Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07YAOUNDE227, CAMEROON: POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS TO PRESIDENT BIYA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07YAOUNDE227.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07YAOUNDE227 2007-02-22 13:05 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Yaounde
VZCZCXRO4662
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHYD #0227/01 0531305
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221305Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7338
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1256
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0890
RUEHLC/AMEMBASSY LIBREVILLE 1443
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1507
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 1399
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1763
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 08 YAOUNDE 000227 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/C AND INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017 
TAGS: PINR PGOV CM KCOR
SUBJECT: CAMEROON: POSSIBLE SUCCESSORS TO PRESIDENT BIYA 
 
REF: A. 06 YAOUNDE 440 
 
     B. 06 YAOUNDE 191 
     C. YAOUNDE 174 
     D. YAOUNDE 193 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Niels Marquardt, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1.  (SBU)  President Biya's 74th birthday (February 13, 
2007) revived speculation about who might succeed him, 
especially if were not to complete his term in office (which 
ends in 2011).  The latest round of succession talk began 
last year following his spring 2006 illness (Ref. A), and his 
finally surpassing his sole predecessor in length of service 
(24 years, and counting).  Though no one is willing to put 
himself forward as a possible successor or -- aside from 
certain opposition politicians -- even admit openly to 
presidential aspirations, there is a short list of popular 
favorites whom we profile here.  While this cable is not 
meant to predict a successor or to weigh the chances of the 
various individuals seen here as possible contenders, we 
nevertheless have grouped the individuals into loose 
categories reflecting where they stand today.  In Cameroon's 
complicated political system and society, far more than 
qualifications will influence the selection of the next 
president.  Septel will report on the political context in 
which the 2011 elections will take place, and should be seen 
as a companion piece to this essentially biographic report. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Immediate Constitutional Successor: 
Djibril CAVAYE YEGUIE 
----------------------------------- 
 
2.  (U) Should President Biya resign, die in office, or be 
found incompetent to perform his duties, his temporary 
constitutional successor would be the President (Speaker) of 
the National Assembly whose term would last 40 days until new 
Presidential elections are held.  (In reality, 40 days would 
not be sufficient and this interim period would have to be 
extended.)  He is constitutionally ineligible to run as the 
permanent successor.  (Note: Ref. B details the mechanics of 
the constitutional succession). 
 
3.  (U) Djibril CAVAYE YEGUIE, President of the National 
Assembly, is a native of the Far North Province.  A physical 
education teacher by training, he was a civil servant for 
several years before entering politics in the early 1970s. 
He served in Parliament from 1973-1978 and 1983-1988.  He did 
not run in 1988 but was elected again in 1992, facing 
challengers from other parties for the first time.  CAVAYE 
YEGUIE was elected President of the National Assembly on 
March 31, 1992 and has been re-elected every year since then. 
 
 
4.  (C) A member of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic 
Movement (CPDM), CAVAYE YEGUIE is not a particularly 
charismatic figure and is seen as a political lightweight 
easily manipulated by the Presidency.  Some in his party even 
question his repeated re-election as National Assembly 
President.  Nevertheless, he is an asset to the party in the 
populous and thus politically important Far North Province -- 
where Biya and the CPDM are strong -- and he enjoys President 
Biya's confidence.  A Muslim, CAVAYE YEGUIE is married with 
children. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
I.  THE CLEAN, COMPETENT AND WELL-POSITIONED 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
---------------------------- 
Prime Minister Ephraim INONI 
---------------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) A relatively successful Prime Minister who 
expresses no personal political ambition other than to serve 
his president well, Ephraim INONI's competence has made him 
in the eyes of many an obvious possible successor to 
President Biya, although public opinion generally does not 
give any Anglophone much chance at this time. 
 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  002 OF 008 
 
 
6.  (U) A native of the South West Province, INONI was born 
August 16, 1947.  Prior to joining the government he was a 
primary school teacher.  INONI is a Treasury Inspector 
trained at the National School of Administration and 
Magistracy (ENAM) in 1977; he also holds a master's degree 
from Southeastern University in Washington, DC (1982-1984). 
A member of the CPDM, INONI is married with four children; an 
Anglophone, he is also fluent in French; indeed, he governs 
almost exclusively in French. 
 
