Hon Hilarion Etong elected La Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly president.

The Cameroonian lawmaker was handed the strategic role during the 49th General Assembly Meeting of the La Francophonie Parliamentary body, held in Montréal, Canada.

He was elected by his peers from across the world, Tuesday July 9. His election has since been described as not only a diplomatic victory for Cameroon but Africa as a whole.

The Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, APF, was created in 1967. 

It is an international organisation that brings together 92 members from parliaments or inter-parliamentary organisations of five continents.

The organisation provides political space for debates, proposals and exchanges on topics of common interest.

This year, the general debate focused on Artificial Intelligence. 

Participants discussed concrete action plans for a better use of Artificial Intelligence in parliamentary environment. 

The opening ceremony was punctuated by seven speeches. 

Amongst the speakers who took to the rostrum was Hon Hilarion Etong, who led the Cameroon delegation to the gathering.

Speaking at the meeting, Hon Hilarion Etong, who has been serving as APF Cameroon president, presented the main actions carried out for several years by Cameroon.

The lawmaker had meanwhile, renewed Cameroon's commitment to the global body. He said his country remains committed to the values of La Francophonie in general and the APF in particular.

Meanwhile, speaking Tuesday shortly after his election as President of APF, Hon Hilarion Etong pledged to promote the values of La Francophonie, laying emphasis on democratic values and the economic prosperity of French-speaking countries.

‘’I am very honoured by this election. I give gratitude to His Excellency Paul Biya, for investing me for this post’’, he said while addressing the gathering.

Hilarion Etong not knew to int’l assignments 

Hon Hilarion Etong is not knew to international assignments. Prior to his election Tuesday as President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, the native of the Centre Region had been serving as president of the Parliament of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa States, CEMAC. 

He was elected President of CEMAC Parliament in 2019. 

Born on February 16, 1659 in Mbeti, Upper Sanaga Division of the Centre Region, Hon Hilarion Etong has served the National Assembly since 1992.

Hon Hilarion Etong was member of the Higher Judicial Council between 1992 and 1997. The Knight of the National Order of Value and Officer of the National Order of Value was one-time Pedagogic attaché at ENAM between 1984 to 1986. He later served as Deputy Director of ENAM from 1986 to 1989.

By Eone François (Journalism student on internship)

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3165 of Thursday July 10, 2024