Paul Biya is currently the longest ruling Non-Royal
head of state in the world, the 80+ years old guy
became president of Cameroon nation 31 years ago when his predecessor, Ahmadou
Ahijo, resigned.
Paul Biya who has
a reportedly huge personal fortune between $200 to $300 million according to
Foreignpolicy.com He has rigged the term limit laws twice to make sure he stays
in power.
The Cameroonian
president is said to be the richest man in Cameroon. According to a French
online newspaper, Rue 89, Paul Biya’s vacation was over the top more expensive
than that of the American President.
He was widely
criticized for having rented a villa for 30,000 euros per day in August 2009.
Cameroon is one of the poorest countries in the world (with $2,257 GDP per
capita as of 2011) with 48% of its population living below the poverty line.
Cameroon has one
of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still,
it faces many of the serious problems confronting other underdeveloped
countries, such as stagnant per capita income, a relatively inequitable
distribution of income, a top-heavy civil service, endemic corruption, and a generally
unfavourable climate for business enterprise.
According to history, Biya rose to prominence
under President Ahmadou Ahidjo. However, when Ahidjo unexpectedly announced his
resignation on 4 November 1982, the baton was passed unto Biya, while he
succeeded him as President of Cameroon on 6 November.1982.
In 1983 a deep rift was said to have developed
between the duos. Ahidjo went into exile in France, and from there he publicly
accused Biya of abuse of power and paranoia about plots against him.
It
was gathered that the two could not be reconciled despite efforts by several
foreign leaders.
In
the October 2011
presidential election,
Biya secured a sixth term in office, polling 77.9% of votes cast.
SIX term!!! African Leaders.............
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