7.  (U) Prior to his appointment as PM on December 8, 2004, 
INONI served for 12 years as Deputy Secretary General of the 
Presidency, where a key responsibility was the national 
program of bilingualism.  He also was the GRC point person on 
Bakassi and some speculate that his appointment as PM was a 
reward for the ICJ ruling in Cameroon's favor.  From 
1982-1992 INONI held a series of finance, budget, salary and 
treasury positions throughout Cameroon and in the Embassy in 
Washington.  He has served on several boards and gave up his 
position of Chairman of the Board of Administrators of 
Standard Chartered Bank, Cameroon when he became Prime 
Minister. 
 
8.  (U) When he came to the Prime Minister's office, some 
wondered if INONI would be strong enough to exert a firm grip 
over the Cabinet, especially in the face of strong, 
independent and politically well-connected ministers like his 
powerful former boss (until September 22, 2006, when he was 
appointed Foreign Minister) Presidential Secretary General 
ATANGANA MEBARA.  (Other former bosses who now work -- at 
least nominally -- for INONI include Interior Minister 
MARAFA, PTT Minister BELLO Bouba, and Vice Prime Minister 
Amadou ALI.)   In his two years on the job, INONI has 
established himself as a reasonaly strong and effective 
leader with generally good control over most of Biya's 
Ministers; however, his power is derived entirely from Biya's 
and he has no political base of his own.  He has achieved 
impressive results in helping Cameroon reach the HIPC 
completion point, in combatting corruption and revamping the 
civil service. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA 
Minister of Territorial Administration 
 and Decentralization 
-------------------------------------- 
 
9.  (C) A dynamic, personable and energetic man, MARAFA 
HAMIDOU YAYA has an excellent relationship with the U.S. 
Embassy -- as well as the French, Japanese, British, and 
others.  Like PM INONI, MARAFA's intelligence and 
effectiveness have raised his national profile and make him a 
possible presidential candidate -- perhaps even the 
front-runner.  He is the sole Cameroonian to have admitted, 
albeit privately, to the Ambassador that he harbors that 
ambition.  He is also the likely preference of every Western 
Ambassador in town, including this one.  MARAFA's current 
responsibilities include organizing the 2007 legislative 
elections and pushing for improved security in Cameroon.  His 
personality, competence, and bilingualism also make him a 
point person of choice to carry important messages abroad for 
Biya. 
 
10.  (SBU) MARAFA was born in 1952 in the North Province.  A 
U.S.-trained petroleum engineer (University of Kansas, 1980), 
MARAFA also holds a BA in Geology from the University of 
Yaounde (1976).  A (not very devout) Muslim, MARAFA is a 
senior member of the CPDM, fluent in both English and French 
and married to a woman from Douala, with (adopted) children. 
His marriage -- to a non-Muslim not from his region -- is 
unpopular at home in Garoua, which means he has a better 
national base of power than he does in his home town -- 
something unusual for a Cameroonian politician. 
 
11.  (U) Before entering government, MARAFA worked for the 
National Hydrocarbons Company (SNH) where he served as head 
of the Exploration and Production Department (1981-1990) and 
as Technical Adviser in charge of relations with the IMF and 
World Bank (1990-1992).  In November 1992, MARAFA joined the 
Ministry of Finance.  He was appointed Special Adviser to the 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  003 OF 008 
 
 
President in 1995, Secretary General at the Presidency in 
1997, Minister of State and Secretary General in 2001.  Biya 
jailed MARAFA for several years after the 1984 coup attempt, 
although there was no evidence against him, but the two have 
obviously reconciled and Biya relies on MARAFA for advice on 
many key issues. 
 
