Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Cameroon has had two presidents. The first was Ahmadou Ahidjo, who served from 1960 to 1982.
He played a big part in leading the country during its early years of independence. Paul Biya became president on November 6, 1982, after Ahidjo resigned. Biya has been in office ever since, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world.
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Complete List Of Cameroon Presidents
No | Name | Tenure | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ahmadou Ahidjo | 5 May 1960 – 1 October 1961 | Cameroon National Union (UC) |
1 October 1961 – 2 June 1972 | UC (until 1966) |
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2 June 1972 – 6 November 1982 | United National Cameroonian Party (UNC) |
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2 | Paul Biya | 6 November 1982 – 4 February 1984 | UNC |
4 February 1984 – Present | Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) |
Who Was The First President Of Cameroon?
Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo was the first president of Cameroon, serving from 1960 to 1982. Born on August 24, 1924, in Garoua, Cameroon, Ahidjo played a part in the country’s transition from colonial rule to independence and unification.
He grew up in a Fulani Muslim family and started his education at a Quranic school before attending formal schooling.
He later studied at the Ecole Primaire Supérieure in Yaoundé, finishing his studies in 1942. After school, he worked as a telegrapher and then as a radio operator for the French colonial administration.
Ahidjo joined politics in 1946, becoming a member of the Territorial Assembly of Cameroon in 1947. His political influence grew quickly, and he was elected Vice President of the Assembly in 1956.
At just 34 years old, he became Prime Minister in 1958. During this time, he worked with France to negotiate Cameroon’s independence, which was achieved on January 1, 1960.
In May of that year, Ahidjo was elected as the first president of the newly independent nation. One of his most notable achievements was the reunification of French-speaking Cameroon and the English-speaking regions, which formed the Federal Republic of Cameroon in 1961.
In 1966, he established a one-party state under the Cameroon National Union (CNU) and pursued policies of African socialism.
He maintained close ties with France, which helped him suppress uprisings from radical nationalist groups like the Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC).
In 1972, he transitioned Cameroon from a federal to a unitary state, consolidating his power. With that said, Ahidjo resigned in 1982, citing health issues, and was succeeded by Paul Biya.
However, tensions between the two leaders led Ahidjo to flee to France in 1983 after being accused of plotting a coup. He was sentenced to death in absentia but lived in exile until he died in 1989.
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Who Is The Current President Of Cameroon?
Paul Biya is the current president of Cameroon. He has been in power since November 6, 1982, after taking over from Ahmadou Ahidjo, who resigned.
This makes him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world and the oldest head of state in Africa. Biya was born on February 13, 1933, in Mvomeka’a, Cameroon, as the third of nine children.
In his early life, he considered becoming a Catholic priest but later chose a career in education and politics. He studied at Lycée Leclerc in Yaoundé and then attended the University of Paris in France, where he earned degrees in public law and international relations.
Biya’s political career began soon after Cameroon gained independence in 1960. He rose through the political ranks under the leadership of Ahmadou Ahidjo.
He served in several positions, including Minister of State and Secretary-General at the Presidency. In 1975, he was appointed Prime Minister.
When Ahidjo resigned in 1982, Biya became president. Soon after taking office, he consolidated his power by replacing key officials with loyal supporters.
In 1984, he survived an attempted coup. Biya has been re-elected several times, but his elections have been criticized for alleged fraud.
His government has been described as authoritarian, with accusations of media restrictions and human rights abuses.
Despite these criticisms, some of his supporters believe he has brought stability to Cameroon during difficult times, including economic challenges and security threats in the Anglophone regions. Biya has faced controversies, including accusations of corruption.
Transparency International once named Cameroon the most corrupt country in the world during his presidency. As of January 2025, Biya is 89 years old and nearing the end of his current term.
