BAMENDA—Political rivals President Paul Biya and Ni John Fru Ndi met for the first time in 20 years Friday, discussing wide-ranging issues during talks described as cordial and frank.

Meeting for 45 minutes at the regional presidential residence, the two men talked about elections, the strengthening of state institutions and the need to meet more often.

Fru Ndi said he handed the president an 11-point memorandum, asked for a body guard and other advantages. They also talked about things he would not comment about, he said.

“It was very relaxed,” Fru Ndi told The Standard Tribune. “We cracked jokes and laughed.” He also added that the discussions were “frank” and “open-hearted”.

The meeting came almost as a surprise, after Biya decided to extend his stay in Bamenda where he chaired several ceremonies to mark 50 years of the army on Dec 8 and 9.

Biya also met several people, including the widow of the late statesman John Ngu Foncha and traditional rulers.

But the meeting with Fru Ndi was the most significant.

Both men have been political rivals since 1990. In 1992, Fru Ndi claimed the presidential election victory after Biya was declared winner with a couple percentage points.

Relations between both men grew strongly antagonistic but began easing within the past few years, when both men openly expressed the desire to meet.

Biya told Fru Ndi he had made an attempt to meet him, Fru Ndi said. Apparently, Biya and Fru Ndi’s people tried to make the meeting impossible.

Next year, both men are expected to again run in the presidential election.

Fru Ndi told Biya the ongoing registration of voters was a “farce” because SDF agents had successfully registered at multiple polling stations without being detected.

In an 11-point memo, made public earlier, the chairman prescribed the use of biometric data in the registration of voters to avoid multiple voting as well as the need to replace ELECAM’s members with neutral people. We assume this to be the memo he gave Biya.

Biya asked Fru Ndi to join him in strengthening state institutions. The president said both of them would pass away but those institutions would stay, said the SDF chairman.

Comments (7)

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Mr
written by BANGKOLO GOSPER , December 11, 2010

Among many other Cameroonians i suppose, we are lost. I think the realities of this meeting hasn't been dislcosed. what was the essence of the 11 point memo and what acheivements has that made. strengthening state institutions is a good idea but Cameroonians feel this is just a frame up on the realities of this meeting since they both think that the youths are moved when such things are mentioned. whatever the case they both need to give the youth the chance to rule this country. Is this possible?

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Rebirth of Mafia in Cameroon
written by denis, December 12, 2010

Why must we copy the wrong things.Mafia is now legal in Cameroon with the various godfathers mapping out their territories and making concessions openly.We know everything .U can fool some people some times but u can't fool all the people all the times.We dont need foreigners to tell us that we should clean the house and quech the fire on our ruff.Am tired of all this hypocracy.is it today that the government is realising youths are complaining.when will we realize we are hurting our ownselves?

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COMPANY DIRECTOR
written by BONKO ALFRED, December 15, 2010

FRU NDI AND BIYA MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS, GOOD AND FINE, FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUNG CAMEROONIANS WHO MUST TAKE OVER NOW AS THESE OLD DEVILS WILL NATURALLY FADE AWAY IN A MAXIMUM TIME OF 10YEARS TO COME
MY WORRY IS INSTEAD THAT WE THE YOUTHS ARE NOT SEEMING TO BE MAKING ANY PREPARATIONS FOR A SMOOTH TAKE OVER
REASONS
-WE HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO HOMO - SEXUALITY BY POVERTY
-WE HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO SECS BECAUSE OF POVERTY AND JOBLESSNESS AND THE --ZEAL TO LEAD AN EASY LIFE, RIDE PRADOs
-THERE IS NO REAL CPDM MEMBER IN CAMEROON, IF U CAN CHALLENGE ME THEN DISPROVE ME HEREIN,
THAT SAID
THANK BIYA FOR FINALLY SIGNING THE DECREES CREATING THE BAMENDA STATE UNIVERSITY, DETACHING BOTH GENERAL AND TECHNICAL SECTIONS OF ENS BAMBILI TO BE AUTONOMOUS BODIES UNDER TEH UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA
SO BIYA COULD LISTEN TO PEOPLE TOO, AT WHAT AGE AND WHEN
ANY WAY BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
GOD BLESS CAMEROON
AND FRU NDI FOR ENLIGHTENING CAMEROONIANS WHOSOEVER BEGINNNING FORM BIYA TO THE LEAST CAMEROONIAN
I GIVE FRU NDI THE HONOUR OF THE MOST PATRIOTIC CAMEROONIAN, AGAIN NO NE CAN DISPROVE ME HEREIN.
GOD BLESS CAMEROON

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written by Emmanuel Ngwa Nkweti, May 05, 2011

The above comment has been noted.
Yes, thank Mr. Biya and Chantal for working all these years for the promotion of Basic and Higher Education in the country Cameroon.

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written by Emmanuel Nkweti, June 07, 2011

But Fru Ndi is asking Biya to change ELECAM so that all the CPDM people in command there can give way for independents but Biya is not seeming to understand the English Language...

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written by Emmanuel Nkweti, June 07, 2011

so I think that either Mr. Sadi Rene and those around him are only paying lip service to the interests of the Youth of Cameroon or they want to frustrate us but that is impossible - You fool me today you no go fool am tomorerow.

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written by KIBANG CLIFFORD , July 21, 2011

the president speech was with lots of crystal clarity and what he needs from us is full coorperation

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