Jean Ramadier

Jean Ramadier was born in 1913, the son of the French Premier Paul Ramadier. ==Guinea==

Ramadier was appointed Governor of Guinea on 3 June 1956. In 1957, Ahmed Sékou Touré of the RDA became Vice-President of the Territorial Council of Guinea. Given Ramadier's low-profile style, this made Touré in effect the leader of the country in the transition to independence. In a private letter Ramadier said of his successor that Touré claimed direct descent from Samori Ture, the last independent ruler, and intended to combine the Malinke empire and people's democracy under a Franco-African, Leninist-Stalinist dialectic". Ramadier left Guinea in February 1958, and was replaced by Governor Jean Mauberna. ==Cameroon==

Ramadier became High Commissioner of Cameroon, arriving there on 5 February 1958. Shortly after arriving, Ramadier fell out with the autocratic Andre-Marie Mbida, who led the government although his party only had a minority. Ramadier felt that Mbida did not have an adequate mandate. Mdiba later became the first Prime Minister of pre-independent Cameroon, while Ahidjo became the first president. ==Further reading==