12.  (SBU) MARAFA became Minister of Territorial 
Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) in October 2002 
when legislative and municipal elections were postponed due 
to poor organization.  President Biya needed someone he could 
trust and MARAFA has proved his reliability within a 
sensitive ministry.  MARAFA has worked hard to instill a 
sense of national (vice provincial) loyalty among MINATD 
employees and is the first Minister of Territorial 
Administration to conduct a national tour to educate 
Cameroonians about the importance of elections and 
encouraging voter registration.  He is widely seen as having 
improved election organization and since February 2006 has 
begun work on decentralization which is needed badly in 
Cameroon. 
 
----------------------- 
Amadou ALI 
Vice Prime Minister and 
Minister of Justice 
----------------------- 
 
13.  (C) Depending on the prosecution of the country's 
anti-corruption campaign, Amadou ALI could ride a tide of 
popular support into higher office.  At the same time, 
however, he is making numerous, important enemies.  As 
Minister of Justice, ALI has a solid reputation for 
competence and integrity.  A garrulous but unassuming man, 
ALI gives no indications of presidential aspirations, though 
his impeccable reputation might make him a popular choice of 
people fed up with corrupt government officials and looking 
for a transitional figure they can trust.  Biya obviously 
trusts him with the most sensitive work now under way in 
Cameroon.  His main weaknesses are what is described as a 
"poor education" and his lack of English -- though neither 
seem to have hampered him in tough jobs.  He is among the 
most accessible Ministers to this Embassy, and most others, 
and is regularly seen at diplomatic events.  His current wife 
is a medical doctor and they have one son together.  His 
first marriage, arranged when he was very young, produced 
daughters who are 30 years older than his teenage son. 
 
14. (U)  A native of the Far North province, ALI was born in 
1943.  He is a devout Muslim, speaks French fluently and 
understands some (but nevers speaks) English.  He trained as 
a civil administrator at ENAM (1971) and has a diploma from 
the International Institute for Public Administration in 
Paris (1970).  ALI has been in government continuously since 
1985 and has served in a number of ministries, including 
Interior, Defense, and the National Gendarmerie.  He served 
as Secretary General at the Presidency (1996-7) and has been 
Justice Minister since 2001 (and concurrently Vice Prime 
Minister since 2004).  ALI represented Cameroon before the 
International Court of Justice in the dispute with Nigeria 
over the Bakassi peninsula and is still the head of 
Cameroon's delegation to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed 
Commission. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Laurent ESSO 
Secretary General at the Presidency 
 
SIPDIS 
---------------------------------- 
 
15.  (C) Laurent ESSO is another of Cameroon's quietly 
competent senior officials with a clean reputation, who seems 
to enjoy the president's full confidence and whom many 
believe is the one to watch.  Indeed, he seems to be made 
almost exactly in Biya's own quiet mold, and it would be 
surprising -- in exactly the same was it was with Biya in 
1982 -- to see him assume power.  As Foreign Minister 
(2004-2006) and as Defense Minister before that, ESSO was 
distant, in part because he so often represented the 
President at summit meetings and other international events; 
however, his personality is cold and distance comes naturally 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  004 OF 008 
 
 
to him with both foreigners and Cameroonians.  He seldom met 
with Ambassadors, even when in town.  His move to the 
presidency as Secretary General in the September 22, 2006 
cabinet re-shuffle was seen as a sign of Biya's confidence in 
him.  Perhaps too reserved to be seen as a presidential 
contender, he nonetheless has the experience and integrity 
that could make him an attractive compromise candidate.  As 
neither a Northern Peuhl nor a Southern Beti, he represents 
an option that could break a deadlock. 
 
16.  (U)  ESSO was born on August 10, 1942 in Douala.  He 
received a BA in Law and Economics from the University of 
Yaounde on 1969 and graduated as a lawyer at the National 
School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM).  He is a 
native French speaker, has a good knowledge of English but is 
hesitant to speak it.  ESSO joined the government in 1982 and 
served in various functions at the presidency until 1996, 
save a three year stint as Chancellor of the University of 
Yaounde (1985-1988).  In September 1996, ESSO was appointed 
Minister of Justice; he moved to Health in 2000, to Defense 
in 2001 and to External Relations in 2004. In every position 
he was responsible for promoting quiet but positive change. 
He is easily the most discreet member of Biya's inner circle. 
 
