Ahmadou Ahidjo
1924 – 1989 Cameroonian first president of Cameroon
Cameroon's first president, who led the country to independence and ruled it as a tightly controlled state closely tied to France.
- Religion
- Muslim
- Affiliations
- Cameroonian National Union
Ahmadou Ahidjo, a Fulani from the north, became prime minister and then first president of Cameroon as it gained independence in 1960. His early rule was marked by a brutal counter-insurgency, backed by French forces and advisers, against the leftist UPC rebellion, which killed many thousands. He built a centralized one-party state and kept close economic and military ties with Paris. In 1982 he handed power to Paul Biya, then fell out with him, was accused of plotting a coup, and died in exile in Senegal in 1989.
Connections
- associate of Jacques Foccart — Governed within the French postcolonial network Foccart coordinated.
In the timeline
- 1960 Independence of Cameroon first president at independence