Three days have passed since former Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), yet President Paul Biya has remained conspicuously silent as leaders and diplomatic entities congratulate Yang.
This unusual silence raises questions about whether Biya is disengaged from current events or simply indifferent.
In the past, President Biya would have promptly congratulated Yang for such a prestigious achievement.
Yang, after all, is not a stranger to Cameroonians. He is the current Grand Chancellor of National Orders and served as head of government until 2019.
Additionally, it is highly likely that Yang’s candidacy for the UNGA presidency had Biya’s implicit endorsement.
Despite this, Biya has yet to make any public statement regarding Yang’s election.
The only official communication from Cameroon about Yang’s new role has come from the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella.
In a family picture featuring Minister Mbella Mbella, Philemon Yang, and the African Ambassador to the UN, the Ministry of External Relations stated:
“The Minister of External Relations, Mr. Mbella Mbella, offered this June 7, 2024, in New York, on behalf of the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya, a reception in honor of the diplomatic community and the local diaspora, on the occasion of the election of Mr. Philémon Yang to the post of President of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.”
Other than this statement, the only public congratulations from a Cameroonian official came from the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Joseph Le, who posted on X.
“My warm congratulations to Mr. Philemon Yang, our compatriot and new President of the 79th session of the General Assembly of the UN in New York. Results of the strong determination and involvement of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya,” Minister Le said.
Even though Joseph Le acknowledged Biya’s role in Yang’s success, Biya himself has remained silent.
This lack of a congratulatory message is notable, especially when countries like France, the USA, and Spain have already extended their congratulations.
Yang Philemon’s election is historic. He is the first Cameroonian to chair the UNGA. The presidency of the UNGA is a rotating position, and starting September 22, 2024, it will be Cameroon’s turn to lead.
Africa has only seen seven other countries—Ghana, Nigeria, and Algeria among them—hold this prestigious role.
The silence from President Biya contrasts sharply with the international accolades Yang has received.
