Union of the Peoples of Cameroon
Encyclopedia
The Union of the Peoples of Cameroon is a political party
in Cameroon
.
ists. In many ways UPC was a continuation of the Cameroonian Rally (RACAM).
On April 11 a Provisional Bureau was established. Bouli was elected general secretary, Bagal joint general secretary, Emmanuel Yap the treasurer and J-R Biboum the joint treasurer. The following day the statutes of UPC were deposited at the Mayor's office in Douala
at 10.50 am. The group was, however, not legally registered. On April 13 UPC issues its first public declaration of intent, the 'Appeal to the Cameroonians'.
On May 6 another meeting was held, this time at the residence of Guillaume Bagal in Douala. The statutes and the 'Appeal to the Cameroonians' were revised. A new Provisional Bureau was constituted, with the following composition:
On May 14 the revised statues were handed over to the Mayor's office in Douala. On June 9 the authorities allowed the registration of UPC, following pressures from the African Democratic Rally
(RDA) and the French Communist Party
(PCF).
On June 17 the Provisional Bureau decided that UPC would call itself the 'Cameroonian section of RDA'. The same meeting decided that the first public function of UPC would be held on June 22 in Douala. The meeting of June 22 was held in the Salles de Fêtes d'Akwa. Around 500 people took part in the meeting. Libaï and Bouli addressed the function. Participators included Ruben Um Nyobé
, Charles Assalé, as well as traditional chiefs such as Ekwalla Essakra and Lobé-Bell.
In November Ruben Um Nyobé
takes charge of the organization as its general secretary following a vote at a meeting of the Provisional Bureau. Before the meeting of the enlarged Provisional Bureau Léopold Moumé-Etia had been mentioned as another possible candidate for the position, but he declined nomination on personal grounds.
At the second congress of RDA, celebrated in Treichville
, Côte d'Ivoire
, January 1-5 1949, the membership of UPC in RDA is confirmed. Um Nyobé is elected vice-president of RDA.
On April 10, 1950 the enlarged Leading Committee holds a meeting in Dschang
. During the course of the meeting a decision is taken to regard the function as the first congress of UPC. The congress last until April 13. A new Leading Committee is elected:
After the congress Charles Assalé left the movement and was incorporated into the procolonial fold.
The party published La Voix du Cameroun, Lumière, Étoile and Vérité.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in 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...
.
History
UPC was founded on April 10, 1948, at a meeting in the bar Chez Sierra in Bassa. 12 men assisted the founding meeting, including Charles Assalé, Léonard Bouli, and Guillaume Bagal. The majority of the participants were trade unionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ists. In many ways UPC was a continuation of the Cameroonian Rally (RACAM).
On April 11 a Provisional Bureau was established. Bouli was elected general secretary, Bagal joint general secretary, Emmanuel Yap the treasurer and J-R Biboum the joint treasurer. The following day the statutes of UPC were deposited at the Mayor's office in Douala
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
at 10.50 am. The group was, however, not legally registered. On April 13 UPC issues its first public declaration of intent, the 'Appeal to the Cameroonians'.
On May 6 another meeting was held, this time at the residence of Guillaume Bagal in Douala. The statutes and the 'Appeal to the Cameroonians' were revised. A new Provisional Bureau was constituted, with the following composition:
- General Secretary: Étienne Libaï
- Joint General Secretary: Léonard Bouli
- Joint Secretary: Guillaume Bagal
- General Treasurer: Emmanuel Yap
- Joint Treasurer: Jacques Biboum
- Members: Nkoudou Raphaël, Owona Ernest-Marie
On May 14 the revised statues were handed over to the Mayor's office in Douala. On June 9 the authorities allowed the registration of UPC, following pressures from the 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...
(RDA) and the French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
(PCF).
Ruben Um Nyobé
Ruben Um Nyobé was an anti-imperialist Cameroonian leader, slain by the French army on 13 September 1958, near his natal village of Boumnyebel, in the department of Nyong-et-Kellé in the maquis Bassa. He created on 10 April 1948 the Cameroon's People Union , which used armed struggle to obtain...
, Charles Assalé, as well as traditional chiefs such as Ekwalla Essakra and Lobé-Bell.
In November Ruben Um Nyobé
Ruben Um Nyobé
Ruben Um Nyobé was an anti-imperialist Cameroonian leader, slain by the French army on 13 September 1958, near his natal village of Boumnyebel, in the department of Nyong-et-Kellé in the maquis Bassa. He created on 10 April 1948 the Cameroon's People Union , which used armed struggle to obtain...
takes charge of the organization as its general secretary following a vote at a meeting of the Provisional Bureau. Before the meeting of the enlarged Provisional Bureau Léopold Moumé-Etia had been mentioned as another possible candidate for the position, but he declined nomination on personal grounds.
At the second congress of RDA, celebrated in Treichville
Treichville
Treichville is a commune of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The commune is known as one of the most lively in the city, specially around the Crossroad France-Amérique. The streets have no name but numbers from 1 to 25. The commune is served by a railway station belonging to the RAN...
, Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
, January 1-5 1949, the membership of UPC in RDA is confirmed. Um Nyobé is elected vice-president of RDA.
On April 10, 1950 the enlarged Leading Committee holds a meeting in Dschang
Dschang
Dschang is a city located in the West Province of Cameroon, with an estimated population of 87,000 in 2001, growing dramatically from 21,705 recorded in 1981. The 2006 Population is estimated to be 200,000 inhabitants....
. During the course of the meeting a decision is taken to regard the function as the first congress of UPC. The congress last until April 13. A new Leading Committee is elected:
- President: Chief Mathias Djiomessi
- General Secretary: Ruben Um Nyobé
- Vice-presidents: Guillaume Bagal, Phillipe Essama Essi, Félix Moumié, Samuel Noumouwe
- Treasurer: Emmanuel Yap
After the congress Charles Assalé left the movement and was incorporated into the procolonial fold.
The party published La Voix du Cameroun, Lumière, Étoile and Vérité.
See also
- Félix-Roland MoumiéFélix-Roland MoumiéFélix-Roland Moumié was a Cameroonian leader, assassinated in Geneva on 3 November 1960 by the SDECE with thallium. Félix-Roland Moumié succeeded Ruben Um Nyobe, who was killed in September 1958, as leader of the Union des Populations du Cameroun .- See also :*Colonialism and...
, assassinated by the French secret service in 1960 - CamerounCamerounCameroun was a French and British mandate territory in central Africa, now constituting the majority of the territory of the Republic of Cameroon....
(history of Cameroun under French administration and colonial war)