Jean Ramadier
Encyclopedia
Jean Ramadier was a French colonial administrator in French West Africa
shortly before the transition to independence.
He was governor of Niger
from 1954 to 1956, of Guinea
from 1956 to 1958, and briefly high commissioner of Cameroon
.
.
During World War II
, Ramadier participated in resistance to the Japanese
in Indochina
. After being captured, he was tortured through confinement in a bamboo cage by the Kempeitai
, the Japanese military police.
Released in 1945, on his return to France he promoted a solution where Vietnam would be part of union with France which would help preserve French culture.
Ramadier was governor of Niger
from 21 December 1954 to 3 November 1956.
He replaced the more conservative Charles-Henri Bonfils, and was less hostile to the RDA (African Democratic Rally
) that was preparing to take power after independence.
In 1957, Ahmed Sékou Touré
of the RDA became Vice-President of the Territorial Council of Guinea. Given Ramadier's low-profile style, this made Touré in effect the leader of the country in the transition to independence.
In a private letter Ramadier said of his successor that Touré claimed direct descent from Samori Ture, the last independent ruler, and intended to combine the Malinke empire
and people's democracy under a Franco-African, Leninist-Stalinist dialectic".
Ramadier left Guinea in February 1958, and was replaced by Governor Jean Mauberna.
, arriving there on 5 February 1958.
He was an advocate of uniting the French and British Cameroons.
Shortly after arriving, Ramadier fell out with the autocratic Andre-Marie Mbida
, who led the government although his party only had a minority. Ramadier felt that Mbida did not have an adequate mandate.
Mbida complained that Ramadier was trying to push Cameroon into independence too fast, and flew to Paris
to make his case.
He succeeded in having Ramadier transferred to another post, but failed to gain French support for his government and was forced to resign, being replaced by Ahmadou Ahidjo
.
Mdiba later became the first Prime Minister of pre-independent Cameroon, while Ahidjo became the first president.
French West Africa
French West Africa was a federation of eight French colonial territories in Africa: Mauritania, Senegal, French Sudan , French Guinea , Côte d'Ivoire , Upper Volta , Dahomey and Niger...
shortly before the transition to independence.
He was governor of Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
from 1954 to 1956, of Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
from 1956 to 1958, and briefly high commissioner of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
.
Early career
Jean Ramadier was born in 1913, the son of the French Premier Paul RamadierPaul Ramadier
Paul Ramadier was a prominent French politician of the Third and Fourth Republics. Mayor of Decazeville starting in 1919, he served as the first Prime Minister of the Fourth Republic in 1947. On 10 July 1940, he voted against the granting of the full powers to Marshal Philippe Pétain, who...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ramadier participated in resistance to the Japanese
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. After being captured, he was tortured through confinement in a bamboo cage by the Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
, the Japanese military police.
Released in 1945, on his return to France he promoted a solution where Vietnam would be part of union with France which would help preserve French culture.
Ramadier was governor of Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
from 21 December 1954 to 3 November 1956.
Guinea
Ramadier was appointed Governor of Guinea on 3 June 1956.He replaced the more conservative Charles-Henri Bonfils, and was less hostile to the RDA (African Democratic Rally
African Democratic Rally
The African Democratic Rally was a political party in French West Africa, led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Founded in Bamako in 1946, the RDA quickly became one of the most important forces for independence in the region. Initially a Pan-Africanist movement, the RDA ceased to function as a...
) that was preparing to take power after independence.
In 1957, Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré
Ahmed Sékou Touré was an African political leader and President of Guinea from 1958 to his death in 1984...
of the RDA became Vice-President of the Territorial Council of Guinea. Given Ramadier's low-profile style, this made Touré in effect the leader of the country in the transition to independence.
In a private letter Ramadier said of his successor that Touré claimed direct descent from Samori Ture, the last independent ruler, and intended to combine the Malinke empire
Wassoulou Empire
The Wassoulou Empire, sometimes referred to as the Mandinka Empire, was a short-lived empire of West Africa built from the conquests of Dyula ruler Samori Ture and destroyed by the French colonial army....
and people's democracy under a Franco-African, Leninist-Stalinist dialectic".
Ramadier left Guinea in February 1958, and was replaced by Governor Jean Mauberna.
Cameroon
Ramadier became High Commissioner of CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, arriving there on 5 February 1958.
He was an advocate of uniting the French and British Cameroons.
Shortly after arriving, Ramadier fell out with the autocratic Andre-Marie Mbida
André-Marie Mbida
Andre-Marie Mbida was a Cameroonian State man, pragmatic nationalist, first Cameroonian to be elected Member of Parliament at the French National Assembly, Prime Minister of Cameroon, second African-born Prime Minister in the dark continent , first Head of State of French speaking autonomous...
, who led the government although his party only had a minority. Ramadier felt that Mbida did not have an adequate mandate.
Mbida complained that Ramadier was trying to push Cameroon into independence too fast, and flew to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to make his case.
He succeeded in having Ramadier transferred to another post, but failed to gain French support for his government and was forced to resign, being replaced by Ahmadou Ahidjo
Ahmadou Ahidjo
Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo was the first President of Cameroon from 1960 until 1982.-Early life:Ahidjo was born in Garoua, a major river port along the Benue River in northern Cameroun, which was at the time a French mandate territory...
.
Mdiba later became the first Prime Minister of pre-independent Cameroon, while Ahidjo became the first president.