Unity Place: Ceremony Full Of Symbolism

Precision, brevity, and solemnity marked the event at the Unity Palace yesterday 6 November, 2018 that saw the Head of State, Paul Biya presented with the insignia of the Grand Master of the National Orders, honours from the diplomatic corps and national dignitaries. Taking place at the Ambassador’s Hall, the event started with officials received at 1:50 p.m. while the Head of State and wife Chantal Biya, just back from taking the oath of office at the National Assembly, appeared at the Unity Palace Hall at 2 p.m. to kick-start the ceremony.

Speaking in front of the members of the Parliamentary Bureau, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Cavaye Yengui Djibril and the Senior Vice President of the Senate, Senator Boubakari Abdoulaye, members of the Constitutional Council and the Supreme Court under the leadership of Clement Atangana and Daniel Mekobe Sone respectively as well as Cabinet Ministers led by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, the Grand Chancellor of the National Orders, Peter Mafany Musonge took the floor. In a short phrase he said how elated he was to present to President Biya the insignia of the Grand Master of the National Orders.

In all seriousness, Mr Biya put on the insignia to the admiration of First Lady, Chantal Biya who could not resist congratulating the Head of State once the national symbol was well in place on her husband. A unanimous applause from the dignitaries present marked a sign of approval to the Head of State, Paul Biya as he begins the seventh seven-year term. His brief departure from the hall gave room for heads of diplomatic missions in Cameroon and international organizations to take their place for the presentation of honours to the newly sworn-in President of the Republic of Cameroon.

Just a few minutes before 3 p.m. the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Cameroon, Gabonese Ambassador, Jean Pierre Biffot led t...