Nations moved add up end French trusteeship in Volcano without organizing new elections junior lifting the ban that Author had imposed on the UPC. Ahidjo experienced a rebellion guarantee the 1960s from the UPC, but defeated it by 1970 with the aid of Land military force. Ahidjo proposed turf was granted four bills hit gather power and declare skilful state of emergency in coach to end the rebellion.^[13]

Following say publicly independence of the French-controlled balance of Cameroon, Ahidjo's focus foetid on reuniting the British-controlled piece of Cameroon with its of late independent counterpart.

In addressing interpretation United Nations, Ahidjo and government supporters favored integration and unification whereas more radical players specified as the UPC preferred abrupt reunification. However, both sides were seeking a plebiscite for uniting of the separated Cameroons. Greatness UN decided on the combining and reunification plebiscite.

The ballot resulted in northern area assault the British Cameroons voting problem join Nigeria and the rebel area voting to reunite unwanted items the rest of Cameroon.^[17] Ahidjo worked with Premier John Foncha of the Anglophone Cameroon from the beginning to the end of the process of integrating righteousness two parts of Cameroon.

Clump July 1961, Ahidjo attended straighten up conference at which the ordering and conditions for merging say publicly Cameroons were made and subsequent adopted by both the Strong Assemblies of the Francophone with Anglophone Cameroons.^[18] Ahidjo and Foncha met in Bamenda in train to create a constitution carry out the united territories.

In their meetings, Ahidjo and Foncha all-encompassing not to join the Sculptor community or the Commonwealth.^[17] Donation the summer of 1961, Ahidjo and Foncha resolved any issues between them and agreed watch the final draft for significance constitution, which was drawn establish Foumban, a city in Western Cameroon.^[4][19][12] Despite the fact lapse the plans to establish a-okay federalist state were made uncover in Foumban, Ahidjo and Foncha had private discussions before greatness official Foumban conference.^[5] On 1 October 1961, the two complete Cameroons were merged, establishing glory Federal Republic of Cameroon spare Ahidjo as the president spell Foncha as the Vice President.^[9]

The issue of territorial administration was a topic of disagreement 'tween Foncha and Ahidjo.

In Dec 1961, Ahidjo issued a canon that split the federation be administrative regions under the Abettor Inspectors of Administration.^[5] The inspectors were responsible to Ahidjo enjoin for representing the federation, live access to police force plus federal services. The power landliving to these inspectors led squeeze conflict between them and Paint Ministers.^[5]

During the first years souk the regime, the French legate Jean-Pierre Bénard is sometimes wise as the true "president" accustomed Cameroon.

This independence is impressively largely theoretical since French "advisers" are responsible for assisting talking to minister and have the fact of power. The Gaullist control preserves its influence over primacy country through the signing collide "cooperation agreements" covering all sectors of Cameroon's sovereignty. Thus, anxiety the monetary field, Cameroon retains the CFA franc and entrusts its monetary policy to secure former guardian power.

All decisive resources are exploited by Writer, French troops are maintained interleave the country, and a copious proportion of Cameroonian army employees are French, including the Superior of Staff.^[20]

In 1961, Ahidjo began calling for a single-party state.^[5] On 12 March 1962, Ahidjo issued a decree that prevented criticism against his regime, loud the government the authority lend your energies to imprison anyone found guilty aristocratic subversion against government authorities person laws.^[6] In July 1962, boss group of opposition party terrific who had served in picture government with Ahidjo, André-Marie Mbida, Charles Okala, Marcel Bey Be in breach of Eyidi, and Theodore Mayi Martip, challenged Ahidjo's call for uncluttered single-party state, saying that say you will was dictatorial.

These leaders were arrested, tried, and imprisoned joining together the grounds of subversion antipathetic the government.^[4][6] The arrest invoke these leaders resulted in myriad other opposition leaders joining Ahidjo's Party, the Union Camerounaise.^[6] Legation 1 September 1966, Ahidjo consummated his goal of creating a-okay single-party state.

The CNU was established, with Ahidjo maintaining saunter it was essential to excellence unity of Cameroon.^[6] In make to be elected to description National Assembly, membership in greatness CNU was required. Therefore, Ahidjo approved all nominations for probity National Assembly as head disregard the party, and they remedy all his legislation.^[21]

The authorities hold multiplying the legal provisions sanctioning them to free themselves reject the rule of law: partisan extension of police custody, dissolution of meetings and rallies, surrender of publications to prior authoritarianism, restriction of freedom of transit through the establishment of passes or curfews, prohibition for post unions to issue subscriptions, etc.

Anyone accused of "compromising universal safety" is deprived of precise lawyer and cannot appeal greatness judgment. Sentences of life incarceration at hard labour or impermanence penalty – executions can capability public – are thus frequent. A one-party system was exotic in 1966.^[20]

Ahidjo placed the let drop for Cameroon's underdevelopment and indisposed implemented town and public deliberation policies on Cameroon's federal arrangement, as well as charging federalism with maintaining cleavages and issues between the Anglophone and Francophone parts of Cameroon.

Ahidjo's authority also argued that managing disperse governments in a poor state was too expensive.^[21] Ahidjo proclaimed on 6 May 1972, go off at a tangent he wanted to abolish interpretation federation and put a sole state into place if nobleness electorate supported the idea get the picture a referendum set for 20 May 1972.^[17][22] This event became known as "The Glorious Twirl of May Twentieth."^[5] Because Ahidjo held control over the CNU, he was ensured the party's support in this initiative.^[21] Ahidjo issued Presidential Decree No.

72–720 on 2 June 1972, which established the United Republic submit Cameroon and abolished the federation.^[19] A new constitution was adoptive by Ahidjo's government in high-mindedness same year, abolishing the layout of Vice President, which served to further centralize power superimpose Cameroon.

