Considered to be a worldly and educated man, Paul Biya served Cameroon in many positions as a career bureaucrat. When he became president of his west African nation in 1982, he acted to create a more efficient government. Over time however, many critics believe Biya’s rule has become repressive and ineffective.
In 1968, Paul Biya joined the Government as Minister, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. In June 1972, he was promoted as Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. He held this position for five years and was appointed Prime Minister on June 30, 1975. He became the constitutional successor of the Head of Sate in July 1979 and President of the Republic, two days after Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned, on November 6, 1982 by virtue of the constitutional amendment in accordance with law No 79/02 of 29 June 1979.
Paul Biya has been married to Chantal Biya since April 23, 1994 following the death of his first wife. He is a father of three: Franck Biya, Paul Biya Junior and Anastasie Brenda Biya .
Biya was Cameroon's prime minister and became president in 1982 after his predecessor, Cameroon's first president following the country's independence from France, stepped down due to health reasons.
The majority of appointments Biya made in the ensuing years were members of his own southern Beti ethnic group, which quickly grew to dominate senior prefect positions and the prime minister's office.
He survived a 1984 coup attempt. When the country's first multi-party election was finally held in 1992, Biya bested his opposition rival by just four percentage points.
Surprisingly president Paul Biya does not stay in his country Cameroon. He lives with his family in Geneva, Switzerland, where he spends most of his time where he owns a home.
Despite owning a home in Geneva, President Paul Biya also has a home in Cameroon where he occasionally spends few days when he travels there to participate in public meetings, holidays, and Government events, among other things.
However, his repeated absences from the country have led critics both locally and internationally, some even refer to him as an "absent President". He entrusts the day-to-day running of the Government to his Prime Minister, Philemon Yang.
Why Is President Paul Biya Not Staying in His Home Country Cameroon?
According to the President himself, the climate of Cameroon is unsuitable for his health, this is the main reason why he chose to live in Geneva with his family
Under Biya's strict control, Cameroon enjoyed a protracted period of political stability. However, this all came to an end when radical Islamists arrived from Nigeria and an Anglophone insurrection started in the north and west. Additionally, Biya has been under constant domestic pressure to accept a transition.
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Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-43469758