Wikileaks Revelations About Paul Biya's Takeover

The analysis of two diplomatic cables revealed by Wikileaks, shows that the departure of the former President of the Republic, even if it was precipitated with the arrival in power of François Mitterrand in France, was prepared for a long time.

Ahmadou Ahidjo deliberately chose to leave power on November 4, 1982 for the benefit of his constitutional successor, Paul Biya? The question around the departure of the former President of the Republic remains a subject of debate on which the analysts do not agree.

In his issue of November 6, 2017, on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the accession of Paul Biya to the supreme office, L'Œil du Sahel returns to two diplomatic cables revealed by Wikileaks on this subject. It shows that the departure of the first Head of State was prepared many years in advance.

Wikileaks Revelations About Paul Biya's Takeover

The first cable is entitled "Health of President Ahidjo". The document dates from March 14, 1977, and shows that Americans were interested in the health of the former president. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) of the United States has erased the contents of this cable. On April 26, 2011, NARA issued an indicative note at the heading of the cable removed from the archives: "This contains information that may violate an individual's privacy and has been removed from the archives".
Our colleague points out that this is proof that the deterioration of Ahidjo's health had already given rise to several scenarios on his succession. The second diplomatic cable is the decree signed on 10 April 1979 entitled "Decree to grant a pension to the former Presidents of Cameroon".

The said diplomatic cable returned in detail to the content of the decree which granted a lifetime pension to the former Presidents of Cameroon, equivalent to 2/3 of the salary of a current Head of State, a pension for widows and children, housing, office, staff etc.

Two months before the signing of this decree, two constitutional amendments designated the Prime Minister Paul Biya, to accede to the Presidency in case of vacancy of power.

Which means that seeing his health faltering, the former President of the Republic was already preparing a cozy retreat. At a press conference on March 5, 1984 in Paris, Ahmadou Ahidjo declared: "I took myself and the decision to resign myself.

Because I believe that power is not a personal prerogative, but a service of the state and that we do not cling to it against all odds ". - Wikileaks revelations about Paul Biya's takeover