Françoise Foning
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Françoise Foning (1949 – 23 January 2015) was a Cameroonian businessperson and politician for the
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM; , RDPC) is the ruling political party in Cameroon. Previously known as the Cameroonian National Union, which had dominated Cameroon politics since independence in the 1960s, it was renamed in 1985 ...
(CPDM). She began a career in business at age 12, opening a restaurant before entering into the tourism, transportation, food, medical and education sectors. Foning became president of CPDM's women's division in 1992 and was appointed the party's leader in
Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. It was home to Central Africa's largest port, now being replaced by Kribi port. It has the country ...
and the national committee five years later. In 2002, she was elected deputy mayor of Douala II and began serving in the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
that same year. Foning led the African Network and Cameroonian Businesswomen and consulted
The World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development. The World Bank is the collective name for the Internati ...
, the
African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group (AfDB, also known as BAD in French) is a multilateral development finance institution, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and ...
along with several international agencies. She was founding president of the Association of Cameroonian Businesswomen and the NGO World Female Company Managers. A street in Douala was named in her memory.


Biography

Foning was born in 1949 to a modest Bamileke family in Cameroon's western region of
Menoua Menoua is a department of West Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 1,380 km and as of 2019 had a total population of 276,000. The capital of the department lies at Dschang. Subdivisions The department is divided administ ...
. She did not have a proper background, and did not enroll at university but learnt English and French. After encouragement from her family to work, she went into tourism at age 12 in
Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. It was home to Central Africa's largest port, now being replaced by Kribi port. It has the country ...
, the Southern Cameroonian port city. In 1966, Foning began a business career by establishing the restaurant New Style to earn extra money. She diversified into the transportation industry by purchasing 2 taxis from the Japanese car manufacturer
Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
, expanding to 150 by 2005. Foning added the gravel company Les Graviers Unis, and the Socamac food and Ovicam export-import companies and the Anflo furniture company to export to
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
and the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. She joined the Cameroonian Ministry of Tourism as a civil servant in the 1970s before deciding to focus on her business career. Foning brought a medical clinic in
Dschang Dschang is a city located in the West (Ouest) Province of Cameroon, with an estimated population of 87,000 (est) in 2001, growing dramatically from 21,705 recorded in 1981. The 2006 Population is estimated to be 200,000 inhabitants. Dschang is th ...
and established the school Collége de la Faternité in the city. This led the
government of Cameroon The Republic of Cameroon is a decentralized unitary state. State power In the Republic of Cameroon, the President of the Republic and the Parliament exercise 'State power' as per Article 4 of the constitution of Cameroon. Executive power ' Execut ...
and the local authorities of Foning's home region to award her with honours for her activities. The kingdom of Bamun granted her the title of ''Nijh'' and Menoua's Bafou community crowned her as its queen. Foning also received the Grand Officer Order of Merit. At Douala in 1992, she was appointed president of the women's wing of the
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM; , RDPC) is the ruling political party in Cameroon. Previously known as the Cameroonian National Union, which had dominated Cameroon politics since independence in the 1960s, it was renamed in 1985 ...
(CPDM). Foning became president of the CPDM in Douala and its national central committee in 1997, following a 1996 reform by the political party to allow women to lead sections of the party. She was close to
Chantal Biya Chantal Biya ( Chantal Pulchérie Vigouroux; born 4 December 1969) is the current First Lady of Cameroon, first lady of Cameroon. Early life Chantal Biya was born in Dimako, East Province (Cameroon), East Province, Cameroon.. Her father was Fre ...
, the wife of
Paul Biya Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo, 13 February 1933) is a Cameroonian politician who has been serving as the second president of Cameroon since 1982. He was previously the fifth Prime Minister of Cameroon, prime minister under Pre ...
, the
president of Cameroon The president of Cameroon is the executive head of state and de facto head of government of Cameroon and is the commander in chief of the Cameroon Armed Forces. The authority of the state is exercised both by the president and by the Parliamen ...
, and the two worked at the Foundation Chantal Biya. In 2002, Foning was elected the deputy mayor of Douala II, and began serving in the
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the repr ...
that year. She focused on helping the young, building power lines, health centres, roads, schools, eliminating illness and organising funeral services. In June 2003, she was involved in the signing of a "partnership convention" to train Douala's "bendskin drivers" at professional driving schools. Foning was involved in a car accident a month later. which fractured both her legs on the Douala-Bafoussam road in Nomayos I in Cameroon's Centre region, and caused her to be flown to France for medical attention on the orders of Paul Biya. The accident meant she walked with a limp. She was named African manager of the year in 2004. In 2005, Foning was elected president of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs, having been its vice-president since 1996. Later that year in October, she became the first black woman president of the NGO World Female Company Managers (WFCL). Foning lost her seat in the
2007 Cameroonian parliamentary election Parliamentary elections were held in Cameroon on 22 July 2007,Low turno ...
by securing 41 per cent of the vote over the winning candidate's who garnered 48 per cent of votes. Although she was accused of embezzling money from the municipal government, she was re-elected to the National Assembly in 2009. Foning left her role as president of the WFCL in 2012. She was the Association of Cameroonian Businesswomen's founding president, led the African Network for the Support for Female Entrepreneurship and consulted
The World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development. The World Bank is the collective name for the Internati ...
, the
African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group (AfDB, also known as BAD in French) is a multilateral development finance institution, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and ...
and several international agencies. Foning took part in several international conferences and meetings, including the USA/Africa summit in
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
She was also international vice-president of the Francophone Business Forum, permanent secretary Africa of the AGOA training center (African Growth Opportunity Act), and was president of the
Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to a ...
's Industry Department.


