Ahmadou Ahidjo
President of Cameroon
Died when: 65 years 98 days (783 months)Star Sign: Virgo
Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989) was a Cameroonian politician who was the first President of Cameroon, holding the office from 1960 until 1982.
Ahidjo played a major role in Cameroon's independence from France as well as reuniting the French and English-speaking parts of the country.
During Ahidjo's time in office, he established a centralized political system.Ahidjo established a single-party state under the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in 1966.
In 1972, Ahidjo abolished the federation in favor of a unitary state.Ahidjo resigned from the presidency in 1982, and Paul Biya assumed the presidency.
This was an action that was surprising to Cameroonians.Accused of being behind a coup plot against Biya in 1984, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia, but he died of natural causes in 1989.