Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician and the President of Cameroon since 1982
@President of Cameroon, Birthday and Family
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician and the President of Cameroon since 1982
Paul Biya born at
He married Jeanne-Irene in 1960. The couple did not have any kids but she adopted Frank Biya, an offspring from Biya’s extra-marital affair.
After Jeanne’s sudden death in July 1992, he re-married Chantal Biya, 38 years his junior, in April 1994. The couple has two children – son Paul Biya Junior and daughter Anastasia Brenda Biya Eyenga.
The first couple of Cameroon is constantly under media coverage, mostly due to their luxurious lifestyle.
Paul Biya was born as Paul Barthelemy Biya’a bi Mvondo on February 13, 1933, in Mvomeka’a village, South Region French Cameroon, in a modest family, to Etienne Mvondo Assam and Anastasie Eyenga Elle.
He attended Catholic mission, Ndem, when he was seven. Seeing his excellent performance, his French tutor suggested him to become a priest, after which he was enrolled in Edea and Akono Junior Seminaries, at the age of 14.
He moved to a high-class secondary school, Lycee General Leclerc, Yaoundé, where he studied Greek, Latin and philosophy, apart from other subjects.
After completing high school, he went to the University of Paris to study law and political science. He graduated in 1960 with a degree in law. Thereafter, he pursued public law from the Institute of Overseas Studies.
Upon his return to Cameroon in 1962, he was appointed in-charge of the Department of Foreign Development Aid, reporting directly to President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Despite differences in their backgrounds and personalities, Ahidjo became his political mentor, under whom he held various positions, including director of the cabinet, general secretary of the presidency, and minister of state.
He was appointed as the Prime Minister of Cameroon by Ahidjo in 1975. After the sudden resignation of Ahidjo in 1982, Biya succeeded him as the next President.
He conducted presidential elections in January 1984 and got re-elected as the President.
Following two military coup attempts on Biya in August 1983 and April 1984, Ahidjo was arrested and put on trial for his involvement and sentenced to life imprisonment.
He is known for ending the dispute over the oil-rich territory of Bakassi Peninsula with his neighbor, Nigeria, by moving to the International Court of Justice and signing the Greentree Agreement with the Nigerian government, in 2006.
Paul Biya, often dubbed as Cameroon’s ‘lion man’, is the President of Cameroon since 1982. He is one of the longest-serving leaders in the African continent. The octogenarian has been ruling the West African nation, after his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, announced his surprise resignation. Even though he was motivated by the Catholic missionaries of his village to become a priest as a child, he chose to educate himself in Paris and return back to join the civil services. Through his perseverance, dedication and hard work, he rose to various ranks and senior positions, eventually becoming the Prime Minister of Cameroon. Thereafter, he became the President but after assuming power as the President, he changed the prevailing methods of governing the nation and administered authoritarian rule. Despite enjoying a decent trade with other nations, he has failed to improve the economic condition of Cameroon, mainly due to his inability to exercise the right power, proper management, and peaceful political change. Today, he is counted among the world’s top 20 worst dictators, along with the head of states of other sub-Saharan African nations, namely, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Swaziland, by American populist historian David Wallechinsky.
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Birthday | February 13, 1933 |
Nationality | Cameroonian |
Famous | President of Cameroon, Leaders, Political Leaders, Presidents |
Spouses | Chantal Biya, Jeanne-Irène Biya |
Known as | Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo |
Childrens | Anastasia Brenda Biya Eyenga, Franck Biya, Paul Biya Jr. |
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Founder / Co-Founder |
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Birth Place | Mvomeka'a |
Political Ideology | Political party - People's Democratic Movement |
Religion | Catholicism |
Gender | Male |
Father | Etienne Mvondo Assam |
Mother | Anastasie Eyenga Elle |
Net Worth | $200 million as of Jan 15,2017 |
Sun Sign | Aquarius |
Born in | Mvomeka'a |
Famous as | President of Cameroon |