----------------------------- 
II.  THE CORRUPT AND POWERFUL 
----------------------------- 
 
--------------------------- 
Jean-Marie ATANGANA MEBARA 
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
--------------------------- 
 
17. (C)  Though viewed by some as a possible successor to 
Biya, MEBARA is also rumored to be one of the more corrupt 
officials in the government. This is perhaps why he was 
removed from his post as Secretary General at the Presidency 
in the September 2006 cabinet reshuffle and sent to the 
Ministry of External Relations where, presumably, there will 
be fewer opportunities to profit from his position.  His 
power base is now severely truncated and the reshuffle also 
removed from government many of his closest Beti 
collaborators.  Should he be sanctioned for corruption it 
would reduce greatly his chances of winning the presidency, 
but not necessarily remove him from contention altogether. 
There are growing rumors, however, that MEBARA could be among 
those about to lose their government jobs. (Ref. C) 
Allegations of corruption against MEBARA include getting his 
hands into business deals that had to pass through the 
Presidency for approval (most notably the "Albatross" whereby 
the GRC paid for a Presidential aircraft which Biya found 
unacceptable after only one hair-raising trip, and was then 
unable to recover the funds paid for it), collecting large 
sums from people in exchange for ministerial appointments, 
and generally screening and filtering critical information 
from reaching Biya. 
 
18.  (U) A native of the Center Province, MEBARA was born in 
Yaounde in 1954.  He received his BA from the Faculty of Law 
and Economic Sciences at the University of Yaounde in 1977 
and immediately entered public service.  He left in 1978 for 
France where he continued his studies, culminating with a 
doctorate in Educational Economics in 1984.  Since then, he 
has worked in several ministries (including serving as 
Minister for Higher Education), the PM's office and the 
Presidency.  In August 2002, he succeeded MARAFA as Secretary 
General at the Presidency, a position he held until being 
appointed Minister of External Relations in September 2006. 
MEBARA is charming and speaks fluent English as well as 
French. 
 
------------------------------- 
Polycarpe ABAH ABAH 
Minister of Economy and Finance 
------------------------------- 
 
19.  (C) Unctuous and notoriously corrupt, Polycarpe ABAH 
ABAH is also rich and powerful, leading some to suppose he 
has escaped dismissal and arrest only because there are 
greater concerns about the forces he could marshal if ousted. 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  005 OF 008 
 
 
 Amadou ALI has told the Ambassador that he is currently 
investigating ABAH ABAH for alleged embezzlement in excess of 
USD 200 million.  The Prime Minister and Interior Minister 
each recently told the Ambassador that Abah Abah recently 
paid USD 30,000 to each of the Members of Parliament from his 
native South Province, for undisclosed services rendered. 
 
20.  (C) Abah Abah is strongly rumored to have an enormous 
network of personal business interests that trump the 
national interest regularly.  For example, he is said to have 
a personal stake in the company to which he provisionally 
awarded the Camair privatization contract, which remains 
unsettled as he and the Prime Minister wrestle for control of 
this sensistive file.  While we have reason to believe that 
his days as Minister of Economy and Finance could be numbered 
(Ref. C), some fear that ABAH ABAH could stage -- or at least 
finance -- a coup if President Biya were to die before ABAH 
ABAH lands in jail.  The extent of his abuse of office, 
particularly as Director of Taxation, is so widely suspected, 
however, that many fear popular unrest could break out if 
ABAH ABAH ascends to new political heights.  He is seen by 
most Cameroonians as a living, prospering symbol of all that 
is wrong here, and the fact that he survived the September 
reshuffle remains a source of anger and disbelief among both 
diplomats and everyday Cameroonians. 
 
