Paul Biya

Some Lesser Known Facts About Paul Biya

• Paul Biya grew up in Mvomeka’a, Cameroon.

• His father wanted him to become a priest; however, that could not happen as Paul was expelled from Catholic school at the age of 16.

• Biya attended Institut d’études politiques, Paris (Paris Institute of Political Studies).

• While studying in France, Paul Biya became a naturalised French citizen, but later gave up this citizenship when he returned to Cameroon to join public service.

• Paul married Jeanne-Irène Biya in 1961. They did not have any children together, but she adopted Franck Biya, who was born in 1971. Some sources claim Franck was the child of Paul Biya and either Jeanne-Irène’s sister or her niece.

• Paul Biya was appointed Prime Minister on 30 June 1975, three years after Cameroon adopted a unitary system that centralised power under a single national government, replacing the previous federal structure.

• In 1979, a new rule was introduced that said the Prime Minister would become President if the current one stepped down. So, when Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned on 4 November 1982, Biya became President on 6 November.

  

• Paul’s selection as successor in 1982 surprised many, as he was a Catholic from southern Cameroon, while President Ahmadou Ahidjo, who appointed him, was a Muslim from the north.

• When Biya stepped into the role of President on 6 November 1982, Ahidjo continued to lead the ruling party, the Cameroon National Union (CNU).

• Shortly after, Biya was given key positions within the ruling party. He joined the Central Committee and Political Bureau of the CNU and was eventually chosen as its vice-president.

• On 11 December 1982, Biya was given the responsibility of managing CNU’s affairs while Ahidjo was away.

• When Paul Biya became president in 1982, trade between Cameroon and the United States grew rapidly. For a short time, the U.S. became Cameroon’s biggest customer, mainly because it was buying a lot of Cameroonian oil.

• Although Biya and Ahidjo appeared united, conflict arose between them in 1983. Ahidjo later left for France, accusing Biya of trying to tighten his grip on power and being extremely suspicious of others.

  

• On 14 September 1983, during a special session of the CNU, Biya formally became the leader of the ruling party.

• In November 1983, Biya rescheduled the presidential election to 14 January 1984, two years earlier than planned. As the sole candidate, he won with 99.98% of the vote.

• In February 1984, Ahidjo and two others were accused of secretly planning to take control of the government and were put on trial even though they weren’t present. They were sentenced to death, but Biya later reduced their punishment to life in prison.

• On 6 April 1984, Biya survived a violent attempt by soldiers to remove him from power, just a day after he shut down the Republican Guard, a special military unit responsible for protecting the president.

• Many believed that Biya found out about the plan early and quickly disbanded the Republican Guard, which forced the attackers to strike sooner than planned. Ahidjo, who was living in exile in France, was widely seen as being behind the plan.

• The failed coup, mainly led by northern Muslim soldiers, caused between 71 and 1,000 deaths. Biya avoided blaming the northern Muslim community and instead urged the nation to stay united.

• Under Paul’s leadership, Cameroon followed IMF and World Bank reform plans that included privatisation, open markets, and budget cuts. These changes led to a 60% drop in government salaries and a rise in informal jobs.

• In 1985, the Cameroon National Union (CNU) was renamed the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) during a major party meeting in Bamenda. Paul Biya was then chosen as the party’s new president, a decision that raised many concerns.

  

• Under Biya’s leadership, Cameroon rebuilt strong ties with Israel. After a break in diplomatic relations from 1973 to 1986, Cameroon became one of the first countries to renew its partnership with Israel during his presidency.

  

• Biya’s government has shown steady support for Israel in global diplomacy. Cameroon opposed multiple anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations and was the only nation to vote alongside Israel against the resolution titled ‘Assistance to Palestine Refugees.’

• During Biya’s presidency, Cameroon developed strong ties with Israel in the security and health sectors. Israeli experts trained the country’s elite Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) and provided support for military equipment and healthcare initiatives.

• In 1990, Biya ended Cameroon’s one-party rule by allowing opposition parties to exist legally. This marked the beginning of a multi-party political system in the country.

• Cameroon held its first multi-party presidential election on 11 October 1992. Biya won with around 40% of the vote, while his closest rival, SDF’s John Fru Ndi, got about 36%.

• As the 1990 electoral law did not allow for a second round in presidential elections, Biya remained in power despite receiving only about 40% of the vote. The opposition, however, alleged that the election was rigged and unfair.

• On 29 March 1994, Paul Biya initiated legal action at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), challenging Nigeria’s control over the Bakassi Peninsula.

• In the October 1997 presidential election, Biya was re-elected with 92.6% of the vote after the main opposition parties decided to boycott the election. He officially began his new term on 3 November 1997.

  

• Biya continued to lead the CPDM and was re-elected as the party’s national president during its second extraordinary congress on 7 July 2001, and again on 21 July 2006.

• Paul was re-elected as the President of Cameroon with 70.92% on 11 October 2004. The opposition again accused the election process of being heavily rigged; Paul was sworn in for another term on 3 November 2004.

• After his 2004 win, Biya pushed to remove the two-term limit set by the 1996 Constitution. In his 2008 New Year’s speech, he argued that such limits were undemocratic and restricted voters’ choice.

• On 12 June 2006, Paul Biya signed the Greentree Agreement with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. This agreement resolved the long-running border dispute over the Bakassi Peninsula.

• That same year, President Paul Biya visited China for a major summit, strengthening bilateral relations. The following year, Chinese President Hu Jintao paid a return visit to Cameroon.

  

• In February 2008, people across Cameroon protested against the rising cost of living and Paul’s plan to stay in power beyond the two-term limit. The government responded with force, which left around 100 dead and thousands arrested.

• On 10 April 2008, the National Assembly passed a constitutional amendment removing term limits and giving former presidents legal immunity. Since the CPDM held most of the seats, the vote passed without difficulty, while the SDF opposition boycotted it.

• In October 2011, Biya was re-elected for a sixth term with 77.9% of the votes amid fraud claims and reported irregularities. He was sworn in on 3 November 2011, vowing to create jobs and boost development through major public projects.

• In 2013, Paul Biya’s administration began working more closely with the U.S. to strengthen its efforts to fight terrorism, mainly targeting Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa in the Lake Chad region.

• Paul won the 2018 presidential election with 71.3% of the votes. The election, however, was marked by violence and low voter turnout.

• In June 2020, under Biya’s leadership, Cameroon was among 53 countries at the UN that supported China’s national security law for Hong Kong.

• On 26 March 1971, Cameroon established official ties with China. These relations grew stronger under Paul Biya’s presidency, especially during the 2000s, with visits and increased cooperation.

• In October 2024, amid growing concerns about Paul Biya’s health following his absence from public events, rumors of his death spread widely. The government confirmed he was alive in Geneva, and later banned all media in Cameroon from reporting on his health.

• On 21 October 2024, Paul Biya appeared on national television as he arrived at Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport, putting an end to widespread speculation about his health.

  

• In July 2025, at the age of 92, Biya officially filed his candidacy for an eighth term in the presidential election set for October 2025.

• As President of Cameroon, Paul Biya has maintained strong diplomatic and military ties with France. The country continues to supply Cameroon with weapons and training, while also remaining Cameroon’s top foreign investor under his leadership.

• Paul Biya is known for being the world’s oldest and longest-serving non-royal head of state, having remained in power since 1975.