Cameroon was made a German colony in 1884, and in 1911 was expanded beyond the present-day frontiers at the expense of French Equatorial Africa. During World War I, Cameroon was conquered by the Allied Forces. Corresponding to the British-French 1916 division agreement the British retreated into the western part while the French occupied the other nine tenths of the country. In 1919, West Cameroon became a League of Nations Mandate and in the same year was annexed to the British colony of Nigeria but the Mandate of French Cameroon (East Cameroon) was administrated independently. As after World War II the UN had given Cameroon to Great Britain and France as a trust territory, stipulating that the country be prepared for full independence, the inhabitants of French Cameroon were granted autonomy in 1958. Foreign and defense policy remained under the control of the French until full independence was granted on January 1, 1960. A plebiscite held in British Cameroon took account of demands for reunification. The north of West Cameroon decided on remaining with Nigeria, the south on being annexed to the Republic of Cameroon. Thus the Federal Republic of Cameroon was proclaimed on October 1, 1961. The first president of the independent state of Cameroon was A. Ahidjo. In 1972 he rescinded the federal form of government, forming a centralized unitary state. After Ahidjo resigned, the heretofore Prime Minister P. Biya assumed the presidency according to the constitution. The repressive regime of Biya gave rise to bloody demonstrations in 1990. That same year saw the passing of an Act on initiating a multi-party system. Free parliamentary and presidential elections were held in 1992. The opposition parties accused the winner of the election, Biya, of vote rigging. Riots erupted anew. In 1995 Cameroon joined the Commonwealth as a member. With the presidential elections in 1997 the population confirmed Biya in his office of President of the state.