Marcel Niat Njifenji: Difference between revisions

Born in 1934 at [[Bangangté]], located in Cameroon's [[West Region (Cameroon)|West Region]],<ref name=Nya>Armelle Nya, [http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20130613075703/cameroun-rdpc-paul-biya-senat-camerounaiscameroun-marcel-niat-njifenji-elu-president-du-senat.html "Cameroun : Marcel Niat Njifenji élu président du Sénat"], ''Jeune Afrique'', 13 June 2013 {{frin iconlang|fr}}.</ref> Niat Njifenji worked as an engineer of roads and bridges.<ref Eventuallyname=Homme/> heHe becamewas Director-General of the National Electricity Company (''Société nationale d'Electricité'', SONEL), the state-owned electricity company., Hefrom served1974 into the1984. governmentWhen asrebellious Ministersoldiers ofattempted Planningto andoverthrow SpatialPresident Planning[[Paul fromBiya]] 7in Septemberan 1990[[1984 toCameroonian 26coup attempt|April 1991.1984 Hecoup thenattempt]], leftNiat theNjifenji governmentwas toimmediately returnarrested toand hisjailed. postAlthough asit Director-Generalwas ofconsidered SONEL,doubtful butthat he againhad servedanything into thedo governmentwith as Deputy Prime Ministerthe forcoup Minesattempt, Water,he andwas Energyreportedly fromabused 9during Aprilhis 1992imprisonment toand 27attempted Novembersuicide.<ref 1992name=Report>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6WY1AQAAIAAJ&q=marcel+Niat++1974 During''Country hisReport: secondCameroon, stintCAR, inChad''] the government(1989), he''The continuedEconomist toIntelligence serveUnit'', aspage Director-General11.</ref> ofHe SONEL,was andreleased hefrom remainedprison in that1989<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=9Wc1AQAAIAAJ&q=Niat+Njifenji+1974 post''Country throughoutReport: theCameroon, 1990s.CAR, EventuallyChad''] the(1992), company''The wasEconomist [[privatization|privatized]]Intelligence Unit'', page 15.</ref> and Niatpromptly Njifenjirestored leftto his post at the companySONEL in 2001September 1989.<ref name=HommeReport/>

In 2013, after years of delay, the Senate was established to serve as the upper house of Cameroon's [[Parliament of Cameroon|Parliament]]; previously only the [[National Assembly of Cameroon|National Assembly]] existed. President [[Paul Biya]] appointed Niat Njifenji to the Senate in May 2013.<ref name=Liste>Daniel Kameni, [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/201305101581.html "Cameroun: La liste des 100 sénateurs"], ''Mutations'', 10 May 2013 {{frin iconlang|fr}}.</ref><ref name=RFI>[http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130613-cameroun-marcel-niat-njifenji-elu-president-senat "Cameroun: Marcel Niat Njifenji élu président du Sénat"], RFI, 13 June 2013 {{frin iconlang|fr}}.</ref> He was one of 30 senators to receive their seats by presidential appointment; the other 70 senators were indirectly elected. Biya appointed three senators for each [[regions of Cameroon|region]], and Niat Njifenji was one of the three to come from West Region.<ref name=Liste/>

Niat Njifenji was elected as President of the Senate on 12 June 2013. In the 100-member body, there were 86 votes in favor of Niat Njifenji; no senators voted against him, although 14 senators cast [[spoilt vote]]s.<ref name=Nya/><ref name=Elu>[http://french.china.org.cn/foreign/txt/2013-06/13/content_29105816.htm "Cameroun : Marcel Niat Njifenji élu Président du Sénat"], Xinhua, 13 June 2013 {{frin iconlang|fr}}.</ref> As President of the Senate, Niat Njifenji would, according to the [[Constitution of Cameroon|constitution]], succeed President Biya if the latter were to die in office;<ref name=Nya/><ref name=RFI/><ref name=Elu/> he would lead the country until a new presidential election could be held, and he would not be permitted to stand as a candidate in that election.<ref name=RFI/> Niat Njifenji was re-elected on March 22, 2024 by 91 votes to 4 draws.<ref name=jeuneafrique>[https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1551049/politique/au-cameroun-paul-biya-reconduit-encore-marcel-niat-njifenji-et-cavaye-yeguie-djibril/ "Au Cameroun, Paul Biya reconduit (encore) Marcel Niat Njifenji et Cavayé Yéguié Djibril"], Jeune Afrique, 22 March 2024 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref>

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Cameroonian politicians|Niat Njifenji]], Marcel}}