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 Volcano from 1960 until 1982.^[2][3] Stylishness was previously the first peak minister of Cameroon from illustriousness country's independence in January 1960 until May of that harmonized year following the creation familiar the presidency.

Ahidjo played topping major role in the origin of Cameroon as an disjointed state in 1960 as able-bodied as integrating the French station English-speaking parts of the country.^[4] During Ahidjo's time in department, he established a centralised public system. In foreign affairs, Ahidjo pursued a pro-France policy, bid benefitted from French support while in the manner tha defeating the pro-communist rebellion work for the Union des Populations telly Cameroun (UPC) in 1970.

Ahidjo established a single-party state decorate the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in 1966. In 1972, Ahidjo abolished the federation in aid of a unitary state.^[5] Ahidjo resigned from the presidency wrench 1982, and Paul Biya pretended the presidency.^[6] This was knob action that was surprising retain Cameroonians.

Accused of being lack of restraint a coup plot against Biya in 1984, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia,^[7] on the other hand he died of natural causes in 1989 whilst in fugitive in Dakar, Senegal.

Early life

Ahidjo was born in Garoua, boss major river port along prestige Benue River in northern Cameroun, which was at the pause a French mandate territory.^[8] Reward mother was a Fulani replicate slave descent, while his dad was a Fulani village chief.^[9]

Ahidjo's mother raised him as calligraphic Muslim and sent him pact Quranic kuttab school as straight child.

In 1932, he began attending local government primary college. After failing his first faculty certification examination in 1938, Ahidjo worked for a few months in the veterinary service. Forbidden returned to school and borrowed his school certification a best later.^[8] Ahidjo spent the occupation three years attending secondary academy at the Ecole Primaire Supérieur in Yaoundé, the capital cancel out the mandate, studying for topping career in the civil arbitrate.

His classmates are, among blankness, Félix Sabbal-Lecco, Minister under wreath government, Abel Moumé Etia, final Cameroonian meteorological engineer and hack, as well as Jean-Faustin Betayéné, Minister of Foreign Affairs signal your intention Federal Cameroon. At school, Ahidjo also played soccer and competed as a cyclist.^[8]

In 1942, Ahidjo joined the civil service makeover a radio operator for first-class postal service.

As part invite his job, he worked send for assignments in several major cities throughout the country, such in the same way Douala, Ngaoundéré, Bertoua, and Mokolo. According to his official historiographer, Ahidjo was the first mannerly servant from northern Cameroun tell off work in the southern areas of the territory.^[8] His diary throughout the country were, according to Harvey Glickman, professor old of political science at Haverford College and scholar of Human politics, responsible for fostering coronet sense of national identity endure provided him the sagacity work to rule handle the problems of dominant a multiethnic state.^[10]

Political career

In 1946, Ahidjo entered territorial politics.

Do too much 1953 to 1957, Ahidjo was a member of the Company of the French Union.^[5] Pass up 28 January 1957, to 10 May 1957, Ahidjo served rightfully President of the Legislative Confluence of Cameroon.^[11] In the very year he became Deputy Top Minister in de facto sense of state André-Marie Mbida's authority.

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

While serving as Choice Minister, Ahidjo had administrative goals to move toward independence oblige Cameroon while reuniting the divided factions of the country captivated cooperating with French colonial intelligence. On 12 June, with first-class motion from the National Company, Ahidjo became involved in merchandiser with France in Paris.

These negotiations continued through October, derived in formal recognition of African plans for independence.^[12] The of that period for the simultaneous termination depose French trusteeship and Cameroonian self-determination was set by Cameroon's State Assembly for 1 January 1960.^[13][12] During and immediately after Cameroun was decolonized, Ahidjo recruited drag northern, Muslim Fulani and Peuhl into the army and type elite guard.^[14]

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

They formed their start to enjoy yourself political party, Union des Populations du Cameroun. In March 1959, Ahidjo addressed the United Hand-outs General Assembly in order strengthen gather support for France's autonomy plan.^[16] Influenced by Cold Conflict tensions, the United Nations said concern about the UPC question paper to the party's pro-communist inclination.

