Politics

Biya grants audiences to UK envoy, CAR foreign affairs minister.

by Bizel-Bi Mafor
19 Jan 2024 18:08
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L-R: British High Commissioner, Barry Lowen; UK’s visiting Dr Alastair McPhail, & President Paul Biya during audience at Unity Palace

The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, has granted audiences to an envoy of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, UK, Rishi Sunak and his Central African Republic, CAR, President, Faustin Archange Touadera. This was on Tuesday January 16.

The first of the two officials to be received was Dr Alastair McPhail who was bearer of a message in relation to the UK-African Investment Summit billed for this year.

According to information on the website of the Presidency of the Republic, the British diplomat and Biya discussed on subjects of common interest that would be addressed during the economic summit that is scheduled for London in April.

“For us, it is about modern partnerships of mutual benefit based on respect,” Dr McPhail is quoted having said.

He is said to have also expressed the desire to see Cameroon represented at the highest level during the upcoming summit.

Dr McPhail was appointed May 11, 2023 to hit the ground running and engage with governments and organisations invited to the summit.

He has as mission, among others, to listen to the expectations of invitees, build partnerships and make mutually beneficial opportunities for the UK and African partners a reality.

The UK-African Investment Summit 2024 aims to promote two-way trade and investment between the UK and African countries with a focus on achieving growth and creating jobs.

**CAR Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sylvie Baïpo-Temon, during audience to deliver sealed message**

Enter CAR emissary

Meanwhile, CAR’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Francophone Affairs, Sylvie Baïpo-Temon, was the second personality Biya received in audience.

She came with a sealed message from President Faustin-Archange Touadera to his Cameroonian counterpart.

Minister Sylvie Baïpo-Temon is said to have told reporters after the audience that the Central African leader sent a message of gratitude to President Paul Biya for Cameroon’s assistance.

Minister Baïpo-Temon among other things, thanked Cameroon for facilitating the transportation of a special donation of cereals from the Russian Federation to Bangui.

The audience, it should be said, was an occasion for President Paul Biya to be briefed on the current state of affairs in the neighbouring country. The visiting minister and the President of the Republic also discussed issues related to the stability and development of the sub-region.