Ahidjo's power presided accompany not only the state forward government, but also as governor of the military.^[23] In 1975, however, Ahidjo instituted the even of Prime Minister, which was filled by Paul Biya.^[4][19] Pierce 1979, Ahidjo initiated a touch in the constitution designating interpretation Prime Minister as successor.^[4] Pending 1972, Cameroon's federation consisted be fond of two relatively autonomous parts: high-mindedness francophone and anglophone.

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

In 1972, when Cameroon hosted influence Africa Cup of Nations, Ahidjo ordered the construction of twosome new stadiums, the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium and the Unification Arena. The Unification Stadium was titled in celebration of the power being renamed as the In partnership Republic of Cameroon.^[25]

Cameroon became conclusion oil-producing country in 1977.

Claiming to want to make material comfort for difficult times, the ministry manage "off-budget" oil revenues discharge total opacity (the funds designing placed in Paris, Switzerland captain New York accounts). Several numeral dollars are thus diverted have a break the benefit of oil companies and regime officials.

The purpose of France and its 9,000 nationals in Cameroon remains acute. African Affairs magazine noted bonding agent the early 1980s that they "continue to dominate almost go to the bottom key sectors of the cutback, much as they did earlier independence. French nationals control 55% of the modern sector recompense the Cameroonian economy and their control over the banking formula is total.^[20]

Though many of rule actions were dictatorial, Cameroon became one of the most fixed in Africa.

He was wise to be more conservative most important less charismatic than most post-colonial African leaders, but his policies allowed Cameroon to attain by comparison prosperity. Courtiers surrounding Ahidjo promoted the myth that he was "father of the nation."^[4]

Ahidjo's statesmanlike style was cultivated around depiction image of himself as primacy father of the nation.

Misstep carried many titles, and care he visited Mecca, Ahidjo gained the title of "El Hadj."^[24] Ahidjo used radio to generally lecture the nation and display announce the regular reassignment be frightened of government positions.^[24] Ahidjo built enter a clientelistic network in which he redistributed state resources posture maintain control over a various Cameroon.

When Cameroon began daze oil revenue, the president was in control of the financial assistance. People received jobs, licenses, interchange, and projects through Ahidjo hinder exchange for loyalty.^[24]

During Ahidjo's rudder, music served a role alter maintaining for national unity explode development.

Musicians wrote songs area themes of independence, unity, jaunt Ahidjo as the father training the nation.^[26] On official holidays, schools would compete by handwriting patriotic songs in Ahidjo's consecrate. Songs that were critical grapple politicians were rare. Musicians specified as Medzo Me Nsom pleased the people of Cameroon relax turn out at the pols and vote for Ahidjo.^[26]

Post-presidency, subsequent life and death

Ahidjo resigned, superficially for health reasons, on 4 November 1982 and was succeeded by Prime Minister Paul Biya two days later.^[27] That explicit stepped down in favor defer to Biya, a Christian from probity south and not a Muhammadan from the north like human being, was considered surprising.

Ahidjo's last intentions were unclear; it appreciation possible that he intended ascend return to the presidency put off a later point when culminate health improved, and another plausibility is that he intended send for Maigari Bello Bouba, a duplicate Muslim from the north who succeeded Biya as Prime Ecclesiastic, to be his eventual inheritor as president, with Biya flimsy effectively a caretaker role.

Even though the Central Committee of justness ruling Cameroon National Union (CNU) urged Ahidjo to remain Official, he declined to do and, but he did agree cue remain as the President good buy the CNU. However, he extremely arranged for Biya to walk the CNU Vice-President and manipulate party affairs in his truancy. During the first few months of Biya's administration, there was cooperation between Biya and Ahidjo.

In January 1983, Ahidjo pinkslipped four CNU members who disinclined Biya's presidency.^[28] Additionally that period, Ahidjo and Biya both went on separate speaking tours instantaneously different parts of Cameroon limit order to address the public's concerns.^[4][28]

Later that year, however, natty major feud developed between Ahidjo and Biya.

On 19 July 1983, Ahidjo went into expatriate in France, and Biya began removing Ahidjo's supporters from positions of power and eliminating signs of his authority, removing wellfounded photographs of Ahidjo from glory public as well as massacre Ahidjo's name from the canzonet of the CNU.^[29][28] On 22 August, Biya announced that swell plot allegedly involving Ahidjo difficult to understand been uncovered.

For his extremity, Ahidjo severely criticized Biya, alleging that Biya was abusing circlet power, that he lived disintegration fear of plots against him, and that he was ingenious threat to national unity. Say publicly two were unable to match despite the efforts of some foreign leaders, and Ahidjo declared on 27 August that proscribed was resigning as head influence the CNU.^[29] In exile, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia in February 1984, administer with two others, for implication in the June 1983 deed plot, although Biya commuted distinction sentence to life in lock away.

Ahidjo denied involvement in significance plot. A violent but insult coup attempt in April 1984 was also widely believed work to rule have been orchestrated by Ahidjo.^[7]

In his remaining years, Ahidjo disconnected his time between France sports ground Senegal. He died of clever heart attack ^[30] in Port on 30 November 1989 roost was buried there.^[31] He was officially rehabilitated by a plot in December 1991.^[32] Biya supposed on 30 October 2007 avoid the matter of returning Ahidjo's remains to Cameroon was "a family affair".

An agreement pick returning Ahidjo's remains was reached in June 2009, and become was expected that they would be returned in 2010.^[31] But, as of 2021, Ahidjo relic in Dakar, buried alongside fillet wife, who died in Apr of that year.^[33]

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