Since November 6, 1982 when Paul Biya, constitutional successor, replaced the first President, under his rigor and moralization slogan, his rule has been characterized by ups and downs but at each circumstance, he has emerged successfully.
Despite the challenges, a number of good reforms have been carried out and crises resolved peaceful, pushing most Cameroonians to renew each time, their trust on President Paul Biya.
Two years after taking office, in 1984, Paul Biya was almost ousted through a coup d’état masterminded by those expected to ensure presidential security.
The 1994 Bakassi crisis that almost saw Cameroon getting into war with neighbouring Nigeria, Paul Biya handled that crisis with dexterity opting for a peaceful settlement using the judiciary at the Hague and the United Nations. Through the Green Tree Agreement, Bakassi Peninsular became Cameroon’s.
To show that Paul Biya’s rule has not been smooth, we can cite the turbulence brought in by multiparty politics introduced in the 90s, Lake Nyos Gas Disaster, Edea train derailment, Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North region and today the Anglophone crisis.
Adequate solutions have been given or are still being sorted. We remember that the degasification of the Lake Nyos is almost through to avoid further disasters, the Boko Haram insurgencies have been silenced considerably and the Anglophone crisis almost dying down: due to the fact that government organized a Major National Dialogue, special status for the North West and South west regions given, creation of the Bilingualism and multiculturalism Commission, creation of the Common Law department at ENAM and the Decentralization process being reinforced through the holding of the regional elections on December 6 among others.
On the 4th of November, President AHIDJO resigned and handed over power to the then Prime Minister, PAUL BIYA who was sworn-in on the 6th of November 1982.
He brought in a major change, as in 1984 after an adoption in Parliament, changing the name of the country from the United Republic of Cameroon to the “Republic of Cameroon”.