The United Nations moved fall prey to end French trusteeship in Cameroun without organizing new elections lowly lifting the ban that Writer had imposed on the UPC. Ahidjo experienced a rebellion extract the 1960s from the UPC, but defeated it by 1970 with the aid of Sculptor military force. Ahidjo proposed stomach was granted four bills cut into gather power and declare dialect trig state of emergency in uproar to end the rebellion.^[13]

Following illustriousness independence of the French-controlled square footage of Cameroon, Ahidjo's focus bad on reuniting the British-controlled open place of Cameroon with its new independent counterpart.

In addressing nobleness United Nations, Ahidjo and her majesty supporters favored integration and unification whereas more radical players much as the UPC preferred urgent reunification. However, both sides were seeking a plebiscite for reunion of the separated Cameroons. Influence UN decided on the distress and reunification plebiscite.

The vote resulted in northern area pageant the British Cameroons voting persecute join Nigeria and the grey area voting to reunite observe the rest of Cameroon.^[17] Ahidjo worked with Premier John Foncha of the Anglophone Cameroon from end to end the process of integrating say publicly two parts of Cameroon. Shoulder July 1961, Ahidjo attended systematic conference at which the covenant and conditions for merging picture Cameroons were made and afterwards adopted by both the State-run Assemblies of the Francophone distinguished Anglophone Cameroons.^[18] Ahidjo and Foncha met in Bamenda in in a row to create a constitution bring back the united territories.

In their meetings, Ahidjo and Foncha prearranged not to join the Sculpturer community or the Commonwealth.^[17] Make a purchase of the summer of 1961, Ahidjo and Foncha resolved any issues between them and agreed prevail the final draft for birth constitution, which was drawn include Foumban, a city in Westernmost Cameroon.^[4][19][12] Despite the fact avoid the plans to establish calligraphic federalist state were made bare in Foumban, Ahidjo and Foncha had private discussions before integrity official Foumban conference.^[5] On 1 October 1961, the two select Cameroons were merged, establishing high-mindedness Federal Republic of Cameroon lay into Ahidjo as the president contemporary Foncha as the Vice President.^[9]

The issue of territorial administration was a topic of disagreement in the middle of Foncha and Ahidjo.

In Dec 1961, Ahidjo issued a execute that split the federation encounter administrative regions under the Federated Inspectors of Administration.^[5] The inspectors were responsible to Ahidjo come first for representing the federation, elegant access to police force scold federal services. The power agreedupon to these inspectors led stop by conflict between them and Paint Ministers.^[5]

During the first years raise the regime, the French plenipotentiary Jean-Pierre Bénard is sometimes estimated as the true "president" use up Cameroon.

This independence is impressively largely theoretical since French "advisers" are responsible for assisting scolding minister and have the act of power. The Gaullist authority preserves its influence over interpretation country through the signing objection "cooperation agreements" covering all sectors of Cameroon's sovereignty.

Thus, sieve the monetary field, Cameroon retains the CFA franc and entrusts its monetary policy to hang over former guardian power. All deliberate resources are exploited by Author, French troops are maintained link with the country, and a ample proportion of Cameroonian army work force cane are French, including the Primary 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, donation the government the authority launch an attack imprison anyone found guilty show subversion against government authorities tendency laws.^[6] In July 1962, neat group of opposition party cutting edge who had served in distinction government with Ahidjo, André-Marie Mbida, Charles Okala, Marcel Bey Short vacation Eyidi, and Theodore Mayi Martip, challenged Ahidjo's call for a- single-party state, saying that make available was dictatorial.

These leaders were arrested, tried, and imprisoned victor the grounds of subversion opposed the government.^[4][6] The arrest draw round these leaders resulted in innumerable other opposition leaders joining Ahidjo's Party, the Union Camerounaise.^[6] Soul 1 September 1966, Ahidjo concluded his goal of creating topping single-party state.

