On January 05, at the Unity palace in Yaounde, the traditional ceremony for the presentation of New Year’s greetings was held. The ceremony was attended by heads of diplomatic missions and representations accredited to Cameroon, as well as heads of multilateral institutions, development partners and national bodies. The Cameroonian President took the opportunity to call for support for Cameroon’s candidacy for the presidency of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations.
The 2024 new year wishes ceremony started with the traditional address by the dean of the diplomatic corps in Cameroon, during which Patrick Biffot, ambassador of the Republic of Gabon, reviewed the challenges facing Cameroon. These include the security crisis in the north of the country, the socio-political crisis in the English-speaking regions, and refugee management in the East of the country. The dean of Cameroon’s diplomatic corps also reiterated the international community’s commitment to supporting the country’s efforts to tackle these issues. The Gabonese diplomat also praised the wisdom of Cameroon’s Head of State, who is working to preserve peace as the basis for the development of States, both nationally and internationally.
The international community is providing support for security cooperation in the far north, and for maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. The situation in the North-West and South-West continues to claim civilian and military victims, and we offer you our condolences. The diplomatic corps remains ready to cooperate and consolidate these efforts alongside the government to promote peace and stability in these regions.
Patrick Biffot, Ambassador Dean of the diplomatic corps in Cameroon
Head of State Paul Biya took the opportunity to reiterate Cameroon’s intention to run for the presidency of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations. He called for the support of his peers through their representatives. For the President of the Republic of Cameroon, the UN remains a solution for resolving certain crises, including armed ones, at a time when tensions are sowing havoc in certain areas of the globe.
The UN, whose creation is worth recalling, seems to me to have and to be able to play a fundamental role in this respect. This is the purpose of Cameroon’s candidacy for the presidency of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations, a candidacy for which I ask for the support of all of you.
Paul Biya, President of the Republic – Cameroon
The election for the presidency of the 79th UN Assembly is scheduled for 2024. At the 23rd session of the ECCAS Conference of Heads of State and Government held on July 1, 2023 in Libreville, Gabon, the region’s leaders pledged their support for Cameroon’s candidacy.
