Yang takes oath of office as 79th UN General Assembly President.

Yang was commissioned into office at a ceremony that marked the closing of the 78^th General Assembly of the global diplomatic body. The event took place at the UN headquarters in New York, United States of America, USA, Tuesday.

This was in the presence of diplomats of UN member States, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Manuel Guterres, and the President of the 78^th General Assembly of the United Nations, Denis Francis.

After the speeches from the UN scribe and the President of the 78^th General Assembly of the United Nations, Yang walked to the podium and took the oath of office. He was later handed the gavel.

In line with Resolution 70/305 of 13^th September 2016, Yang declared his commitment to serve in line with the laws in place.

“I, Philemon Yang, solemnly declare that I shall truthfully perform my duties and exercise the functions entrusted to me as President of the General Assembly of the United Nations; in all loyalty, discretion and conscience and that I shall discharge these functions and regulate my conduct with the interest of the UN; only in view and in accordance with the Charter of the UN and the Code of Ethics for the President of the General Assembly, without seeking or accepting any instruction in regard to the performance of my duties, from any government or other source  external to the organisation,” Yang promised.

Before now, the UN scribe had said he and his team are ready to work in collaboration with Yang as the 79^th General Assembly of the UN opens. Guterres said efforts will be engaged to advance world development. Success in this light, he said, depends on the commitment of member states. 

He expressed hope that the 79^th UN General Assembly will serve as the   thrust for solution and peace that the world needs.

Reviewing the 78^th GA of the global organisation, Guterres said it was marked by a rise in hostilities, poverty, injustice, conflicts and record temperature.

He, nonetheless, said the mandate of Denis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago nationality, opened windows for hope in several other domains.

Guterres said the 78^th UN General Assembly boss brought the need of smaller and developing states to the Assembly and mobilised nations to change the global financial architecture.  

He also mentioned the UN sustainability week and moves to enhance gender equality as some of the major achievements of the Denis Francis era.

Enter 78^th UN General Assembly President

In his outing speech, the President of the 78^th UN General Assembly, Denis Francis, said it was the honour of his life to have served as boss of body’s General Assembly. 

He thanked Guterres and other stakeholders who supported him throughout his time at the institution.

Denis Francis talked of gains made under this mandate that was themed: “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity, accelerating action on the 2030 agenda and the sustainable development goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all”.

He said many resolutions were taken in the interest of enhancing global peace and security. He also urged the UN to redouble efforts to deliver on its prime mission of guaranteeing global peace and order.

Snippet of Yang’s profile 

Born in Jikejem-Oku, in Oku Subdivision, Bui Division of the North West Region, Philemon Yunji Yang, is a career diplomat who served as Cameroon’s Prime Minister from June 30, 2009, to January 4, 2019. 

The multi-linguist is Chair of the African Union Imminent Personalities to discuss key issues on the continent. He served as Ambassador, High Commissioner Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cameroon to Canada for at least 20 years. 

He was Assistant Secretary General of the Presidency, with the rank of minister, from 2004 to 2009. He served in the government from 1975 to 1984 and was Cameroon's Ambassador to Canada from 1984 to 2004. 

After studying law at the University of Yaounde, Yang became a prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Buea in January 1975. 

He was appointed to the government as Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration on June 30, 1975, and promoted to the post of Minister of Mines and Energy on November 8, 1979. 

Yang remained in the latter position for more than four years before being removed from the government on February 4, 1984. He then became Cameroon’s Ambassador to Canada on October 23, 1984, remaining in that post for 20 years; his title changed to High Commissioner when Cameroon joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1995. He also served as the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada for about 10 years.

He headed Cameroon's delegation to the negotiations on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety from February 1998 to January 2000. After the Protocol was adopted on January 29, 2000, he became chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol, ICCP. 

Just recently, Yang was appointed Member of the Wise Committee of the Economic Community of Central African States. He is current Grand Chancellor of the National Orders in Cameroon. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3226 of Wednesday September 11, 2024