Personal life and death

Foning praised the Cameroonian presidential couple at official ceremonies and her fellow citizens called her "national leader" as a result. She had been married three times, and had six children. On 18 January 2015, Foning attended a meeting of the 4th assembly of the United Cities and Councils of Cameroon in the Cameroonian capital of
Yaoundé Yaoundé (; , ) is the Capital city, capital city of Cameroon. It has a population of more than 2.8 million which makes it the second-largest city in the country after the port city Douala. It lies in the Centre Region (Cameroon), Centre Region o ...
. After leaving the meeting, the driver of her car carrying her and her bodyguard lost control on the Yaoundé Bafoussam road in
Ebebda Ebebda is a town and commune in Cameroon. See also * Communes of Cameroon The Divisions of Cameroon are the third-level units of administration in Cameroon. They are organised by divisions and sub divisions of each province (now Regions). ...
after attempting to avoid a motorcycle passing a lorry holding sand in the opposite direction at high speed, causing the car to roll several times. Foning broke her legs and ribs, and was immediately transported to the emergency unit at
Central Hospital of Yaoundé The Central Hospital of Yaoundé (In French, Hôpital Central de Yaoundé - HCY) is a hospital in the city of Yaoundé, Cameroon founded in 1933. It is Cameroon's largest hospital. Simon Pierre Tchoungui (1916-1997), the former prime minister of E ...
. Foning died from a sudden spike of blood pressure and hypertension on the morning of 23 January, with the news made public by hospital officials about midday.


Funeral

On 18 March, Paul Biya signed a decree instituting the official funeral service for Foning to be held five days later. A vigil and masses were held in her honor before the funeral. Work on the burial site by companies in Douala was completed on 20 March. The brief ecumenical service was held in the palace of Johny Baleng in Menoua with members of her family and government officials in attendance on 21 March. Foning was interred at the family home afterwards.


Legacy

She was posthumously conferred the Grand Condor of the Order of Merit by
Philémon Yang Philémon Yunji Yang (born 14 June 1947Profile at Cameroonian g ...
, the
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
, and the foundation of the Francoise Foning Foundation to help retain the memory of her work in the public was announced by her son. Foning was replaced as president of Association of Cameroonian Businesswomen by Agnès Ntube Ndode, and the contest to take her place as mayor of Douala 5 ended with Carlos Ngoualem winning the election on 5 August. At the request of her family, a street in the Douala 5 district linking the Akwa-Nord Pharmacy to the Makepe Roundabout bearing the name ''Rue Françoise Foning'' was renamed from No 5.508 to honour her in late 2016. An accompanying plaque was installed at both ends of the street and a monograph on the life and works of Foning was published in 2017.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foning, Francoise 1949 births 2015 deaths People from West Region (Cameroon) Cameroonian women in business 20th-century businesswomen 21st-century businesswomen 20th-century Cameroonian women 20th-century Cameroonian people 21st-century Cameroonian women politicians 21st-century Cameroonian politicians Cameroon People's Democratic Movement politicians Members of the National Assembly (Cameroon) Consultants