La Francophonie Parliamentary Association: Hon Hilarion Etong gets hero’s welcome after winning presidency.

Hon Etong won the strategic role during the 49th General Assembly Meeting of the La Francophonie parliamentary body which held July 9 in Montréal, Canada.   

After arriving at the Nsimalen International Airport on board an Air France flight, the APF President-elect was greeted by a jubilant mammoth crowd Monday night.

He was received by some Members of Parliament and senior administrative staff of the National Assembly, led by the First Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly, Abdoullaye Daouda. Family members, traditional authorities, and well-wishers graced the brief occasion.

In the different speeches delivered, the speakers were unanimous in their praises for the distinguished lawmaker for raising the country’s flag and securing a diplomatic victory for Cameroon and Africa as a whole.

In a statement during the ceremony, the APF President-elect narrated his journey through to the victory in Montreal. 

While affirming that his election is a victory for Cameroon, he gratified the Head of State, President Paul Biya, for ensuring his candidature got the blessings of the African chamber of the APF and finally earning the confidence of the General Assembly of the APF.  

He equally acknowledged the support of the President of the Senate, Marcel Niat Njifenji, and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril. 

It should be recalled that the President-elect of APF, in his acceptance speech in Montreal, had pledged to promote the values of La Francophonie, laying emphasis on democratic values and the economic prosperity of French-speaking countries.

Before last Tuesday’s election, Hon Etong has been serving as the APF Cameroon Chapter President. 

In 2019, he was elected President of the Parliament of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa States, CEMAC. 

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 the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, from 1984 to 1986. He later served as Deputy Director of ENAM from 1986 to 1989.

Meanwhile, the APF, founded in 1967, is an international organisation with 92 members from parliaments and interparliamentary organisations on five continents, all of who share the French language. 

It is a political forum for debate, proposals and information exchange on all subjects of common interest to its members.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3171 of Wednesday July 17, 2024