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Christian Penda Ekoka (21 March 1952 – 8 August 2021) was a Cameroonian government official.[1] He was an advisor to President Paul Biya from 2010 to 2018. In 2018, he supported Maurice Kamto in his unsuccessful candidacy against President Biya.[2]
Christian Penda Ekoka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 March 1952 |
| Died | 8 August 2021 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Occupation | Government official |
Early life and education
editEkoka was born on 21 March 1952 in Douala.
Ekoka left studies at the Collège Liberman in Douala before being selected by the Canadian International Development Agency to pursue an engineering degree at Polytechnique Montréal. He then earned graduate degrees from McGill University and Concordia University.
Professional experience
editEkoka returned to Cameroon in 1978 and began a career as an engineer. For 15 years, he was an investment officer and director of studies and projects at the Société nationale d’investissement. In 1991, he began working as a consultant for Insight BDS, specializing in investment advice, industrial policies and strategies, and development of public-private partnership projects.[3]
Ekoka joined the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) in 1996. He advocated against a 7th term for President Biya and for in-depth reforms to Cameroonian democracy.[4] In 2018, he founded the AGIR-ACT movement, which sought to reach potential for its members.[5] In July 2018, while still an advisor to Paul Biya, he announced that he would not support the President in that year's election. Instead, he and AGIRACT supported Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement.[6] With this endorsement, a political alliance was created between the two organizations.
On 28 January 2019, Ekoka was arrested in Douala alongside Kamto and Albert Dzongang for organization of peaceful protests in response to the contested results of the 2018 election.[7] They were held for nine months and released in October 2019 without charge.
Christian Penda Ekoka died on 8 August 2021 at the age of 69.[8]
References
edit- ^ Essomba, Polycarpe (10 August 2021). "L'économiste camerounais Christian Penda Ekoka est mort". Radio France Internationale (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Ntap, Emmanuel Jules (20 September 2018). "Ralliement d'un conseiller de Paul Biya en faveur d'un candidat de l'opposition". Voice of America (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Insight Business Development Service". Insight BDS.
- ^ Juompan-Yakam, Clarisse (6 September 2018). "Cameroun : pourquoi Christian Penda Ekoka tourne le dos à Paul Biya". Jeune Afrique (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ "Il est temps que l'on prenne notre destin en main". AGIR-ACT (in French). Archived from the original on 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Alliance AGIR & MRC". AGIR-ACT (in French). Archived from the original on 3 July 2020.
- ^ York, Geoffrey (20 February 2019). "Imprisoned opposition leaders face possible death penalty in Cameroon". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ Atangana, Adeline (9 August 2021). "Cameroun: Christian Penda Ekoka est décédé au Canada". Cameroon-Info.net (in French). Retrieved 11 August 2021.