Personality and foreign policy decision-making: Paul Biyas decision to declare war on terrorism in Central Africa

This study aims to explore how the personality of a national leader influences foreign policy decision-making, specifically focusing on President Paul Biya's decision to declare war on terrorism in Central Africa, thereby providing a nuanced understanding of the psychological dimensions underpinning state responses to complex security threats. The international community was surprised by Cameroon's swift and active engagement against Boko Haram, a significant shift from its historical foreign policy of non-interference, prompting an investigation into the psychological factors, particularly President Paul Biya's personality that contributed to this pivotal decision. Employing a qualitative, interpretative approach, this study utilizes the Five-Level Model of personality (FLM) to analyze Paul Biya's dispositional traits, characteristic adaptations, and narrative identity, interpreting empirical information from secondary sources, including public statements and biographical accounts, to map his personality onto the FLM framework. The analysis reveals that Paul Biya's high conscientiousness characterized by caution and a strong sense of state duty, initially led to hesitation but ultimately drove a decisive military response when Cameroon's territorial integrity was directly threatened. While his agreeableness suggests a preference for peaceful resolution, his self-confidence and pragmatic narrative identity propelled him to prioritize robust action against Boko Haram, demonstrating how a leader's core traits, when confronted with escalating threats, can override initial inclinations. This study recommends that future counterterrorism strategies in Cameroon integrate military efforts with comprehensive socio-economic initiatives to address root causes of extremism and foster community resilience and suggests a review of judicial processes to ensure rehabilitation alongside punitive measures for low-level offenders, preventing further radicalization and promoting long-term stability. Key words: Paul BIYA, personality, foreign policy, psychology, decision-making, five level model, Boko Haram, Terrorism.