Big Man Politics In Action

When it comes to 'Big Man' politics Africa puts nearly every other region to shame. Take the example of life President Paul Biya, who came to power in in the Cameroon in 1982 .... 

Life President Paul Biya

..... he consolidated power in a 1983–1984 staged attempted coup, in which he used the clampdown to eliminate all of his major rivals.

He did introduce some political reforms (but solely within the context of a one-party system) in the 1980s, but none that challenged his rule. He was later forced in to accepting the introduction of multiparty politics in the early 1990's, but he still won the contentious 1992 presidential election with just 40% of the plural, single-ballot vote.

He was 're-elected' by large margins in 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2018 but with accusations of electoral fraud, that has not been able to remove him from office. However he  has changed the the presidential term limit laws twice, to ensure he could continue to run for the presidency .... he has now reigned continuously for 40 years.

Obsequious Bowing Can Break Out ....

His corrupt rule has been strongly backed by France, as he has repeatedly reaffirmed Cameroon's 'French' speaking status in the Francophone system, with alleged discrimination and crimes against the the English speaking area of the formerly British Southern Cameroon's. To that end he changed the name of the country from 'United Republic' to the 'La République du Cameroun', which is the name the French-speaking republic of Cameroon had before the English speaking areas joined the country in 1961.

Being Life Long President Has Its Perks

He still regularly jails critics or opposition figures .... in 2017 Mr Siddiki the leader of Cameroon's Patriotic Salvation Movement - a small opposition party in the country's northernmost region - was jailed for 25 years, after being accused of plotting to destabilise President Paul Biya's government. But he is regularly seen with Western leaders and has faced little criticism or embargoes, despite his corrupt wealth gathering, or his governments highly dubious democratic credentials or human rights record ... and in this, he is like most of the other African 'Big Man' politicians, who usually have to resort to very bad acts to be politically shunned.

Apart from separatist tensions from the English speaking regions, the country also has Islamic jihadist activities in the North so security forces have been accused of human rights abuses including murder and rape. However systemic corruption is Cameroon's biggest problem, but that's hardly just a Cameroonian problem .... all of Africa is blighted with that issue. 

So it perhaps no surprise that Mr Biya is estimated to have amassed a personal fortune ranging between $200 and $300 million. This in a country where 48% of the citizens living below the poverty line. He spends a lot of time abroad in expensive hotels such as the The Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva (probably to be near his money) ... its not clear that these long and very expensive absences are not being charged to the government.

Like I said, whilst there are currently 'Big Man' political leaders across the globe, from China, through Russia, to Belarus (and all points in between), its only in Africa that you can walk from North to South or East to West, and while crossing border after border, never leave the rule of an 'African Big Man' ... its an achievement that the continent can continue be proud of for decade, after decade, after decade.