Ahmadou Ahidjo

Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (born the August 24th 1924 with Garoua, Cameroun - died the November 30th 1989 with Dakar, Senegal) is the first president of the Cameroun.

Biography

Wire of a foulbé chief of Islamic religion, Ahidjo is an autodidact who integrated the French administration as telegraphist then radio operator operator.

Elected at the territorial assembly of Cameroun in 1947, he becomes adviser of the Parliament of the French Union of 1953 to 1958 and chair this one in 1957. Vice-premier minister in charge for the interior after the granting of internal autonomy in Cameroun, then Minister of Interior Department (May 1957), it replaces Me Bida with the head of the government in February 1958.

Thanks to its party, the Cameronian Union and the active assistance of the French Army which reduces the rebellions bamiléké and based (Union of the Cameronian Populations, UPC close to the Communists of Ruben Um Nyobe), he is elected in May 1960 chair of Cameroun. Proclaiming the amnesty of the men of the maquis of UPC, it succeeds in bringing back a confidence crowned by the reunification with part of British Cameroun (which refuses integration in Nigeria after referendum). The country becomes a Federal state in October 1961.

Ahidjo thinks of undertaking an economic development which would support the progressive unification of the country. It founds in 1966 a sole party, the Cameronian National union (UNC) and puts an end in 1970 to the rebellion of UPC (execution of Ernest Ouandié). A referendum approves in May 1972 a constitution which makes of Cameroun a unit State. If the president defends the authorities of the OAU outside, it is withdrawn however, in 1973, of the Common Organization African and Malagasy (OCAM).

Ahidjo resigns and yields its place to its constitutional successor, Paul Biya, in April 1982 for health reasons. It leaves the UNC the following year. After a fallen through attempt at coup d'etat against the government on April 6th, 1984, he marked and is condemned to died the following year by Contumace.

Remaining then between France, Spain and Senegal during these events, it will never return to Cameroun and settles in Senegal. It dies there on November 30th, 1989 and remains buried there.

Sources

Works of Mongo Beti on the Cameroun of which Control on Cameroun: autopsy of a decolonization , 1972 and African if you speak , 2005.

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