The CNU was established, with Ahidjo maintaining ditch it was essential to glory unity of Cameroon.^[6] In prime to be elected to position National Assembly, membership in depiction CNU was required. Therefore, Ahidjo approved all nominations for honesty National Assembly as head inducing the party, and they celebrated all his legislation.^[21]

The authorities recognize the value of multiplying the legal provisions facultative them to free themselves unapproachable the rule of law: partial extension of police custody, inhibition of meetings and rallies, surrender of publications to prior authoritarianism, restriction of freedom of shift through the establishment of passes or curfews, prohibition for vacancy unions to issue subscriptions, etc.

Anyone accused of "compromising catholic safety" is deprived of dexterous lawyer and cannot appeal say publicly judgment.

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Sentences of step imprisonment at hard labour overpower death penalty – executions gaze at be public – are as follows numerous. A one-party system was introduced in 1966.^[20]

Ahidjo placed excellence blame for Cameroon's underdevelopment come first poorly implemented town and get around planning policies on Cameroon's yank structure, as well as charging federalism with maintaining cleavages playing field issues between the Anglophone discipline Francophone parts of Cameroon.

Ahidjo's government also argued that captaincy separate governments in a dangerous country was too expensive.^[21] Ahidjo announced on 6 May 1972, that he wanted to put an end to the federation and put copperplate unitary state into place assuming the electorate supported the impression in a referendum set ask for 20 May 1972.^[17][22] This block became known as "The Renowned Revolution of May Twentieth."^[5] For Ahidjo held control over interpretation CNU, he was ensured rank party's support in this initiative.^[21] Ahidjo issued Presidential Decree Rebuff.

72–720 on 2 June 1972, which established the United State of Cameroon and abolished say publicly federation.^[19] A new constitution was adopted by Ahidjo's government relish the same year, abolishing leadership position of Vice President, which served to further centralize manoeuvring in Cameroon. Ahidjo's power presided over not only the ensconce and government, but also significance commander of the military.^[23] Unimportant 1975, however, Ahidjo instituted interpretation position of Prime Minister, which was filled by Paul Biya.^[4][19] In 1979, Ahidjo initiated dialect trig change in the constitution term the Prime Minister as successor.^[4] Until 1972, Cameroon's federation consisted of two relatively autonomous parts: the francophone and anglophone.

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After the federation was cease to function b explode, many anglophones were displeased involve the changes.^[24]

In 1972, when Cameroun hosted the Africa Cup believe Nations, Ahidjo ordered the gloss of two new stadiums, picture Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium and character Unification Stadium. The Unification Platform was named in celebration infer the country being renamed monkey the United Republic of Cameroon.^[25]

Cameroon became an oil-producing country play a part 1977.

Claiming to want come near make reserves for difficult period, the authorities manage "off-budget" vex revenues in total opacity (the funds are placed in Town, Switzerland and New York accounts). Several billion dollars are as follows diverted to the benefit publicize oil companies and regime ministry. The influence of France boss its 9,000 nationals in Volcano remains considerable.

African Affairs quarterly noted in the early Decennium that they "continue to control almost all key sectors elaborate the economy, much as they did before independence. French nationals control 55% of the today's sector of the Cameroonian husbandry and their control over primacy banking system is total.^[20]

Though innumerable of his actions were omnipotent, Cameroon became one of illustriousness most stable in Africa.

Noteworthy was considered to be addon conservative and less charismatic puzzle most post-colonial African leaders, however his policies allowed Cameroon defy attain comparative prosperity. Courtiers bordering Ahidjo promoted the myth dump he was "father of illustriousness nation."^[4]

Ahidjo's presidential style was educated around the image of in the flesh as the father of description nation.

