Editorial: Biya should implement Yang's UN advice.

President Biya, as reported by the media, was scheduled to be present after the China-African Summit he attended in Beijing, early in September. 

The Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella, however, stood in for him to listen to the message of his former Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang; preside his first United Nations General Assembly, since being elected to the prestigious office.

Yang focused his speech on global burning issues and debts for poor countries like Cameroon. Debt is an issue the International Monetary Fund, IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank, AfDB, have on different occasions warned of the risk of Cameroon tumbling into a pit of debt distress. 

Yang said: “There is an urgent need to reform the international financial system, as too many countries remain burdened by crippling debts, forced to choose between servicing loans and improving the lives of their citizens”.

As regards freedom and good governance, where Cameroon doesn't have a pass grade in international indexes, he said: “In this endeavour, we must never overlook the challenges faced by the small island developing States, the landlocked developing States, the least developing countries and the small States".

He said: “Specific programmes responding to the unique situations in which these groups of States find themselves must be envisaged”, pledging that this will be a priority for his presidency.

Acknowledging that Africa is one of the priorities of the United Nations and that the African Union’s Agenda 2063 presents a bold and transformative vision for the continent, which has the youngest population in the world, Yang spotlighted that by 2063, Africa will be a quarter of the world.

“In fact, to truly unlock Africa’s vast potential, we must actively cultivate global partnerships that align with the continent’s aspirations and drive its success,” he said.

“In this seventy-ninth session, I also want to prioritise multilingualism as a recognition of our world’s cultural and linguistic richness,” Yang announced, adding that the multitude of languages, cultures and perspectives, should not be viewed as a source of division, but as a wellspring of strength.

He couldn't be wrong, given that Cameroon, because of its multiculturalism and languages, is often referred to as "Africa in miniature".

But the country has been in conflict in its definition of such enviable values with the atrocities in the North West and South West Regions.

“We are not mere spectators of these crises, nor are we powerless to act,” Yang said.

So how should Cameroon in particular act?

He concedes humanity shares the same fundamental goal “to build a better world, for everyone, everywhere.”  

That path ahead, he continued, is difficult, and fraught with obstacles that at times seem insurmountable but are not impassable. 

“We have the tools, the knowledge and the collective will to overcome these challenges, if we act together with courage and conviction,” Yang stated. 

At The Guardian Post, we seize this occasion to state that acting together can only be through dialogue and not to divert essential resources into military stockpiles and fueling arms races.

“We call for urgent measures for the abolition of these tools of the annihilation of the human race and our environment,” Yang had emphasised. 

The UNGA president urged nations to act by investing more in "building trust and practising dialogue", saying "constant dialogue is a powerful weapon all governments have in their hands, as trust and dialogue are integral parts of human dignity and preconditions for lasting peace and security".

For The Guardian Post, Yang spoke truth, not only to the world in general but to his country, Cameroon, in particular, where he was Prime Minister, Head of Government, at the time the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions erupted and is still ongoing.

The Guardian Post praises him for using his revered office as President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly to call for a ceasefire and freedom of hostages in Gaza, Ukraine, etc.

He should also extend the same measures to the conflict in the North West and South West Regions for presidential amnesty and clemency for those incarcerated in relation to the conflict ravaging in the North West and South West Regions. This will serve as the beginning of the inclusive dialogue that he talked about at the UN General Assembly. 

But, Yaounde heed his global counsel for a ceasefire, clemency and amnesty for those jailed or detained in connection to the Anglophone crisis?

True President Paul Biya was not at the UN General Assembly. However, the world is watching how he will implement "actions" to solve conflicts, poverty, governance, heath and climate change which abound in Cameroon. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3242 of Friday September 27, 2024