Paul Pondi
Encyclopedia
Paul Thomas Pondi is a Cameroon
ian political figure. After holding top national security posts from 1960 to 1972, he had a long career as a diplomat. Pondi was Cameroon's Ambassador to the United States
from 1982 to 1993 and has been the Chairman of the Board of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
since 2000.
Paul Pondi was born in Ngog Bassong. He was Deputy Director-General of National Security from January 1960 to 1962 and became Director-General of National Security in 1962. In 1969, he was appointed as Delegate-General for National Security, working under President Ahmadou Ahidjo
's direct authority. Accused of "questionable methods", he was dismissed from that post by President Ahidjo on 5 April 1972.
After Pondi was dismissed from his police command, he served as a diplomat. From December 1972 to November 1977, he was Cameroon's Ambassador to Zaïre
. Ahidjo then appointed him as Ambassador to the United Kingdom
in 1977, and he presented his credentials on 23 February 1978. He was Ambassador to the United Kingdom until October 1981 and was then appointed by Ahidjo as Ambassador to the United States, presenting his credentials on 13 January 1982. He remained in his post under Ahidjo's successor, Paul Biya
. After 11 years in Washington, DC, he became the longest-serving ambassador to the United States and thus obtained the honorary title of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on 13 January 1993.
On 20 January 1993, Cameroonian opposition leader John Fru Ndi
attended the inauguration of US President Bill Clinton
; he and his wife Rose were photographed with Clinton and Clinton's wife Hillary, and Fru Ndi's presence at the event had a symbolic impact in Cameroon, giving the impression of recognition and legitimacy in light of Fru Ndi's claim to have defeated Biya in the 1992 presidential election
. However, as a matter of protocol, Clinton was also photographed with Paul Pondi on that occasion due to Pondi's status as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. The government newspaper Cameroon Tribune
utilized the photograph of Clinton and Pondi as a counterpoint to the images of Clinton and Fru Ndi.
Pondi left his post as Ambassador on 3 September 1993. Later, he was appointed by President Biya as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) in 2000.
Pondi was extensively interviewed by his son, Jean-Emmanuel Pondi, for the book Paul Pondi, le temps de la parole: entretiens, which was published in 2005. A dedication ceremony was held for the book in Yaoundé
on 21 September 2005.
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...
ian political figure. After holding top national security posts from 1960 to 1972, he had a long career as a diplomat. Pondi was Cameroon's Ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1982 to 1993 and has been the Chairman of the Board of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
The Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority is the civil aviation authority of Cameroon, with its head office in Yaoundé. It is also responsible for aviation accident investigation.-External links:*...
since 2000.
Paul Pondi was born in Ngog Bassong. He was Deputy Director-General of National Security from January 1960 to 1962 and became Director-General of National Security in 1962. In 1969, he was appointed as Delegate-General for National Security, working under President 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...
's direct authority. Accused of "questionable methods", he was dismissed from that post by President Ahidjo on 5 April 1972.
After Pondi was dismissed from his police command, he served as a diplomat. From December 1972 to November 1977, he was Cameroon's Ambassador to Zaïre
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
. Ahidjo then appointed him as Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1977, and he presented his credentials on 23 February 1978. He was Ambassador to the United Kingdom until October 1981 and was then appointed by Ahidjo as Ambassador to the United States, presenting his credentials on 13 January 1982. He remained in his post under Ahidjo's successor, Paul Biya
Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. A native of Cameroon's south, Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as Prime...
. After 11 years in Washington, DC, he became the longest-serving ambassador to the United States and thus obtained the honorary title of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps on 13 January 1993.
On 20 January 1993, Cameroonian opposition leader John Fru Ndi
John Fru Ndi
Ni John Fru Ndi is the founder and leader of Cameroon's Social Democratic Front .Fru Ndi was born in Baba II, near Bamenda in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. The title of Ni, a marker of respect, was given to him when he was born...
attended the inauguration of US President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
; he and his wife Rose were photographed with Clinton and Clinton's wife Hillary, and Fru Ndi's presence at the event had a symbolic impact in Cameroon, giving the impression of recognition and legitimacy in light of Fru Ndi's claim to have defeated Biya in the 1992 presidential election
Cameroonian presidential election, 1992
A presidential election was held in Cameroon on 11 October 1992. It was the first presidential election since multi-party politics had been legalised, and it was also the first to feature more than one candidate. Incumbent Paul Biya won with 39.98% of the vote. Voter turnout was 71.9%.The 1992...
. However, as a matter of protocol, Clinton was also photographed with Paul Pondi on that occasion due to Pondi's status as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. The government newspaper Cameroon Tribune
Cameroon Tribune
The Cameroon Tribune is a major newspaper in Cameroon. It is also available online. It is owned by the government.-External links:*...
utilized the photograph of Clinton and Pondi as a counterpoint to the images of Clinton and Fru Ndi.
Pondi left his post as Ambassador on 3 September 1993. Later, he was appointed by President Biya as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) in 2000.
Pondi was extensively interviewed by his son, Jean-Emmanuel Pondi, for the book Paul Pondi, le temps de la parole: entretiens, which was published in 2005. A dedication ceremony was held for the book in Yaoundé
Yaoundé
-Transportation:Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby Yaoundé Airport is used by the military. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city; particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods...
on 21 September 2005.