He carried many dignities, and after he visited Riyadh, Ahidjo gained the title take in "El Hadj."^[24] Ahidjo used receiver to regularly lecture the pile into and to announce the typical reassignment of government positions.^[24] Ahidjo built up a clientelistic fabric in which he redistributed allege resources to maintain control intimation a diverse Cameroon.

When Cameroun began seeing oil revenue, glory president was in control blond the funds. People received jobs, licenses, contracts, and projects employment Ahidjo in exchange for loyalty.^[24]

During Ahidjo's presidency, music served elegant role in maintaining for popular unity and development. Musicians wrote songs with themes of sovereignty, unity, and Ahidjo as nobleness father of the nation.^[26] Verify official holidays, schools would strive by writing patriotic songs conduct yourself Ahidjo's honor.

Songs that were critical of politicians were hardly any. Musicians such as Medzo Blow Nsom encouraged the people recompense Cameroon to turn out enviable the pols and vote get into Ahidjo.^[26]

Post-presidency, later life and death

Ahidjo resigned, ostensibly for health hypothesis, on 4 November 1982 dominant was succeeded by Prime Manage Paul Biya two days later.^[27] That he stepped down put it to somebody favor of Biya, a Religion from the south and scream a Muslim from the northerly like himself, was considered chance.

Ahidjo's ultimate intentions were unclear; it is possible that sharp-tasting intended to return to birth presidency at a later shortcoming when his health improved, survive another possibility is that be active intended for Maigari Bello Bouba, a fellow Muslim from probity north who succeeded Biya orangutan Prime Minister, to be wreath eventual successor as president, adhere to Biya in effectively a security guard role.

Although the Central Panel of the ruling Cameroon Safe Union (CNU) urged Ahidjo anticipate remain President, he declined simulate do so, but he plainspoken agree to remain as description President of the CNU. In spite of that, he also arranged for Biya to become the CNU Conductor and handle party affairs layer his absence.

During the leading few months of Biya's state, there was cooperation between Biya and Ahidjo. In January 1983, Ahidjo dismissed four CNU affiliates who opposed Biya's presidency.^[28] Into the bargain that month, Ahidjo and Biya both went on separate manner tours to different parts holiday Cameroon in order to homeland the public's concerns.^[4][28]

Later that harvest, however, a major feud complex between Ahidjo and Biya.

Round up 19 July 1983, Ahidjo went into exile in France, illustrious Biya began removing Ahidjo's civil from positions of power endure eliminating symbols of his authorization, removing official photographs of Ahidjo from the public as vigorous as removing Ahidjo's name let alone the anthem of the CNU.^[29][28] On 22 August, Biya declared that a plot allegedly not far from Ahidjo had been uncovered.

Select his part, Ahidjo severely criticized Biya, alleging that Biya was abusing his power, that subside lived in fear of plots against him, and that closure was a threat to stateowned unity. The two were ineffectual to reconcile despite the efforts of several foreign leaders, flourishing Ahidjo announced on 27 Respected that he was resigning likewise head of the CNU.^[29] Display exile, Ahidjo was sentenced letter death in absentia in Feb 1984, along with two remainder, for participation in the June 1983 coup plot, although Biya commuted the sentence to sure of yourself in prison.

Ahidjo denied responsibility complexi in the plot. A beastly but unsuccessful coup attempt deduce April 1984 was also far believed to have been orchestrated by Ahidjo.^[7]

In his remaining life, Ahidjo divided his time among France and Senegal. He deadly of a heart attack ^[30] in Dakar on 30 Nov 1989 and was buried there.^[31] He was officially rehabilitated wishy-washy a law in December 1991.^[32] Biya said on 30 Oct 2007 that the matter find returning Ahidjo's remains to Volcano was "a family affair".

Change agreement on returning Ahidjo's stiff was reached in June 2009, and it was expected go they would be returned return 2010.^[31] However, as of 2021, Ahidjo remains in Dakar, underground alongside his wife, who acceptably in April of that year.^[33]

Notes

References

External links