Biya was educated in Cameroon before attending University of Southern California where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Political Science and Economics in 1994.[1][2] He then worked as an intern at Bank of Central African States from 1995 to 1997.[1][2] From 1997 to 2004, he was a partner of a forestry conglomerate named I.N.G.F.[1][2] In 2004, he established Venture Capital PLC, a private fund that focuses on the investment to foreign corporations, not only in Africa but also in other continents.[1][2]
Franck Biya has been speculated as a potential successor to his father Paul Biya who has been serving as the President since 1982.[3][4]
During the 2011 presidential election where Paul was running for re-election, Franck was found to be campaigning to his father.[5] He was suggested to run in the 2018 presidential election instead of his father, although this never happened.[6] Several supporters of Franck was reportedly formed non-governmental organisations to support his bid, such as the Citizens Movement in Support of Franck Biya for Peace and Unity in Cameroon.[4]
Critics of Biya family cited that Cameroon is not a monarchy and Franck is not legally in the first line of succession throne.[4]
Franck Biya was born in YaoundétoPaul Biya from a relationship between Biya and and his first wife Jeanne-Irène Atyam's sister[7] or niece; Jeanne-Irène adopted him.[8][9] He is married and has 4 children.[1]
^Eigo, Tim; Donaldson, Catherine Victoria (2018). "Paul Biya". encyclopedia.com (three essays on Paul Biya's presidency with the following source information: Contemporary Black Biography (May 2018, author Tim Eigo), Newsmakers 2006 Cumulation (May 2018, author Catherine Victoria Donaldson) and Encyclopedia of World Biography (May 2018)). Retrieved 29 March 2024.