21.  (U)  Born in 1954, Polycarpe ABAH ABAH earned a BA in 
Economics from the University of Yaounde and a Masters in 
Administration from the University of South Carolina (paid 
for by a USAID scholarship).  An eloquent Francophone, he is 
also fully fluent in English.  He trained as a tax inspector 
and at ENAM.  A member of the ruling CPDM, ABAH ABAH was 
appointed Minister of Economy and Finance in December 2004. 
Competent in his official capacity, ABAH ABAH is credited 
with leading Cameroon to the HIPC Completion Point (April 
2006). 
 
----------------- 
III.  DARK HORSES 
----------------- 
----------------------------------- 
Gregoire OWONA 
Minister Delegate at the Presidency 
----------------------------------- 
 
22.  (U)  A native of the Center province, Gregoire OWONO was 
born in 1950.  He has served as Minister Delegate at the 
Presidency in Charge of Relations with the Assemblies (the 
National Assembly, or Parliament, and when the 1996 
Constitution is fully implemented, the Senate) since December 
1997.  A member of the ruling CPDM, Owona is the Deputy 
Secretary General of the party's central committee -- a 
 
SIPDIS 
position in which his influence is limited by his notoriously 
bad relations with ailing CPDM Secretary General Charles 
DOUMBA.  OWONA is a computer specialist and ran a private 
computer software business before joining government. 
 
23.  (U)  As a possible presidential contender, OWONA is 
appealing for being a moderate and a reformer within the CPDM 
and for his openness to dialogue, a trait that has enhanced 
his effectiveness in dealing with the parliamentary 
opposition.  OWONA is Vice Chairman of the National 
Commission on Human Rights and was an International Visitor 
in 1989. 
 
------------------------- 
Maurice KAMTO 
Minister Delegate to the 
 Minister of Justice 
------------------------- 
 
24.  (SBU)  If there is a Barack Obama in Cameroon, it might 
very well be Maurice KAMTO, a French-educated International 
Law scholar and a prominent member of Cameroonian civil 
society.  Born in 1954 in the West province, KAMTO served as 
the Dean of the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences at 
the University of Yaounde II before his appointment to the 
Cabinet.  He has a reputation as a brilliant intellectual 
with unquestioned personal integrity and strong, progressive 
ideas on democracy and human rights, views that got him 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  006 OF 008 
 
 
jailed in the mid-eighties.  KAMTO served as a legal adviser 
for Cameroon's legal team on the International Court of 
Justice ruling on the Bakassi dispute, and now serves on the 
UN International Law Commission.  A Francophone, KAMTO also 
speaks fluent English.  He is married to a senior diplomat at 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who currently is in charge of 
European Affairs. 
 
---------------------- 
IV. OPPOSITION LEADERS 
---------------------- 
 
----------------- 
Amadou NDAM NJOYA 
Opposition Leader 
----------------- 
 
25.  (SBU) A native of the West province, Dr. Amadou NDAM 
NJOYA was born May 8, 1942.  He is a French-educated jurist 
and political scientist, fluent in both English and French. 
He is chairman of the Cameroon Democratic Union (UDC). 
Although a career diplomat, NDAM NJOYA has been out of the 
Foreign Ministry for a long time.  Before entering politics, 
he served as a university professor (1969-72), first director 
of the International Relations institute of Cameroon (IRIC, 
1972-75), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (1975-77), 
Minister of National Education (1977-80) and at the 
Presidency.  He was selected as the consensus opposition 
candidate in the run-up to the 2004 Presidential election, 
having fulfilled the criteria as the most likely person 
seriously to challenge Paul Biya, but the agreement fell 
apart when John FRU NDI of the SDF decided to maintain his 
own candidacy.  He has been called "the best President 
Cameroon will never have." 
 
-------------------------- 
Bernard "Ben" MUNA 
Opposition Faction Leader 
-------------------------- 
 
26.  (U)  "Ben" MUNA belongs to one of Cameroon's most 
prominent families.  A bilingual Anglophone from the North 
West province, MUNA has a legal background and is a faction 
leader of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF). 
Despite his prominent role in the SDF, MUNA also enjoys 
support among members of the ruling Cameroon People's 
Democratic Movement (CPDM).  MUNA's law firm, probably the 
best known in Cameroon, owes much of its success to the 
family's connections and access to high levels of government. 
 As a result, Ben MUNA has been able to maintain good 
professional relations with people throughout government, 
despite his role as an opposition figure. 
 
