Françoise Foning

Françoise Foning (1949 – 23 January 2015) was a Cameroonian businessperson and politician for the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (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 and the national committee five years later. In 2002, she was elected deputy mayor of Douala II and began serving in the National Assembly that same year. Foning led the African Network and Cameroonian Businesswomen and consulted The World Bank, the African Development Bank 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. She did not have a proper background, After encouragement from her family to work, she went into tourism at age 12 in Douala, the Southern Cameroonian port city. expanding to 150 by 2005. At Douala in 1992, she was appointed president of the women's wing of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM). Foning became president of the CPDM in Douala and its national central committee in 1997, 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.

Personal life and death Foning praised the Cameroonian presidential couple at official ceremonies and her fellow citizens called her "national leader" as a result. and had six children. After leaving the meeting, the driver of her car carrying her and her bodyguard lost control on the Yaoundé Bafoussam road in Ebebda 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, A vigil and masses were held in her honor before the funeral. 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, the Prime Minister, and the foundation of the Francoise Foning Foundation to help retain the memory of her work in the public was announced by her son. 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.