ABSTRACT
The foundation of French economic involvement in Cameroon was established in a series of financial and economic agreements between France and the Ahmadou Ahidjo government in 1959 and renegotiated with only minor changes in 1973. It was Ahidjo who became Cameroon’s first president and then managed the integration of the two colonial heritages following the reunification of the former French Cameroon and the British Southern Cameroons on October 1, 1961. The most difficult period in Ahidjo’s tenure was from 1958 to 1962. It was easier for Ahidjo to deal with West Cameroon’s political leaders and to convince them of the benefits of a single-party state than had been the case in East Cameroon. Cameroonians would be asked to vote on a draft constitution establishing the United Republic of Cameroon. Soon after the introduction of the unitary constitution, Ahidjo restructured the country by Decree No. 72/349 of July 24, 1972, creating seven instead of the original six provinces of the federation.
