Pan-African, Pan-Cameroonian: The Success, Influence, and Failure - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Pan-African, Pan-Cameroonian: The Success, Influence, and Failure of the Union des Populations Camerounais Graham T. Baden, CSULB - Hist 392, 2014

She’s Known By Many Names The Hinge of Africa Africa in Miniature The “Armpit”

Geographically and Culturally: Africa in Miniature ● Three Different Colonial Authorities ● Both British and French systems of colonial governance ● Violent, armed conflict at time of independence ● Unique international relationships with UN, Africa, and China

A Little Background ● “Kamerun” - German colony, 1884 ● “Cameroun” and “The Cameroons” - Trust Territories of France and Britain, 1917 & UN Mandates, 1946 ● Republic of Cameroun - Independence, 1961 ● Federal Republic of Cameroon - Reunification, 1962

The Big Question(s) ● What was the Union des Populations Camerounais (UPC)? Why were they violent, and why were they unsuccessful in their goals? ● Who were Ruben Um Nyobé and Felix Moumié, and why were they assassinated?

The Players Ruben Um Nyobé Felix-Roland Moumié

Cameroon’s First Political Party ● Nyobé and Moumié - Labor organizers ● Formed UPC in 1948 at café in Douala ● UPC became Cameroonian wing of RDA ● Alliance with French Communist Party, PCF

Pan-African Bad Asses

The UPC’s Goals ● Immediate independence and reunification ● End of foreign influence ● International alliances and cooperation ● Pan-Cameroonian, Pan-African

The UPC’s Methods ● Several envoys to UN & Visiting Committee ● Prevented from gaining seats in National Assembly ● 1955-1956, staged trade strikes, riots ● Outlawed, exiled from Cameroun

On the Lam ● UPC split into two factions - Political disagreement ■ Moumié to Cairo, Nyobé to maquis ● Moumié’s focus: Pan-African politics - pamphlets, newspapers, propaganda ■ Support from Nasser, Nkruma, Touré ● Nyobé’s focus: Pan-Cameroonian politics - forming of guerrilla cells, “maquis”

Division, Competition, Failure ● RDA - Moderate turn under Felix Boigny ■ UPC asked to leave RDA ● Moumié leaves Cairo for Akra ■ Reasons unknown - sources disagree ● Nyobé and maquis - Tribalism & localism ■ Intra-party competition ● Divided leadership - Party discredited

Ambush, Assassination, and Execution ● Nyobé ambushed at hiding place near Douala, 1958 ● Moumié poisoned in Geneva by French Secret Service, 1960 ● Oandié killed by firing squad, 1971

The Irony of Nationalism & The Pitfalls of Political Representation ● Nyobé and Moumié were assassinated by French powers before Cameroon achieved the UPC’s nationalistic goals - They were demonized by the Cameroonian government during their campaign. ● Ahmadou Ahidjo used their namesakes, goals, and rhetoric to win popular support - Elected President of the newly independent Cameroon in 1960

Nationalism is Only the Beginning “Dieu a créé un seul Cameroun, c’est l à le point de départ.” “God made only one Cameroon, it’s there that we begin.”

Ashia!