The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has chosen a seasoned Cameroonian leader to oversee its upcoming session. On Thursday, former Prime Minister Philemon Yang was elected president of the 79th UNGA session, following a nomination by his home country.
Yang, a magistrate by training, boasts a lengthy and distinguished career in both domestic and international affairs. He served as Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Head of Government, from 2009 to 2019. Prior to that, he held various key government positions, including Minister of Mines and Energy and Vice-Minister of Territorial Administration. Since 2020, he has served as the Grand Chancellor of National Orders at the Presidency of the Republic.
On the international stage, Yang’s experience is equally impressive. He served as Cameroon’s High Commissioner to Canada for a remarkable 14 years, where he concurrently held the prestigious title of Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. He has also led Cameroonian delegations to high-level economic summits around the globe and participated in crucial African Union (AU) meetings. Currently, he chairs the AU’s Panel of Eminent Africans, responsible for vetting candidates for key positions within the organization.
At the UN, Yang previously chaired the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. He is known for his strong commitment to humanitarian issues, human rights, environmental protection, and UN reform. His vision aligns closely with the UN Charter’s core principles of peace, security, sustainable development, and respect for human rights.
This appointment marks a significant moment for Africa. Cameroon becomes the thirteenth African nation to have a representative lead the UN General Assembly, following Uganda in 2014 and Nigeria in 2019. Yang is expected to assume his role on September 10th, 2024, when the 79th UNGA session commences at UN headquarters in New York.
Ambassador Philemon Yang, born on June 14, 1947, in Jikejem-Oku, North-West Region of Cameroon, is a distinguished Cameroonian politician and trained magistrate. He earned a law degree from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, and subsequently graduated from the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM). Mr. Yang furthered his education with a Master’s Degree in International Law from the University of Ottawa, Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from Century University in the USA. He is married to Linda Yang and they have three children.
