Franck Biya

Franck Biya
Born
Emmanuel Franck Olivier Biya

(1971-08-21) 21 August 1971 (age 53)
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Occupation(s)Businessman, entrepreneur
Parent(s)Paul Biya (father)
Jeanne-Irène Atyam (mother; deceased)
Chantal Vigouroux (stepmother)

Emmanuel Franck Olivier Biya (born 21 August 1971) is a Cameroonian businessman and entrepreneur and son of incumbent President Paul Biya.

Career

Biya was educated in Cameroon before attending University of Southern California where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics in 1994.[1][2] He then worked as an intern at Bank of Central African States from 1995 to 1997.[1][2] From 1997 to 2004, he was a partner of a forestry conglomerate named I.N.G.F.[1][2] In 2004, he established Venture Capital PLC, a private fund that focuses on the investment to foreign corporations, not only in Africa but also in other continents.[1][2]

Possible succession

Franck Biya has been speculated as a potential successor to his father Paul Biya who has been serving as the President since 1982.[3][4]

During the 2011 presidential election where Paul was running for re-election, Franck was found to be campaigning to his father.[5] He was suggested to run in the 2018 presidential election instead of his father, although this never happened.[6] Several supporters of Franck was reportedly formed non-governmental organisations to support his bid, such as the Citizens Movement in Support of Franck Biya for Peace and Unity in Cameroon.[4]

Critics of Biya family cited that Cameroon is not a monarchy and Franck is not legally in the first line of succession throne.[4]

Personal life

Franck Biya was born in Yaoundé to Paul Biya from a relationship between Biya and his first wife Jeanne-Irène Atyam's sister[7] or niece; Jeanne-Irène adopted him.[8][9] He is married and has 4 children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Emmanuel Franck Biya". Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Emmanuel Franck Biya". Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Cameroon: Is Franck Biya the president's son and successor?". 31 March 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "Cameroon Groups Call for President's Son to Succeed Father". 30 April 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Cameroun : Franck Biya sénateur ?". 4 April 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Frank Emmanuel Biya : l'homme qui ne veut pas être président à la place de son père ?". 11 February 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  7. ^ Francis B. Nyamnjoh: Africa's Media, Democracy and the Politics of Belonging, p. 213, Zed Books, 2005. In: books.google.de
  8. ^ Secrets d'Etoudi : voici les véritables parents de Franck Biya, 24. March 2022. In: camerounweb.com
  9. ^ Eigo, Tim; Donaldson, Catherine Victoria (2018). "Paul Biya". encyclopedia.com (three essays on Paul Biya's presidency with the following source information: Contemporary Black Biography (May 2018, author Tim Eigo), Newsmakers 2006 Cumulation (May 2018, author Catherine Victoria Donaldson) and Encyclopedia of World Biography (May 2018)). Retrieved 29 March 2024.