Jeanne-Irène Biya (12 October 1935[1] – 29 July 1992) was the former First Lady of Cameroon and the first wife of Paul Biya, who has served as the President of Cameroon since 1982.[2]
Jeanne-Irène Biya | |
|---|---|
 Biya in 1986 | |
| First Lady of Cameroon | |
| In office 6 November 1982 – 29 July 1992 | |
| President | Paul Biya |
| Preceded by | Germaine Ahidjo |
| Succeeded by | Chantal Biya (1994) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jeanne-Irène Atyam Ndoumin 12 October 1935 Monengombo, Endom commune, Nyong-et-Mfoumou, French Cameroon |
| Died | 29 July 1992 (aged 56) Yaoundé, Cameroon |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Franck Biya |
Jeanne-Irène Biya died in office in Yaoundé at age 56. She was succeeded by Chantal Biya as first lady of Cameroon in 1994.[3]
Biography
editBorn Jeanne-Irène Atyam Ndoumin, she married Paul Biya on 2 September 1961, in Antony, Paris.[4] She studied at the midwifery school in Nantes and, after her return to Cameroon, worked as a qualified midwife in the Pavillon Baudelocque of the Yaoundé Central Hospital. She was socially committed, particularly to children.
Jeanne-Irène Biya died in Yaoundé at the age of 58, when her husband was on a trip in Dakar. Rumors arose in Cameroon that Jeanne-Irène Biya's death had occurred in an unnatural manner, and that he had been out of the country at the time for alibi reasons.[5][6][3] It is also speculated that the two nuns of Djoum, who had close relations with Jeanne-Irène Biya, were also assassinated.[7]
She is buried in Mvomeka'a, the birthplace of her husband.
Personal life
editIt is speculated that Jeanne-Irène Biya adopted the illegitimate son that Paul Biya had with her sister[8] or niece when he was four years old.[6] He was named Franck Emmanuel Olivier Biya, and is considered to be the successor to his authoritarian father.
References
edit- ^ "Africa international". Africa S.A. May 7, 1992. Retrieved May 7, 2019 – via Google Books.
- ^ Azonga, Tikum Mbah (July 1992). "First lady departs". West Africa: 1350.
- ^ a b "Madame est morte | Memory Lane (July 29, 1992): The Death of Jeanne-Irène Biya".
- ^ "Seize ans après… Jeanne Irène Biya dans l'oubli" (in French). July 29, 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-05-14.
Seize ans après… Jeanne Irène Biya dans l'oubli
- ^ "A Review of Notable Political Rumors from Cameroon". dibussi.com. February 20, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Secrets d'Etoudi : voici les véritables parents de Franck Biya". camerounweb.com (in French). May 24, 2022.
- ^ Ketch, Arol (July 29, 2023). "Il y a 31 ans la mort de Jeanne Irène Biya, Paul Biya se rappelle encore de la douleur". camerounweb.live (in French). Retrieved September 21, 2024.
- ^ Nyamnjoh, Francis B. (2005). Africa's Media, Democracy and the Politics of Belonging. Zed Books. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-84277-583-7.
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