27.  (U)  67 years old, MUNA studied law in England 
(1959-1966) and registered with the London Bar in May 1966. 
He held several jobs in provincial courts in Cameroon from 
August 1966-1970 before leaving to form his own law firm.  In 
1974 he moved to Yaounde, rising to prominence in the legal 
community and eventually being elected Chairman of the 
Cameroon Bar Association in 1986.   When the multiparty 
system was established in December 1990, MUNA became an early 
member of the Social Democratic Front, but was unsuccessful 
in his attempt to become the party's presidential candidate 
in 1992.  In 2006 he again challenged the existing party 
leadership, which has, for all intents and purposes, split 
the SDF into two rival and, for the moment, irreconcilable 
factions. 
 
----------------- 
John FRU NDI 
Opposition Leader 
----------------- 
 
28.  (C)  Ironically, Cameroon's most prominent and 
electorally successful opposition leader, Social Democratic 
Front Chairman John FRU NDI, is the one perennial candidate 
most people have already written off.  FRU NDI's very public 
rift with Ben Muna over leadership of the SDF has painted FRU 
NDI as a divider rather than a unifier -- as did his selfish 
behavior before the 2004 election (when he reneged on a deal 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  007 OF 008 
 
 
that would have made NDAM NJOYA the consensus opposition 
candidate).  With 22 seats in Parliament, albeit down from 43 
in 1997, the SDF is still the leading opposition party by a 
wide margin.  Nevertheless, the SDF has been unable or 
unwilling to transform itself from the leading oppostion 
party to the leader of the opposition parties.  In 1992, when 
FRU NDI won 36 percent of the ballots to Biya's 40 percent 
(according to official results, which FRU NDI still 
challenges), he was a real contender.  Since then, however, 
his national appeal has eroded considerably.  Those who might 
have seen the SDF as the opposition's hope for winning the 
presidency in 2011 now are more inclined to blame the SDF for 
its total disarry and for handing the CPDM an easy victory. 
 
29.  (U)  A native of the North West Province, John FRU NDI 
was born in 1941.  He studied commerce in Nigeria and worked 
for several companies there before returning to Cameroon 
where he has been involved in the book selling business for 
some years.   FRU NDI has been the leader of the Social 
Democratic Front since 1990.  His constituency is 
concentrated in the Anglophone North West and South West 
provinces.  FRU NDI is the only Presidential candidate in 
2004 to have campaigned in all 10 provinces, but he was -- 
and is -- hampered by a lack of knowledge of French. 
 
-------------------- 
V. POPULAR OUTSIDERS 
-------------------- 
 
30.  (U)  This group of possible candidates might also be 
called "sentimental favorites," whose electoral chances would 
be enhanced significantly if sitting ministers do not pursue 
the presidency.   All enjoy broad popularity because of their 
intellect and proven competence.  Henri HOGBE NLEND and 
Marcel YONDO are not members of current power circles -- 
something that is an organizational disadvantage but 
popularly appealing.  While it is not clear that Cameroon is 
ready for a female president, 2011 is four years away and 
Aissatou YAOU is the one woman in Cameroon with the proven 
record in government (not to mention strong ruling party 
credentials) and broad-based appeal to launch a credible 
campaign.  If popular sentiment in 2011 Cameroon is to "throw 
the bums out," these outsiders could be suddenly 
well-positioned. 
 
