Who is cameroons leader

His policies targeted and undermined groups like Bamilekes , Anglophones and Northerners. He changed the name of the country from the United Republic of Cameroon to the Republic of Cameroon , a clear indication that Anglophone concerns did not matter. But, after three decades of intervention by these institutions, the economy remains on the brink of collapse. Corruption became endemic. Cameroon is often ranked as being among the most corrupt countries in the world. He has repeatedly amended the constitution to tighten his grip on power.

One amendment, in , was to eliminate presidential term limits. As a response to protests against excessive centralisation of decision making in Yaounde, Biya signed a decentralisation decree in to empower regional and local authorities. But 25 years later, that initiative has not been realised. Another failed initiative was the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism created in in response to the Anglophone protest.

The petitions accused Biya of adding names to the voter registration list, operating fake polling stations and withholding ballot papers. The Court refused to invalidate the results.

Foreign observers, including the US National Democratic Institute, said that there were 'serious problems,' and the European Community expressed its concern with the irregularities. Following a demonstration, called by Fru Ndi, in Douala, 50 people were held and beaten by security forces. Some government gendarmes were said to have surrounded Fru Ndi's home in Bamenda, where Fru Ndi and over relatives and supporters were residing.

Rioting continued in Yaounde, Douala, and Bafoussam following the election and the arrest of Fru Ndi. Fru Ndi's SDF claimed that people had been arrested in Bamenda on November 1 and that many had been subject to beatings. Cameroonian lawyers went on strike to protest the 'arbitrary' arrests of four of its members in North West Province.

In an effort to appease growing criticism and strife by the opposition, Biya reshuffled his cabinet members, including those from the UNDP and the UPC. A draft bill on constitutional reform was unveiled by the government, which included a debate proposal in early June. The bill provided for a semi-presidential regime with an independent judiciary and the creation of a constitutional court, audit office, council of state, and Senate. Despite limited decentralization measures, the bill rejected the demands of the Anglophone community for a return to a federal state.

Fru Ndi rejected the government's proposal of a national debate and called for a sovereign national conference. Bernard Muna, one of the founding members of the SDF, was expelled from the SDF for advocating the organization's participation in the national debate and for calling the continuing protests dangerous.

The SDF and its allies in the Union for Change an alliance of some 10 opposition parties continued to dispute the results of the presidential elections results and kept up the pressure on the Biya regime. Many residents attributed the clash to the earlier stabbing death of a Kirdi. According to Cameroonian government sources, Nigerian troops occupied the two Cameroonian islands of Diamond Island and Djabane Island in the oil-producing Gulf of Guinea.

The Cameroonian Foreign Minister, Francis Nkwain, said that the 'occupation was the worst border incident between the two countries for more than a decade. Tekam invited the remaining opposition parties, including the SDF, to join. The Vice Prime Minister in charge of territorial administration, Gilbert Andre Tsoungui led a reconciliation mission to the far north, following ethnic clashes between the Kotokoto and the Arab Choa in December.

Tsoungui promised that the government would try to better manage the people and resources of the region. The mission was also expected to visit Nigeria to fully investigate the recent clash in the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Following an intense leadership struggle within the Labor Confederation of Cameroon Workers, its secretary general, Louis Gombes, was forcibly removed from office. Gombes claimed that the government was behind the movement to oust him. His post was immediately filled by Andre-Jules Mousseni. Although Biya's direct response to opposition demonstrations continues to be forceful, several political concessions have been made.

The most significant of Biya's reforms has been acquiescence to opposition demands for multi-party democracy. The existence of legal, alternative parties encouraged more political activism among the opposition while making it more difficult for Biya to justify repression.

Since the introduction of the multi-party reforms, the number of newspapers has also increased, human rights organizations have been established, and greater international pressure has been brought to bear on the government. Also, criticism of Biya has surfaced in the form of reductions in foreign economic assistance. Several members of the Progressive Movement were badly beaten by gendarmes and riot police when they attempted to hold a meeting at the Bamenda Omnisport Stadium in Douala.

Source: US Dept. After an OAU summit in Tunis, tensions between Cameroon and Nigeria over the disputed oil rich Bakassi peninsula eased, and troop concentrations diminished. The group's first major undertaking under Ndi's leadership was a protest of a new law which extends the life of municipal councils.

This law had been passed because the long delayed local elections had still not been held. The SDF called for a general strike and nationwide demonstrations, but there was almost no response. Turnout was even low in the North-West province, the group's main stronghold. Government authorities arrested several dozen members of the SDF in a section of the North-West province.

The arrests came after opposition members in Boyo called for organization of a strike and a tax boycott. Biya announced local elections would be held in He also announced that constitutional talks held for a short time in mid would resume. Given his age, what will he do with power? Right now, he is not active. Honestly, this is a provocation of the first order.

Look at the chaos all over the place. The country is in debts. In fact, it shows you that there is nobody at the head. That call should not be taken seriously because we know the state and health of the head of state cannot permit him to rule this country in ," Ndong said.

So long as Biya is in power the violence or corruption will not stop soon. Cameroon will continue on the downward trajectory that has characterised it for almost 40 years. Just how many more lives and dreams must a dictator like Biya destroy before France stops supporting him and his electoral ploy? This article is more than 1 year old. Vava Tampa. Read more. Topics Cameroon Africa France comment.