The position of Prime Minister in Cameroon has a rich and complex history, evolving through various political phases and constitutional changes. Under the current Constitution of Cameroon, the prime minister of Cameroon is a relatively powerless position. The current prime minister, Joseph Ngute, was appointed by President Paul Biya.
The position has existed in the eastern part of Cameroon since it gained its independence from France in 1960. The first Prime Minister of French Cameroon was Andre-Marie Mbida, who served from May 16, 1957. His anti-colonial policies contributed to his downfall. He was followed by Ahmadou Ahidjo, who became Prime Minister on February 25, 1958, after the fall of Mbida. Ahidjo held the position until January 1, 1960, when French Cameroon achieved independence as the Republic of Cameroon.
When French Cameroon achieved her independence, Ahidjo became head of state and the same time prime minister. Making to become the first prime minister of the Republic of Cameroon from 1st January 1960 to the 5th of May 1960 making him 125 days as prime minister of the Republic of Cameroon and on the 15th May 1960 he appoint Charles Assale to the position of PM of the Republic of Cameroon Making CHARLES ASSALE TO BE THE FIRST PERSONNEL TO SERVE AS PRIME MINISTER UNDER PRESIDENT AHMADOU AHIDJO. From 15th May 1960 to 1st October 1961 making him a total of 1 year and 139 days as PM of the Republic of Cameroon .
When the western part gained independence from the British in 1961, the two halves of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, East Cameroon and West Cameroon, maintained their autonomy and each had a separate prime minister. The first personnel who serve as PM of British Southern Cameroon was Emmanuel Mbela Lifafe Endeley from 1st October 1954 to 1st February 1959 when he was replaced by JN Foncha from 1st February 1959 to the 1st October 1961. That day, many British Southern Cameroonians vote for the Kndp that was in favor of reunification.
On October 1, 1961, French Cameroon and the southern part of British Cameroon were united as the Federal Republic of Cameroon, adopted with two federated state of EAST and WEST Cameroon with each state having its own prime minister.
Read also: Mythology in Gods of Egypt
On the 2nd of June 1972, Cameroon became a unitary State. The federated state of East and West Cameroon were abolished and replaced by provinces. The POST of the prime minister which was also abolished.
In 1972, Cameroon became a unitary state and the position of prime minister was temporarily unfilled. In 1975, Paul Biya was appointed prime minister for all of Cameroon, making him the first Prime Minister of the United Republic of Cameroon.
Now on the 29th June 1979, the position of Prime Minister was established as the constitutional successor of The President of The United Republic of Cameroon.
When Paul Biya was made president. , Bello Bouba Magari was made prime minister of the united Republic of Cameroon making him the first personnel to serve as prime minister under president Paul Biya. Bello Bouba Maigari served from November 6, 1982, to August 22, 1983, and Luc Ayang from August 22, 1983, to January 25, 1984.
The position was also abolished for the second time by President Biya on January 25, 1984 and was re-introduced on April 26, 1991 and the personnel who was made prime minister was Sadou Hayatou who was the first ever prime minister to serve under multiparty system introduce in Cameroon in 1990 by Paul Biya. Follow by Simon Achidi Achu from 9th April 1992 to 19th sep 1997. Making him the first anglophone to served as prime minister of the Republic of Cameroon. follow by Peter Mafany Mesonge from 19th September 1997 to 8th December 2004 making him the second most served prime minister under president Paul Biya. follow by Ephraïm Inoni from 8th December 2004 to 30th June 2009.
Read also: Evolution of the Prime Minister Position
JOSEPH DION NGUTE PRIME MINISTER FROM 2019.
Joseph Dion Ngute (born 12 March 1954) is a Cameroonian jurist and politician serving as the 9th prime minister of Cameroon, following his appointment in January 2019. Ngute was born in southwest Cameroon, in Bongong Barombi. From 1966 to 1971, he studied at the Government Bilingual High School of Buea Buea, where he obtained a GCE A-Level (General Certificate of Education Advanced Level). From 1973 to 1977, he attended graduate school at the University of Yaoundé and obtained a law degree. Then, from 1977 to 1978, he enrolled at Queen Mary University in London, where he obtained a master's degree in law. And, from 1978 to 1982, he followed the Ph.D.
Since 1980, he has been a professor at the University of Yaoundé II. In 1991, he served as the director of the Advanced School of Administration and Magistracy. In 1997, he entered government, serving as the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations.
Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute was appointed the Prime Minister of Cameroon on January 4, 2019, succeeding Philemon Yang. Upon taking office, Dr. Ngute immediately faced the daunting task of addressing the Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. His early initiatives included engaging in dialogue with various stakeholders and attempting to quell the separatist tensions. In September 2019, Dr. Ngute played a pivotal role in organizing the Major National Dialogue, aimed at finding a resolution to the conflict. One of the outcomes of the dialogue was the proposal for greater decentralization, including the granting of special status to the North West and South West regions.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed additional challenges for Dr. Ngute's administration. Under Dr. Ngute's leadership, the government increased funding for healthcare, set up testing and treatment centers, and implemented public health campaigns. The pandemic severely impacted Cameroon's economy, causing Dr. Ngute's government to introduce economic relief measures, including tax breaks, financial aid for businesses, and support for vulnerable populations.
Read also: Prime Minister's Office: Roles and Responsibilities
Security issues continued to dominate Dr. Ngute's tenure in 2021. The government made some progress in stabilizing the Anglophone regions, although sporadic violence persisted. Ngute supported military operations aimed at neutralizing separatist militias, while also advocating for dialogue and reconciliation. The government initiated several reforms to enhance governance.
Key infrastructure projects included the expansion of the Douala Seaport, improvements in road infrastructure, and investments in energy projects. Dr. Ngute worked on improving diplomatic relations with neighboring countries and enhancing trade partnerships.
Here’s a table summarizing the Prime Ministers of Cameroon since 1960:
| Name | Term Start | Term End | President |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Assalé | May 15, 1960 | October 1, 1961 | Ahmadou Ahidjo |
| Paul Biya | June 30, 1975 | November 4, 1982 | Ahmadou Ahidjo |
| Bello Bouba Maigari | November 6, 1982 | August 22, 1983 | Paul Biya |
| Luc Ayang | August 22, 1983 | January 25, 1984 | Paul Biya |
| Sadou Hayatou | April 26, 1991 | April 9, 1992 | Paul Biya |
| Simon Achidi Achu | April 9, 1992 | September 19, 1996 | Paul Biya |
| Peter Mafany Musonge | September 19, 1996 | December 8, 2004 | Paul Biya |
| Ephraïm Inoni | December 8, 2004 | June 30, 2009 | Paul Biya |
| Philémon Yang | June 30, 2009 | January 4, 2019 | Paul Biya |
| Joseph Dion Ngute | January 4, 2019 | Present | Paul Biya |
Lawyer Chief Charles Taku talks about Cameroon, politics, governance, protests, elections, Paul Biya
Popular articles:
tags: #Cameroon
