Cameroon - Head of Government

HE Mr Paul Biya became President of the Republic of Cameroon on 6 November 1982 following the resignation of his predecessor, Ahmadou Ahidjo.

Mr Biya was returned to office in 1984, 1988, 1992 (by the first pluralist presidential ballot ever held in the country), and in 1997 and 2004 for seven-year terms.

Mr Biya held the post of Chairperson of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement in 1985 following its transformation from the Cameroon National Union Party, which he had also chaired since 1983.

Mr Biya was appointed Prime Minister in 1975. He had earlier served as Minister of State and Secretary-General in the Office of the President in 1970. From 1968 to 1970, he was Secretary-General and Director of the Civil Cabinet in the Office of the President. Mr Biya served as Director of the Civil Cabinet in the Office of the President from 1967 to 1968. Before that, he was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Education in 1965 and served as its Director of Cabinet in 1964. Mr Biya was Chargé de Mission of the Presidency of Cameroon in 1962.

He attended the University of Sorbonne’s Faculty of Law and the Institut des Haute Études d’Outre-Mer.

Mr Biya was born on 13 February 1933 in Mvoméka’a, South Province, Cameroon.