------------------------- 
Henri HOGBE NLEND 
Former Minister of Finance 
-------------------------- 
 
31.  (U) A member of the opposition UPC (Union of the Peoples 
of Cameroon), Henri HOGBE NLEND was in government until 2002. 
 He was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1997, 
garnering 2 percent of the vote, but was named Minister of 
Scientific and Technical Research in December 1997.  Well 
liked and respected at the time, some believe that he was 
removed because he was so popular; he did not run for 
president in 2004 because of strong competition within the 
UPC.  A long-time expatriate, HOGBE NLEND, the first 
Cameroonian to earn a doctorate in mathematics, was a 
professor of mathematics for 23 years at the University of 
Bordeaux.  A native of the Littoral province, HOGBE NLEND is 
in his late 60s. 
 
-------------------------- 
Edouard AKAME MFOUMOU 
Former Minister of Finance 
-------------------------- 
 
32.  (U) A native of the South province, Edouard AKAME 
MFOUMOU, was born on August 14, 1945.  He holds a BA in Law 
from the University of Yaounde (1969), trained at ENAM, is a 
member of the CPDM and remains active in the party.  AKAME 
MFOUMOU served as Minister of Economy and Finance from 
September 1996-April 2001.  He was judged to be competent and 
had good relations with the IMF and World Bank.  He was an 
early champion of anti-corruption by ending the practice 
within his ministry of making contractors turn over 30 
percent of their bills in order to have their vouchers paid. 
Several months before he left office, supporters circulated 
 
YAOUNDE 00000227  008 OF 008 
 
 
"Akame for President" flyers in Yaounde and Douala, prompting 
some to speculate that his popularity led to his removal. 
 
--------------------------- 
Marcel YONDO 
Former Minister of Finance 
--------------------------- 
 
33.  (SBU)  Marcel YONDO served as Minister of Finance under 
Ahidjo.  He is the president of the Movement for the 
Liberation and Development of Cameroon (MLDC) and was active 
in politics in the 1990s, even running for President in 1997, 
and garnering more than 1 percent of the vote.  Apparently a 
man before his time, YONDO did not run for president in 2004 
because he favored uniting the opposition behind a single 
candidate, an approach that failed.  He has remained active 
in a range of gatherings that bring together prominent 
opposition leaders and intellectuals.  Cognizant of his 
intellectual capabilities, YONDO has been described as seeing 
himself in a class above the rest, a view that could alienate 
potential supporters. 
 
34.  (U) A native of the Littoral Province, YONDO was born on 
July 23, 1937. He studied in France, earning a Ph.D. in 
economics from the University of Grenoble.  Returning to 
Cameroon after his studies in 1968, he was named Assistant 
Director of Salaries at the Ministry of Finance.  He moved to 
the Presidency in 1971 as Technical Adviser for Economic and 
Financial Affairs.  In 1973 he became the National Director 
of the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), where he 
remained until 1975 when he was named Minister of Finance, a 
position he held until 1979. 
 
------------------------------- 
Aissatou YAOU 
General Manager, 
National Investment Corporation 
------------------------------- 
 
35.  (U)  Mme. Aissatou YAOU, currently General Manager of 
the National Investment Corporation (SNI), has been a 
trail-blazer among women in Cameroon.  Though not known to 
have personal political ambitions, she is nonetheless the 
national president of the Women's Organization of the 
Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement.  She was the first 
woman to lead the Ministry of Women's Affairs, she is the 
second longest serving minister (16 years, 1984-2000).  She 
is responsible for enacting laws that changed the lives of 
women nation wide, such as abolishing the requirement that 
wives get permission from their husbands to travel, and has 
enacted women's empowerment centers throughout Cameroon. 
 
36.  (U) A Muslim, YAOU was born in Garoua, in the North 
Province on November 28, 1951.  She is a French and 
U.S.-educated economist, studying at the Universities of Le 
Mans and Rouen, where she earned a BA in Economics in 1975. 
In 1979 she earned an MBA from Claremont Graduate school. 
Returning to Cameroon, she worked at SNI from 1981-1984, 
before being appointed Minister of Women's Affairs (later 
Social and Women's Affairs), a position she held until she 
left government in 2000 and rejoined SNI.  In 1986 she was an 
International Visitor. (Ref. D offers more bio details on 
Mme. YAOU.) 
MARQUARDT